RAF Bulldog XX546 ULAS
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RAF Bulldog XX546 ULAS
Hi Guy's & Gals,
I am the present custodian of XX546 (airframe 03) an RAF Bulldog from London University Air Squadron. She's a delightful little aircraft and is a regular static display aircraft on many UK air displays. I would like to restore her to her original squadron markings if possible and would greatly appreciate any old photos and history of her whilst in service with London University Air Squadron.
Whilst I am an ex University of Glasgow and Strathclyde Air Squadron pilot (47 Entry) myself. I am proud to be the custodian of this lovely little aircraft. Like me I am sure may of us on PPune can remember our first 'sector recces' in a Bulldog. What a delightful little aircraft they were. There are more than 60 currently flying on the UK Civil Reg with owners keen to maintain them for the future.
Please help me to identify her original squadron markings so I can have her returned to her original livery.
Many thanks
Big Sand....................
I am the present custodian of XX546 (airframe 03) an RAF Bulldog from London University Air Squadron. She's a delightful little aircraft and is a regular static display aircraft on many UK air displays. I would like to restore her to her original squadron markings if possible and would greatly appreciate any old photos and history of her whilst in service with London University Air Squadron.
Whilst I am an ex University of Glasgow and Strathclyde Air Squadron pilot (47 Entry) myself. I am proud to be the custodian of this lovely little aircraft. Like me I am sure may of us on PPune can remember our first 'sector recces' in a Bulldog. What a delightful little aircraft they were. There are more than 60 currently flying on the UK Civil Reg with owners keen to maintain them for the future.
Please help me to identify her original squadron markings so I can have her returned to her original livery.
Many thanks
Big Sand....................
Ah, good old 546!
In my logbook a few times.
In the earliest days, the ULAS Bulldogs had red prop spinners, and a squadron badge (the book superimposed on a red cross inside a black edged shield) on the battery cover on the starboard side only.
http://www.xx554.com/photo_gallery/x...n3June1976.jpg
By the time I was on ULAS (1979) they had a black/white spinner and the same badge.
Air-Britain : Scottish Aviation Bulldog T1
Some time after 1982 the red first aid cross turned green, and the badge changed to the full crest on a black rectangle. This was applied on both sides. The fin flash was changed to a sloping one, and the underwing serials disappeared.
Mad Dog Flying Group
In my logbook a few times.
In the earliest days, the ULAS Bulldogs had red prop spinners, and a squadron badge (the book superimposed on a red cross inside a black edged shield) on the battery cover on the starboard side only.
http://www.xx554.com/photo_gallery/x...n3June1976.jpg
By the time I was on ULAS (1979) they had a black/white spinner and the same badge.
Air-Britain : Scottish Aviation Bulldog T1
Some time after 1982 the red first aid cross turned green, and the badge changed to the full crest on a black rectangle. This was applied on both sides. The fin flash was changed to a sloping one, and the underwing serials disappeared.
Mad Dog Flying Group
XX546 was 'my' aircraft at ULAS from November 1989 until I left in December 1992.
Definitely one of the nicest aeroplanes in the ULAS fleet - she never let me down or caused a moment's concern.
When I came back from a 6-month holiday flying VC10Ks in Gulf War 1, I put a little Saudi Arabia sticker under my name on her side. It stayed for quite a while until the maintenance supervisor raised a job card to 'remove non-standard marking from starboard fuselage'. Miserable old git that he was!!
I took her to Cambridge in April 1990 for her avionics upgrade; that was an interesting trip! I was in close formation with another QFI leading; as we usually did that trip at 2000 ft, I was somewhat surprised to note the height he'd climbed to - then he couldn't find the aerodrome at Cambridge. So I had to ease out, take a quick look, tell him and get back into formation.
After we landed, I discovered that he didn't have the airways marked on his map - and had blissfully led us through the Luton CTA stubs without clearance...
I'm glad that 546 is being looked after well - she always flew very nicely and had a smooth engine and well-balanced prop. I must have flown several hundred hours in her and sent many students on their first solos in her!
Definitely one of the nicest aeroplanes in the ULAS fleet - she never let me down or caused a moment's concern.
When I came back from a 6-month holiday flying VC10Ks in Gulf War 1, I put a little Saudi Arabia sticker under my name on her side. It stayed for quite a while until the maintenance supervisor raised a job card to 'remove non-standard marking from starboard fuselage'. Miserable old git that he was!!
I took her to Cambridge in April 1990 for her avionics upgrade; that was an interesting trip! I was in close formation with another QFI leading; as we usually did that trip at 2000 ft, I was somewhat surprised to note the height he'd climbed to - then he couldn't find the aerodrome at Cambridge. So I had to ease out, take a quick look, tell him and get back into formation.
After we landed, I discovered that he didn't have the airways marked on his map - and had blissfully led us through the Luton CTA stubs without clearance...
