Of the 321 Scottish Aviation Bulldogs produced by Scottish Aviation at Prestwick between 1971 and 1982, many were purchased internationally. The Aircraft was operated by the armed forces of Sweden, Ghana, Hong Kong, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta, Malaysia, Nigeria and Botswana in addition to its domestic operation. In early 1980 the Botswana Defence Force (Air Wing) placed an order for six BH.120 Bulldog series 1210 which were intended to replace the Cessna 152 then used for basic flying training. G-BHXB serial number 120 was one of these six aircraft. Additionally, these six aircraft were to have limited ordnance capability for use in a light attack and reconnaissance roles. This requirement had previously only been specified by the Swedish Government for the SK61 version operated by both Airforce and Army units and necessitated additional structural wing strengthening and electrical configuration. It is believed that the intention was to carry weapons ranging from 7.62mm machine gun(s) to SNEB 68mm rockets or a 290 kg bomb. A rear passenger seat was also fitted to the BDF aircraft enabling the carriage of an observer.
Bulldog Series 120 Model 1210 (c/n BH120/408), registered as G-BHXB, was completed in 1980. During the second half of 1980 all six aircraft were delivered to Botswana wearing a green/brown camouflage with British civil registrations and flown in pairs along a route which averaged 56 flying hours, with the journey taking typically two weeks to complete. The typical route flown (with minor variations) was:
- Prestwick - Redhill - Shoreham - Clermont Ferrand - Nice - Rome/Ciampino - Corfu/Kerkira - Heraklion (Crete) Luxor - Khartoum - Addis Ababa - Nairobi-Wilson - Kilimanjaro - Lilongwe -Bulawayo - Gaborone.
When in Botswana it was transferred to the Botswana Defence Force Number and designated OD2. Little is known of the aircrafts operational life, it is believed that they where used for border patrols and liaison with Botswana Army ground units. The third seat was often occupied by a ground controller or senior officer as the rear seat provided an FM radio battlefield control position.
One of the aircraft (OD3 / G-BHZP) was destroyed in a fatal accident during 1982 and the five remaining examples remained in service until 1991 when they were replaced by the Pilatus PC-7. A U.K. customer purchased the Bulldogs intending to ferry them back to England, however for reasons which aren’t known, four arrived at Malta-Luqa remaining in open storage until continuing their journey between September and November 1994. The remaining aircraft G-BHZR is thought to have been temporarily stored in Cyprus for a similar duration
On returning to the U.K. they were sold to private operators and restored to the British Civil Aircraft register using their original 1980 identities:- G-BHXA / G-BHXB / G-BHZR / G-BHZS / G-BHZT. BHXB spent some time with Deltair who demilitarised the aircraft, transforming it back into a civil aircraft on a certificate of airworthiness with the original registration reinstated. Subsequently the aircraft had a number of owners and purposes, one of whom re-registered the aircraft as G-JWCM and used it for air racing.
The aircraft was purchased in 2016 by its current owner who was dedicated to return the aircraft to its original condition.
Blackstone Aviation was commissioned by the owner to help return the aircraft to this state and it was re-registered back to its rightful designation, G-BHXB. Following its repaint by GA Livery and the restoration work carried out by Blackstone Aviation the aircraft is now flown regularly and cared for meticulously by the owner.
Today the Botswana Bulldogs remain U.K based and with the exception of G-BHZS are all currently airworthy and actively flying. Two of the ex-Botswana Defence Force Bulldogs G-BHZR and G-BHXB, are now maintained to highest standards under the auspices of Blackstone Aviation.
