A survivor of Beagle Aircraft efforts was the Scottish Aviation Bulldog/Bullfinch line, fixed gear and retractable versions, respectively, of the original Pup, with 200 hp engines and substantial airframe changes. A retractable four seater, the Bullfinch had a 1,500 pounds useful load, 140 knot cruise and many small improvements over the Bulldog. The Bullfinch was shelved when Scottish Aviation was nationalised.

An aerobatic lightplane, the Pup was built by Beagle Aircraft in England at Shoreham Airport and Rearsby Aerodrome. The Pup was designed as a single-engined all-metal two-seat aerobatic aircraft or a four-seat touring aircraft.

Beagle B.121 Pup Article June 1968

The prototype Pup (a Series 1 G-AVDF) first flew from Shoreham Airport on 8 April 1967. Production of the Pup-100 began in February 1968. The Pup-100 model carries two seats and two optional children’s seats. It’s powered by a 100 hp Rolls-Royce/Continental O-200-A four cylinder engine.

The more powerful Pup 150, with seating for an extra adult, was flown in October 1967. The second (G-AVLM) and third (G-AVLN) aircraft were Series 2 aircraft fitted with an enlarged rudder which became standard on all production aircraft.

The Pup-150 fuselage is only three inches longer than the Pup-100 while wingspan dimensions of the low-wing tricycle gear airplane remain the same. A 150 hp Lycoming O-320-A2B engine allows optional seating for four. The Pup-150 also offered a larger 34-Imperial-gallon fuel tank as opposed to the standard 24-Imperial-gallon tank installed as standard equipment in the 100 and 150 models. A large rudder on the 150 allows full aerobatics including unlimited spinning.

The first delivery (a Series 1) was to the Shoreham Flying School on 12 April 1968.

A Series 3 variant, a four-seater, was developed for the Iranian Civil Air Training Organisation. G-AVLM was converted during 1968 to become the series 3 prototype aircraft with a further enlarged rudder.

By 1969 production had increased at Shoreham to one Pup a day, aircraft were flown to either Rearsby Aerodrome or Cambridge Airport for painting and finishing. One aircraft was evaluated by the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1969, but was not ordered. Deliveries were made to civilian operators in several countries including Australia, Sweden and Switzerland.

The Pup-160 was powered with a 119kW Lycoming O-320-D2C engine.

The Pup was more spacious than its direct competitors and was a more complex design to manufacture and was also corrosion proofed throughout (usually then only an option on US-built competitors). For these reasons it was correspondingly more expensive to build, yet was sold at a competitive price. Its maintenance requires more care (i.e. expense) and its early days were troubled by issues with the doors and spares availability.

A total of 128 Pups had been delivered by the close of 1969, when 267 aircraft were on order. In December 1969 the government withdrew financial support for Beagle and the company was placed in receivership. Production ceased with the 152nd aircraft. Some remaining nearly completed aircraft were finished at a variety of locations, the last being completed G-BCGV (s/n B121-176) was first registered 17 June 1974. The Pup was developed into the Bulldog by Beagle, then Scottish Aviation.

A military version of the Pup was developed after being assessed by Rolls Royce Test Pilot Graham Andrews, who made 12 recommendations including its adaptation to a twin seated aircraft suitable for training purposes. The aircraft evolved into the Beagle B.125 Bulldog.

Gallery

B.121 Srs.1 Pup 100
Engine: 1 x RR/Cont. O-200-A, 100 hp / 74kW
Wingspan: 31 ft / 9.45 m
Length: 22 ft 11 in / 6.99 m
Height: 2.3 m / 7 ft 7 in
Wing area: 119.5 ft² / 11.10 m²
Take-off weight: 1,600 lb / 725 kg
Empty weight: 985 lb / 447 kg
Max. speed: 225 km/h / 140 mph
Cruise speed: 127 mph / 204 km/h
Ceiling: 2000 m / 6550 ft
Range: 800 km / 497 miles
Seats: 3

B.121 Srs.2 Pup 150
Engine: Lycoming 0-320-A2B, 150 hp (112 kW)
Wingspan: 31 ft 0 in / 9.45 m
Wing area: 119.5 ft² / 11.20 m²
Length: 23 ft 2 in / 7.06 m
Height: 7 ft 6 in / 2.29 m
Empty weight: 1090 lb / 494 kg
MTOW: 1925 lb / 873 kg
Fuel capacity: 24 ImpG / 109 lt
Fuel capacity w/opt: 34 ImpG / 155 lt
Cabin length: 6 ft 6 in / 1.98 m
Cabin max width: 3 ft 9 in / 1.14 m
Cabin max height: 3 ft 6 in / 1.07 m
Cabin volume: 85 cu.ft / 2.4 cu.m
Baggage space: 15 cu.ft / 0.42 cu.m
Top speed: 138 mph / 222 km/h
Max cruise 75% 7500ft/2290m: 114 kt / 131 mph / 211 kph
Range w/opt fuel: 549 nm / 633 mi / 1020 km
Service ceiling: 14,700 ft / 4480 m
Fuel @ 65% pwr: 45 lb/hr
Endurance 65% power: 5 hours
Stalling (clean/flaps): 53-48 mph/85-76 kmh
Max ROC SL: 700 fpm / 244 m/min
Take-off distance, 50 ft: 1350 ft.
Landing distance, 50 ft: 1430 ft.
Seats: 2-4