I'm glad that 546 is being looked after well - she always flew very nicely and had a smooth engine and well-balanced prop. I must have flown several hundred hours in her and sent many students on their first solos in her!
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Hi we have 2 Bulldogs and are involved in a third. 2 flying one is a spare aircraft. Reg's XX694(not ours) XX695(likely the best bulldog in the country) XX711 stored and a spare.
We have being continually upgrading and restoring XX695 since she came to us from Auction and have completed a back to bare metal strip and re paint to exactly replicate the original designs which we have the blue prints for from the military and also all decal specs along with colour codes etc etc. Our Bulldog has its own Kennel at Fishburn (internationa) Airfield and you are welcome to view. pm me for any information we can help with these are fantastic aircraft albeit not the cheapest to own.
Any history on XX695 would always be welcome we know this was with Northumbria University Air Squadron and is also the aircraft painted on the bar at Leeming. If any body has any info or memorable flights in her we would love to hear the story to continue our document of history for the aircraft.
Cheers CM
We have being continually upgrading and restoring XX695 since she came to us from Auction and have completed a back to bare metal strip and re paint to exactly replicate the original designs which we have the blue prints for from the military and also all decal specs along with colour codes etc etc. Our Bulldog has its own Kennel at Fishburn (internationa) Airfield and you are welcome to view. pm me for any information we can help with these are fantastic aircraft albeit not the cheapest to own.
Any history on XX695 would always be welcome we know this was with Northumbria University Air Squadron and is also the aircraft painted on the bar at Leeming. If any body has any info or memorable flights in her we would love to hear the story to continue our document of history for the aircraft.
Cheers CM
CLOSE formation, if you read the post......
Which means looking at the references, with the odd quick look at the Ts & Ps - most certainly not looking at a map!
Although it might be different in those horrible clattering things, I guess?
Anyway, XX546 was a great little aeroplane and I'm glad that she's being well cared for still.
Which means looking at the references, with the odd quick look at the Ts & Ps - most certainly not looking at a map!
Although it might be different in those horrible clattering things, I guess?
Anyway, XX546 was a great little aeroplane and I'm glad that she's being well cared for still.
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Bit of a bite, nonetheless I read close, just thought you oughta have rough idea where you were and let the leader know he was approaching airways rather rather than debriefing him on bonging them 
At the risk of thread drift, I did give him a couple of nudges about Luton, but he didn't do anything about it....
Some UAS QFIs would be almost completely lost if they went outside the 'local flying area' - or went somewhere other than a 'standard navigation route'.....
When I first went to ULAS, the CFI told me that the 'local flying area' was for solo students - if you needed to go spinning or something and the weather was clearer further to the north, for example, then just go there and get the job done.
Some QFIs found that all TFD though - and could barely find their own ar$eholes without a mirror, let alone find their way around the wilderness of British West Oxfordshire....
Probably because they were too accustomed to having a navigator?
Some UAS QFIs would be almost completely lost if they went outside the 'local flying area' - or went somewhere other than a 'standard navigation route'.....
When I first went to ULAS, the CFI told me that the 'local flying area' was for solo students - if you needed to go spinning or something and the weather was clearer further to the north, for example, then just go there and get the job done.
Some QFIs found that all TFD though - and could barely find their own ar$eholes without a mirror, let alone find their way around the wilderness of British West Oxfordshire....
Probably because they were too accustomed to having a navigator?
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What a fantastic story Beagle. Really, perhaps you could work on it and go on the after dinner speaking circuit. Were you involved in GW I, I had no idea!!
I can only assume that with your impeccable record in the RAF, more OCUs than the rest of us put together and the Pablo Mason approach to crew/flight loyalty you would be quite the raconteur
I can only assume that with your impeccable record in the RAF, more OCUs than the rest of us put together and the Pablo Mason approach to crew/flight loyalty you would be quite the raconteur
Were you involved in GW I, I had no idea!!
'left at home with the wives...... but very proud watching CNN.'......
Look, this thread started out about XX546. So why do you find the need to send it down the pan with childish personal insults as is increasingly becoming the case with more and more PPRuNe threads.
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Did they all come from auction with rather high fatigue index figures?
A friend is after getting hold of one to restore and I wondered if anyone knew anything about this or maybe some other pitfalls, or things to watch out for in Bulldog world?
Cheers
Zwit
A friend is after getting hold of one to restore and I wondered if anyone knew anything about this or maybe some other pitfalls, or things to watch out for in Bulldog world?
Cheers
Zwit
Zwitter, there was a recent thread on the Private Flying forum about a 'dog with an expensive engine snag:
http://www.pprune.org/private-flying...etter-one.html
Also, see Beagle Pup & Bulldog Club . They can probably answer any questions you might have.
http://www.pprune.org/private-flying...etter-one.html
Also, see Beagle Pup & Bulldog Club . They can probably answer any questions you might have.
