DAR-10

DAR-10A
Image caption
Description
Role	Light bomber and reconnaissance
Crew	2
First Flight	July 1941
Entered Service	-
Manufacturer	DAR
Dimensions
Length	9.54 m	in
Wingspan	12.20 m	in
Height	m	in
Wing area	22.2 m²	ft²
Weights
Empty	1,843 kg	lb
Loaded	2,570 kg	lb
Maximum takeoff	kg	lb
Powerplant
Engines 1 x	Alfa Romeo 126 RC34
Power 1 x
	kW	780 hp
Performance
Maximum speed	410 km/h	mph
Combat range	1,170 km	miles
Ferry range	km	miles
Service ceiling	7,250 m	ft
Rate of climb	m/s	ft/min
Wing loading	kg/m²	lb/ft²
Power/Mass	kW/kg	hp/lb
Armament
Guns	4 x machine guns: 2 x 7.92mm fixed in wings 2 x 7.7mm in rear upper station 1 x 20mm gun in nose (?)
Bombs	500 kg	lbs

The DAR-10 was the Bulgarian light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft prototype, designed in the DAR (Darzhavna Aeroplanna Rabotilnica, meaning literally 'State Airplane Workshop') factory in Bozhurishche, near the capital Sofia.

The first prototype of DAR-10A Bekas (Bulgarian: "snipe") first flew in July 1941. It was powered by the Alfa Romeo 126 RC34 9-cylinder radial engine, with a power 780 hp. It was armed with 4 x machine guns (2 fixed) and possibly with one 20mm gun. It could carry 500 kg bombs (5 x 100 kg). In the summer of 1942, the prototype crashed. DAR-10A showed good characteristics, but the high-wing reconnaissance-bomber plane KB-11 Fazan was chosen for a production instead.

The second improved prototype was first flew only in March 1945. It had a designation '\DAR-10F' (for Fiat). It was slightly heavier and longer, powered by a stronger Fiat A74 RC38 14-cylinder radial engine, with a power 960 hp. It developed a speed of 454 km/h. Thanks to a stronger construction and richer wing mechanization, it could serve also as a dive bomber. Its gunnery armament consisted of 2 guns 20 mm in a nose, 2 machineguns in wings and 2 machineguns of a rear gunner. It could carry 650 kg bombs (1 x 250 kg and 4 x 100 kg) - or 450 kg, according to other data. However, in 1945 the aircraft has not been satisfactory anymore, and it was canceled.

Contrary to popular information, DAR-10 was not produced in series.

The aircraft was conventional in layout, with low wings, all-metal. The crew consisted of two: pilot and an observer/ rear gunner. An undercarriage was fixed, covered with aerodynamic covers. The bombs were carried under the wings.

Links:

BULGARIAN MILITARY AVIATION

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