B.121 Srs.3 Pup 160
Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2C, 160 hp
Fuel capacity: 36 ImpG / 164 lt
Seats: 2+2
No built: 6

A new range of Auster lightplanes appeared in early 1960. It included the two-seat D.4/108, three seat D.5/160 and /180 and four-seat D.6, all powered by Lycoming engines and featuring metal spars. The Auster D.6 was developed from the J/5V, but J/5V G-APUW did not have the metal spar and other refinements of the D.6

A total of 157 D.4 and D.5 had been sold by the beginning of March 1964.

The 1961 types in the Auster range – D.4, D.5 and D.6 development of the Auster Alpha were announced with Lycoming engines, but since then the company was taken over by the Pressed Steel Co., Ltd., as part of its Beagle (British Executive and General Aviation, Ltd.) group. Beagle has announced that Rolls Royce/Continental powerplants will be installed in Auster/Beagle aircraft being developed under the direction of Mr. Peter Masefield.

The Beagle group had continued production of the Auster D.5/160 and Auster D.5/180, the latter as the A.113 Husky when fitted with a 134kW Lycoming O-360-A1A engine.

A major innovation of the D series was the use of metal wing spars which, with new low-flammability long-weathering plastic-based butyrate dope and paint finishes, made the D entirely suitable for use in the tropics. The D.4 was a two-seater with either a 9.75m or 10.98m wingspan and an 80, 112/119 or 134kW Lycoming engine; the D.5 was a three-seater offering the two wing spans but only the 119 and 134kW engines; and the D.6 was a four-seater with the greater wing span and engines as for the D.5.

The first production D.4/108 flew on 12 February 1960.

The first D.5/160 on 10 January 1960. Beagle developed the D5/160 as the “Beagle D5/180 Husky” with a 180 hp Lycoming O-360 engine, the first being G-ASBV first flown in 1962. A small number were sold until production was discontinued in 1967.

The first D.6/160 flew on 9 May 1960.

133 examples (Auster D.5/160) were built by the Oficinas Gerais de Material Aeronáutico in Portugal from 1961 onwards; and the Portuguese Air Museum preserves two of these; one in flying condition.

The designation “A.113” was only a design number and was not used in promotional material or in aircraft registrations with the Civil Aviation Authority where the term ‘D5/180’ was preferred. Additionally, the name Husky was only given to this version and not to the D5/160.

One Beagle Husky (XW635) was won by Sir Billy Butlin in a raffle and presented to the RAF’s Air Training Corps in 1969. It flew with No. 5 Air Experience Flight, flying air cadets from Cambridge Airport until it was retired in 1989 and sold to a civilian user.

Operators included the Burma Air Force, Portuguese Air Force, and Thai Border Patrol Police – One aircraft only.

Beagle-Auster D.4/108

Beagle-Auster D.5/160
Engine: 1 × Lycoming O-320-A2A, 160 hp (119 kW)
Wingspan: 36 ft 0 in (10.98 m)
Wing area: 185 ft² (17.2 m²)
Length: 23 ft 4½ in (7.13 m)
Height: 7 ft 11 in (2.41 m)
Empty weight: 1,450 lb (659 kg)
Loaded weight: 2,450 lb (1,114 kg)
Maximum speed: 125 mph (109 knots, 201 km/h)
Cruise speed: 108 mph (94 knots, 174 km/h)
Range: 460 mi (400 nmi, 741 km)
Service ceiling: 12,800 ft (3,900 m)
Rate of climb: 640 ft/min (3.3 m/s)
Crew: one pilot
Capacity: 2 passengers

D.5/180 Husky / A.113 Husky
Engine: 1 x Lyc. O-360-A2A, 132kW / 180 hp
Wingspan: 10.97 m / 36 ft 1 in
Length: 7.1 m / 23 ft 4 in
Height: 2.5 m / 8 ft 2 in
Take-off weight: 1090 kg / 2403 lb
Empty weight: 646 kg / 1424 lb
Max take off weight: 2400 lb / 1088kg
Range: 502 nm / 930 km / 580 mi
Max. speed: 206 km/h / 128 mph
Cruise speed: 177 km/h / 110 mph / 96 kt
Max ROC SL: 800 fpm / 245 m/min
Ceiling: 4420 m / 14,500 ft
Seats: 4
4 built

Beagle-Auster D.6/180