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Look after her!
Just checked my logbook. Flew several hours in this beautiful aircraft, including my first solo circuit consolidation....she survived 6 of my landings which was no mean feat!
It would appear that BEagle was one of my QFI's
Look after her!
Is there a ULAS in the house......
It would appear that BEagle was one of my QFI's
Look after her!
Is there a ULAS in the house......
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Zwit,
When the ex RAF aircraft came onto the Civil Reg there was a mixed bag of airframe life's. Not all were of a high F.I. Much is misunderstood about the Bulldog F.I life. In essence if you have a fatigue meter fitted then you can fly the aircraft until F.I 114.0. At that point you would need to get a spar mod done.
If you are thinking about buying and ex Swedish Airforce SK61 Bulldog that has not had a fatigue meter fitted then you have up to 5,000 hrs total airframe time before the aircraft is out of life.
In 'normal' ownership doing G.H, occasional 'gentleman's aeros' and moderate circuits I would think you will be doing around 0.6 F.I per year. In service this figure was higher simply due to the amount they were flown and more aero sorties.
Picking up a nice aircraft does take time and suggest calling De Havilland Support at Duxford if you want help with a pre purchase inspection.
Owning is not for the faint hearted, there are a lot of lifed parts that need replaced. That said they are still under valued and you have to think what else you can buy that's as capable for that money.
All the best
Big Sand
When the ex RAF aircraft came onto the Civil Reg there was a mixed bag of airframe life's. Not all were of a high F.I. Much is misunderstood about the Bulldog F.I life. In essence if you have a fatigue meter fitted then you can fly the aircraft until F.I 114.0. At that point you would need to get a spar mod done.
If you are thinking about buying and ex Swedish Airforce SK61 Bulldog that has not had a fatigue meter fitted then you have up to 5,000 hrs total airframe time before the aircraft is out of life.
In 'normal' ownership doing G.H, occasional 'gentleman's aeros' and moderate circuits I would think you will be doing around 0.6 F.I per year. In service this figure was higher simply due to the amount they were flown and more aero sorties.
Picking up a nice aircraft does take time and suggest calling De Havilland Support at Duxford if you want help with a pre purchase inspection.
Owning is not for the faint hearted, there are a lot of lifed parts that need replaced. That said they are still under valued and you have to think what else you can buy that's as capable for that money.
All the best
Big Sand
hippocrates, it couldn't have been Abingdon as we flew the aircraft out to Benson on 2Friday 6 June 1992, when we sadly left to set up shop at Benson...
I see that on Friday 10 July 1992 that I did only 3 trips in XX546 / #03. GH with Jez H****s first thing, Circuit consol. with Off Cdt (P) K*****w next, then PFLs with Off Cdt (P) S******d in the afternoon. After which you lot most likely repaired to the mess for a bitter lemon or two.... Or perhaps something slightly stronger?
Yes, they were the good old days. But Summer Camps down at St.Mawgan were even more fun.
Gone, all gone now. The RAF can't afford UAS Summer Camps and in any case, there isn't any room at the few RAF aerodromes which are still in existence.
When I was at ULAS as a student, we flew from RAF White Waltham and had Summer Camps at RAF Thorney Island, RAF Marham, RAF Newton and RAF Abingdon; our maintenance was done at RAF West Malling. At Thorney Island we flew circuits at RAF Tangmere and at Marham we did them at RAF Watton.
Of that lot, only Marham is still a military aerodrome....
We had joy
We had fun
We had seasons in the sun;
But the wine and the song
Like the seasons have all gone...........
Glad that you have the same fond memories of 546 as I do!
I see that on Friday 10 July 1992 that I did only 3 trips in XX546 / #03. GH with Jez H****s first thing, Circuit consol. with Off Cdt (P) K*****w next, then PFLs with Off Cdt (P) S******d in the afternoon. After which you lot most likely repaired to the mess for a bitter lemon or two....
Or perhaps something slightly stronger?Yes, they were the good old days. But Summer Camps down at St.Mawgan were even more fun.
Gone, all gone now. The RAF can't afford UAS Summer Camps and in any case, there isn't any room at the few RAF aerodromes which are still in existence.
When I was at ULAS as a student, we flew from RAF White Waltham and had Summer Camps at RAF Thorney Island, RAF Marham, RAF Newton and RAF Abingdon; our maintenance was done at RAF West Malling. At Thorney Island we flew circuits at RAF Tangmere and at Marham we did them at RAF Watton.
Of that lot, only Marham is still a military aerodrome....
We had joy
We had fun
We had seasons in the sun;
But the wine and the song
Like the seasons have all gone...........
Glad that you have the same fond memories of 546 as I do!
Last edited by BEagle; 22nd Mar 2009 at 06:56.