Mad Dog Flying Group

Those Magnificent Mutts and their flying machine

History of our Bulldog

For a history of the of the Beagle Pup and its military development the Bulldog take a look here.

RAF Logo

Our Bulldog XX554 entered service back in 1973 with the RAF as part of university London Air Squadron. 

We have quite extensive records from the MOD regarding xx554 that cover various aspects of the aircraft's history. These take the format of MOD Form 700A, which covers the full Aircraft Maintenance over a period of years including Maintenance Work Orders, flying logs mainly from 1998 to 1999 and form 700C covering its last flying year at ULAS Benson in 1999. 

It spent a fair bit of time at Abingdon and in hot summer of 1976 Robin Walker Photographed xx554 in a hangar with the engine cover off. Note the initial Colour Scheme, larger roundel, Red first aid box cross, red spinner, prop colour and interestingly a different squadron sticker on the side. Thanks so much to Robin allowing us to reproduce his photo here.

More older photos here, taken before the colours were changed:

There are also repair record cards, dating back from 1973 to the last years of its service life. Although this doesn't show where the aircraft was based, it does show in many cases where the maintenance took place. The airframe log card was first issued to service 28/11/73 by Scottish Aviation, at Little Rissington. (RAF Little Rissington). The Central Flying School was based at this airfield at this time.

  • 1973: Little Rissington ULAS 1974 ULAS / RPO
  • 1974 ?  Hrs Flown were 50Hrs 25/3/74 to 295Hrs 25/10/75
  • 1975 West Malling  AF Hrs 379Hrs 8/4/75  to 3/12/75   551Hrs
  • 03 June 1976 - RAF Abingdon
  • 1976 West Malling & ULAS (Overhauls took place here unlikely xx554 was based here)  AF Hrs 598 17/2/76 to 797Hrs 17/9/76 
  • 1977 ULAS  AFHrs 892 3/77 to AF Hrs 1099 09/77
  • 1978 West Malling (Overhauls took place here unlikely xx554 was based here)  AF Hrs1170 1/78  to AF Hrs 1363 7/78
  • 1979 Shawbury & Abingdon AF Hrs 1662 9/79
  • 1981 ? AF Hrs 2030 4/81
  • 1982 ? AF Hrs 2430 9/82
  • 1983 ? AF Hrs 2828 1/83
  • 1986 ? AF Hrs 3304 1/86
  • 1987 Abingdon      AF Hrs 3798
  •  1988 Abingdon - Thanks to Andrew M logbook
  • 1989 Abingdon & Summer Camp at RAF Swanton Morley - Thanks to Andrew M logbook
  • 1990 Abingdon      AF Hrs  4769
  • 1992 Benson         AF Hrs   5215
  • 1996 Church Fenton  AF Hrs 6433
  • 1998 Benson AF Hrs 7633
  • 1999 Benson AF Hrs 8026

XX554 last flew with the RAF on 03rd November 1999.

As an example, here are some of the entries from the 700C, entered in the months before the aircraft was sold out of the MOD.

  • In Nov 1999, entries state "Engine - Periodic hand turning prior to long term storage".
  • 16/11/99 this involved: "Engine upper Cowling and spark plug access panels removed, ignition leads disconnected and upper spark plugs removed. Engine turned by hand through 50 blades Spark plugs re-fitted hand tight and panels refitted"
  • 21/11/99 Engine cowling removed and engine oil drained. Engine replenished with PX-27. Engine started and warmed up. Run at 1800RPM for 4 Min operating CSU 3 times. Inhibiting oil drained. Spark Plugs Removed and Terminal Ends protected with Mouldable Wrap. And so on.....
  • 22/11/99 Parachutes Removed Manifold Drain Pipe Exhaust tail Pipes Air intake filter, fuel Pump Drain, Vacuum Pump Drain, Oil Cooler Intake Blanked off. Tyre Pressures checked Battery Removed and Area checked for Acid. Battery refitted but not re-connected. First Aid kit removed. Stopwatch Removed.
  • 22/11/99 "Top cowling removed top plugs removed and engine turned through 50 blades and top cowling refitted
  • 22/11/99 Aircraft moved to Storage Hangar.
  • 29/06/2000 Aircraft Moved to to Sale Hangar.

According to paperwork in our possession, XX554 was transferred to CAA Logbook at 8026:10 A/C hours, Prop Hours 165:10 Hrs

Once released from the RAF she passed through several owners. As we have all the CAA Certificates of Registration, we can trace the previous owners, following XX554 sale by the MOD.

Registered Owner:

  1. First Registered with the CAA on 18th August 2000, to Witham (Specialist) Vehicles Ltd, Grantham.  This is the UK Sales and Marketing Agent for all Ministry of Defence Vehicles and Mobile Plant, who sell aircraft on behalf of the MOD.

  2. Registered on 18th January 2001 to the next owner, at a business address in Blockley, Moreton - in - Marsh Gloucester.

  3. Registered on 21st July 2002 to the next owner located Stratford upon Avon.

  4. Registered to previous owner 24 May 2006, located in Salisbury Wiltshire.

  5. Registered to the Mad Dogs on 30th March 2007 

Notice to those that post images on flicker:  If you are going to rip the above history off and post under one of your pictures, kindly ask the webmaster for permission first - it is copyright but we dont bite :) Thank you.

ULAS Crest



This crest forms part of XX554 military markings.

 

maddog3xx554.com

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