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SOLD - Scottish Aviation Bulldog TMk1 ex-RAF - SOLD

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Scottish Aviation Bulldog T Mk1 XX629 / Series 120 Model 121 G-BZXZ

One of the finest ex-RAF Bulldogs currently flying worldwide, extensively refinished by the current owners who have owned her for the last 12 years. There have been 8 owners since RAF disposal in 2001 via Phillips auctioneers prior to the last 3 within the same family who, due to a bereavement, are now placing her up for sale.

Manufacturer number BH120/294
Total time airframe (TTAF) – 9743:10hrs*
Total number of landing - 31923
IO-360 A1B6 with inverted fuel and oil. Total engine time – 2725hrs*
Full engine overhaul in 2015 by Robert Ronaldson, GAMA Aviation, at 2295:30 giving a time since last overhaul of 470hrs*
*hrs will increase slightly as still in use

Fatigue Index of 111.90269 dated Mar 24. While the airframe is limited to 15000hrs (rear tailplane see BDG1/2004) the last 12 years has included all forms of sport aviation from aerobatics, formation flying and touring with instrument flying so the current owners see no requirement for the BH193 spar modification in the airframes life should it continue in private ownership.

TRA dated 31 Mar 25
CofA / ARC dated 9 May 25

This family owned aircraft has thorough operating and engineering records as demonstrated by the service record check included in the photos and is well known by de Havilland Support Ltd for the accuracy of the fatigue records.

Full external repaint by Mick Allen & Sons at Turweston in 2017.
All original flight avionics and engine instruments. Navigation / radio avionics include:

Trig TY96 Com, 8.33 with flip-flop monitoring and replay function.
Trig TT31 Mode S ADS-B Out transponder.
Garmin 430 (8.33) with matched CDI.
Bendix King Audio panel. GA double plug connections behind the seats in the original RAF positions – currently use DC headsets but a number of other makes including Bose work well.
Original RAF Narco Nav 825 TSO with matched DME / ground speed indicating CDI.

XX629 first flight was 27 Jul 1974, delivered to the Royal Navy Elementary Flying Training School at Church Fenton on 22 Aug 1974. Shortly after, on the 1 Oct 1974, XX629 was transferred to the Northumbrian University Air Squadron (NUAS) and coded V. Unlike many other RAF Bulldogs, she remained with NUAS for the majority of her RAF career (a short 2-month loan to A&AEE Boscombe Down for spinning trials in last 1976) - through to when the Grob Tutor started to enter service, where still coded V, she flew with Liverpool UAS until disposed of via Shawbury. She wore her original NUAS markings through to 2017 when she received a bare metal repaint by the aircraft painting expert Mick Allen at Turweston – this was the last full aircraft he painted prior to retirement.

A much photographed Bulldog due to her use in many memorial formations and airshow static displays over the past decade, she is welcomed around the country and has been well received around Europe where she has extensively toured. Externally she is near-immaculate and internally she is as-issued. Original seat harnesses (overhauled 2016, 10-year life) can either hold you to the leather seat cushions, or the seatbacks can be exchanged for original fitment parachutes (serviced by Survival Equipment Services at Tetbury). While today lighter parachutes are available, the harness arrangements were designed to fit with each other so making the parachutes (included in the sale) and in-service RAF lifejackets (also included in the sale) not just period-correct for the RAF Bulldog but also the most comfortable as well as surpassing GA lifejackets thereby enhancing comfort and survivability.
The extensive aircraft maintenance records demonstrate an attitude towards responsible custodianship rather than mere ownership. Religiously maintained by classic aviation Bulldog specialists, her service records detail all mandatory and statutory items. Lifed items have either been replaced recently (for example, all oil and fuel hoses were replaced this year for their 10-year life, propeller and governor also in 2024) or are mid-lifed as detailed. Hangered since our purchase, she positively shines next to other Bulldogs. Internally, all original factory anti-corrosion treatments are still as specified. Onward maintenance hasn’t been forgotten so many spares are included in the sale, including limited run oleo seals recently produced by DHSL for whenever the next oleos are deemed to need rebuilding (not expected in the near future).

While in our custodianship XZ has toured large parts of Europe, explored the far reaches of the UK including the Hebrides and Orkneys as well as being used as an instrument platform, aerobatics and formation aircraft. Well known within the worldwide Bulldog community as well as the Beagle Pup and Bulldog Club (BPBC), please feel free to google any images ranging from a plethora from normal ops at Turweston, to RIAT to a recent night photo shoot at RAF Northolt.
Please feel free to call and ask any questions you may have and to visit and see XZ for yourself. The Bulldog does everything a two-seat GA aircraft can ever be asked of it with room and weight carrying capability to spare, as well as being fully aerobatic and an outstanding training aircraft. This is an opportunity to buy one of the finest Bulldogs worldwide.

Walkaround video and short flight at https://youtu.be/cFEmTQOnkuU?si=v-A03ozDtY-PRqJ8