Bristol Bulldog

For a description of the format and data included in Production Tables, see here.

Contents

Type Description

• Type 105 Bulldog Mk.I
• Single seat unequal span biplane fighter to Specification 9/26, with a lower wing having reduced chord and span compared with the upper. The forward portion of the fuselage, carrying the engine, pilot and equipment, was built up of circular-section steel tubes forming longerons and struts. The rear portion, from the cockpit back to the tail, was built in the form of a Warren girder, the longerons and struts being formed from flat steel strip into circular sections with projecting flanges for external riveting, and using flat gusset plates rather than bolted joints wherever possible. Outside the primary structure light frames and stringers were added to carry the fabric and bring the square section up to a rounded form. Duralumin and aluminium used for lightly stressed areas such as fairings, doors, etc. The wings were of two-spar type, the spars being made from flat steel strip, rolled and drawn to the final section, and the webs and flanges together forming a box-section whose separate members were joined by riveting. The drag bracing struts were circular-section steel tubes and wing ribs were high-tensile steel channels. In order to ensure the maximum field of view there was a large semi-circular cut-out in the trailing edge of the upper wing and the inboard section of the lower was of reduced chord. Frise ailerons were fitted to the top wing only, the rudder and elevators having shielded horn balances. All fuel was contained in a pair of gravity tanks recessed in the upper wings. It was armed with a pair of 0.303 in Vickers machine guns mounted one either side of the cockpit. One 440 h.p. Bristol Jupiter VII powerplant.

• Type 105 Bulldog HA
• First prototype modified with long span high aspect ratio wings for an abortive attempt on the World Altitude Record.

• Type 105 Bulldog Mk.I
  (export)
• An export version of the Mk.I featuring Bullpup shape wings for better climb performance.

• Type 105A Bulldog Mk.II
• Production version of Type 105 featuring a lengthened fuselage, to Specification 17/28. One 440 h.p. Bristol Jupiter VII powerplant except where noted.

• Type 105A Bulldog Mk.IIA
• Improved production version with revised wing spars and a stronger fuselage, to Specifications 11/29 and 11/31. One 450 h.p. Bristol Jupiter VIIF powerplant.

Bulldog Mk.IIA Specification
Span	Length	Height	Wing Area	Empty Wt	Max AUW	Cruise Speed	Maximum Speed	Range	Service Ceiling
33 ft 10 in	25 ft 2 in	8 ft 9 in	307 sq ft	2205 lb	3490 lb		178 mph/ 155 kn	275 mi	29300 ft
10.31 m	7.67 m	2.67 m	28.52 m2	1000 kg	1583 kg		286 km/h	443 km	8931 m

• Type 105A Bulldog Mk.IIIA
• Private venture prototypes. One 530 h.p. Bristol Mercury IVA powerplant.

• Type 105A Bulldog Mk.IV
• Private venture prototypes to F.7/30 requirement. One 530 h.p. Bristol Mercury IVS.2 powerplant.

• Type 105A Bulldog Mk.IVA
• Export production version of Mk.IV. One 620 h.p. Bristol Mercury VIS.2 powerplant.

• Type 105D Bulldog
• Modified Bulldog Mk.IIA for Denmark.

• Type 124 Bulldog TM
• Unarmed two seat trainer to meet the requirements of Specification 12/32 and later 13/34, the production aircraft differing from the prototype in having slightly swept wings and an enlarged fin to improve spin recovery. One 420 h.p. Bristol Jupiter VIFH powerplant.

Bulldog TM Specification
Span	Length	Height	Wing Area	Empty Wt	Max AUW	Cruise Speed	Maximum Speed	Range	Service Ceiling
34 ft 2 in	25 ft 3 in	8 ft 9 in	309 sq ft	2200 lb	3300 lb		168 mph/ 146 kn		28000 ft
10.41 m	7.7 m	2.67 m	28.71 m2	998 kg	1497 kg		270 km/h		8534 m

Projected Variants

Type 119
• Two seat trainer development of the Type 105. One 480 h.p. Bristol Mercury powerplant.

Production Details

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Foreign Derivatives

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Production Summary

Notes

1. Although indicated by Mark Number, strictly this would only be applicable to RAF machines, but is used here as a conventient definition.
2. The first five Bulldogs were initially known as Bulldog 1, 2, 3, etc. but in August 1930 were renumbered as 70, 71, 72K, 73K, and 74K. Latvian aircraft were fitted with Gnome-Rhône Jupiter VIs and Oerlikon guns, except the final two machines (83 and 84), powered by the Gnome-Rhône 9ASB (equivalent to the Bristol Jupiter VII).
3. Later J301 - J304, later still J1 - J4.

Production References

1. Bristol Aircraft Since 1910, C.H. Barnes (Putnam, 1964, 1970 and 1988)
2. Data Plan No.2 - The Bristol Bulldog, Alfred Granger (Taurus Press, 1973)
3. Insignia Air Force Special - Estonian Air Force 1918 - 1940 (Blue Rider Publishing, 1999)
4. RAF Contracts - Air Britain Aeromilitaria, various issues
5. Air Britain RAF Aircraft Register Series, Various Volumes (Air-Britain Publications)
6. Bristol Air Ministry Contracts Ledger via The Bristol Aero Collection Trust Library

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