Airfix - Bristol Bulldog Mk.IIA - 1:48

• Bristol Bulldog Mk.IIA, No.23 Squadron, Royal Air Force Kenley, England, 1931. (A)
• Bristol Bulldog Mk.IIA, 'C' Flight Commander, No.3 Squadron, Royal Air Force, Abyssinian Crisis, East Africa, 1935. (B)
• Bristol Bulldog Mk.IIA, No.32 Squadron, Royal Air Force Kenley, England, 1935. (C)

As a shining silver aircraft flown by Britain's bravest young pilots, the Bristol Bulldog was a significant British aircraft during the inter-war years, a time when biplane fighters dominated the skies.

Originally conceived as a private project by the Bristol Aeroplane Company, the Bulldog was the creation of skilled designer Frank Barnwell, who also designed the successful Bristol F.2B Fighter during the Great War. This lightweight, all-metal, fabric-covered fighter was powered by a 440hp Bristol Jupiter engine.

The Bulldog was equipped with two forward-firing Vickers 0.303 in machine guns positioned on either side of the cockpit, but it never engaged in combat during its brief seven-year service with Fighter Command.

Despite being the most advanced fighter of its time, the Bulldog became known for its challenging formation flying and impressive aerobatics, with the Royal Air Force captivating large audiences at airshows and events nationwide, showcasing the capabilities of a modernising air force.