Bulldog

[LowNSlow]

There is a Bulldog for sale on eBay with an FI of 103. What is the maximum FI the Bulldog can go to? What work needs to be done when the maximum FI is reched?

[englishal]

114

Wing spar mod which takes it up to 200 on the FI (£20k of work or thereabouts).

Looks nice, but I believe the engine TBO is 1800, and I didn't know they had inverted fuel and oil systems (I don't think they have - coyld be wrong, AndyR will be along for the full chapter and verse ;)).....Still it would be pretty good value at that price if your main aim wasn't aero's (which would clock up the FI meter...).

[julian_storey]

'Englishal' is absolutely right.

A Bulldog with a high fatigue index is fine if you don't plan on using it for aerobatics.

It motors along really nicely and has a lovely, solid feel about it which you don't get with your Cessnas and Pipers. I think it's a nice touring aircraft.

[md 600 driver]

anyone with a link to ebay i cant find it

[18greens]

I still find it hard to believe that people buy aerobatic aircraft for intentional straight and level flight. But if you do the FI113ones will fly forever. I understand the FI only clocks up once you exceed 3g.

They do have inverted systems ( I think the inverted limit is 8 seconds) and they are quite nice tourers.

[Contacttower]

I still find it hard to believe that people buy aerobatic aircraft for intentional straight and level flight.


The Bulldog's handling is so snappy that's it's difficult to resist the urge sometimes....it has brilliant handling and the roll rate is outstanding. Much better than that Grob guff the RAF use at the moment :yuk:.

I can't find it on ebay at the moment either.

[Andy_R]

They have an inverted oil system that allows inverted flight for 8 seconds or so (recommended).

The FI clicks up lots of figures, NOT just anything above 3g. It also works out the FI remaining by the number of landings also.

I am not sure either why anyone would buy one with the express purpose of flying straight and level. They would have to be a lot more disciplined than I :}

[md 600 driver]

is ther a fi meter or is it worked out manually

[db16]

The fatigue meter is difficult to read - upside down in the 'rest' between the seats.

You need a program or similar to work out the index

I have a colleague who owns a Bulldog (and has the program); Prof Mike Bagshaw (human factors book, etc) has a share in one at Blackbushe.

Or ask Captain Stuart Hill of Prestwick Flying Club - he will have the answers!

:) I can check you out, too!!;)db16


If you want more info, please PM me

[Mandator]

So he'll have invalidated his CofA then?

['India-Mike]

Who's invalidated his C of A then, and why? The PIK 'dog doesn't have a C of A - it's very special so has a Permit to Fly.
The Bulldog is a nice machine but of the breed the Pup 100 has better handling qualities (certainly in pitch). There are IMHO better machines out there than the Bulldog. I'd even go so far as to say that I'm now almost of the opinion that it's over-rated.
But then again I've been spoilt by Chipmunks!

[LowNSlow]

Paste the item number 170161949445 into the search box.

18 greens so if only gentle aeros (sub 3g) are flown then the FI meter isn't going to go up very rapidly?? How many aeros hours (approx) constitute one unit on the FI meter?

Oops, just read Andy R's post regarding the FI Meter. An aircraft with an FI of 103 doesn't seemto be a good buy when there is going to be a 20k bill for the wing mods and a 5-6k bill for the top overhaul on the horizon........

[ACL]

LowNSlow,

I think that with an FI of only 103 this is one of the 'younger' (in fatigue life terms) Bulldogs around. The purchase decision depends on your anticipated usage profile, so here's an example: I fly about 80 hours per year in mine, which has an FI of nearly 107, and do aeros about a dozen sorties per year - usually 3 to 5 looping type manoeuvres which click the +3.5g FI meter and a load of rolls which occasionally notch a click on the -1.25g FI meter. I also do the occasional spin just to remind myself not to do it by accident. At this rate the FI will reach the critical 114 in about 20 years or so. I'm pretty happy with this, and anticipate that in time there will be a collaborative effort among Bulldog owners to address the spar mod en-masse with potential cost benefits for all. In any case if £20k buys me a new lease of life on the aircraft it's cheaper than buying another aircraft with anything like the Bulldog's capabilities.

Regarding engine life, the TBO is 1,800 hrs, but check to see if it has had an top overhaul in the meantime - quite a lot of RAF Bulldogs got an unneeded top overhaul due to some issue with a maintenance company, and of course you can run on extension anyway. Mine is at 1,900 hrs and still fine. There are a couple of excellent Bulldog-expert maintenance outfits around, so I'd advise using one of them.

The Bulldog's beauty, in my eyes, is that it makes an excellent tourer with plenty of space in the back for luggage, bikes, etc, but with the ability to throw it around like a mini fighter when it takes one's fancy. It's a great handling aircraft, even compared with the Chipmunk. (I have one of those, too!).

ACL
www.airborneclassics.com

[LowNSlow]

ACL thanks for the information. That does put the FI into perspective for somebody with no experience of the system and what it responds to.