It was intended to power the FR.2 with a 200 hp (149 kW) Hispano-Suiza 8 water-cooled V-8 engine, but the Hispano was in great demand, and it was decided to switch to the new Clerget 11, an eleven-cylinder rotary engine, a change which led to the prospective design being redesignated 2FR.2.
[1] The Bulldog was a compact single-bay biplane resembling the first prototype Sopwith Snipe single-seat fighter.
Armament was two synchronised Vickers machine guns in a hump ahead of the pilot, while the observer/gunner was provided with two Lewis guns, one on a telescopic mounting forward of the observer's cockpit, and the second on a pillar mounting to give rearward defence.
It was quickly rebuilt with much larger two-bay wings,[3] which improved the handling, but the prototype's performance remained disappointing,[4] not even matching that of the aircraft it was intended to replace.
However, although the Dragonfly gave much more power than the Clerget, it was hopelessly unreliable, with one test pilot stating that "...