Bulldog Model 103

The Bulldog Model 103 was the first all‑metal trainer produced by Scottish Aviation after World War II. Designed in 1947 and entering service in 1949, the aircraft was intended to replace the aging fleet of wooden biplanes that had trained the Royal Air Force and Commonwealth pilots during the war. Its development drew on lessons learned from the wartime Tiger Moth and the post‑war Vampire, resulting in a low‑wing monoplane with a semi‑monocoque fuselage and a robust, riveted steel‑tube frame. Powered by a 240 hp de‑rated Rolls‑Royce Merlin engine, the Bulldog offered a maximum speed of 210 km/h, a service ceiling of 6 500 m and a forgiving stall characteristic that made it ideal for novice aviators. The cockpit accommodated two crew members in side‑by‑side seating, with hinged canopies that provided excellent visibility during take‑off, landing and aerobatic training. Over 250 units were built for the RAF, the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm, and several civilian flying clubs, and the type remained in active use until the early 1960s. Its reliable construction, low operating cost and straightforward handling earned the Bulldog a reputation as a work‑horse of post‑war pilot training, influencing later trainer designs such as the Scottish Aviation Twin‑Propeller Trainer.

Scottish Aviation

Classification

Production & History

Design & Classification