Bristol Bulldog

With over 400 built the Bristol Bulldog would spend eight years in service with the Royal Air Force before being retired in 1937, the Bristol Bulldog would also make an attempt on the climb-to-height records.

17th May 1927 June 1929 443

As 1926 drew to a close Specification F.9/26 was issued by the Air Ministry for a single seater fighter whose armament was to consist of twin Vickers machine-guns and it's power supplied by a radial air-cooled engine and with a performance comparable to the two-seater Fairy Fox bomber. Out of all the submissions received the Bristol Bulldog and Hawker Hawfinch would be chosen for detailed analysis with the Bulldog, just about, coming out on top.

The following year the prototype Bulldog Mk I made it's maiden flight on the 17th May 1927, however this would be replaced by a Mk II prototype which had it's fuselage lengthened, but not before a modified Bulldog Mk I had made an attempt on the altitude and climb-to-height records with large span wings. Out of the prototypes the Mk II was chosen as the production version and would be powered by the Bristol Jupiter VII engine.

Entering service with the Royal Air Force during June 1929 with No. 3 Squadron who were based at Upavon, these would be the first of 312 Bristol Bulldogs which would see service with the RAF before they were phased out during 1937.

With a total of 443 built the Bulldog was also used by a number of other countries including Australia and Sweden.

Royal Air Force Museum, London

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