DAR-10

infobox Aircraft
name = DAR-10
type = Light bomber and reconnaissance
manufacturer = Darzhavna Aeroplanna Rabotilnica


caption =
designer =
first flight = July 1941
introduced =
retired =
produced =
number built = 2
status = Prototype
unit cost =
primary user = Bulgarian Air Force
more users =
developed from =
variants with their own articles = The DAR-10 (ДАР-10) was a Bulgarian light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft.

Design and development

The DAR-10 was designed by Zvetan Lazarov in 1938 in the DAR ("Darzhavna Aeroplanna Rabotilnica", meaning literally 'State Airplane Workshop') factory in Bozhurishte, near the capital Sofia.

The Dar-10 was a single-engine two-seat (pilot and gunner) low-wing cantilever monoplane aircraft of conventional layout. Its two seats were in tandem under enclosed glazing. Its tailwheel undercarriage was fixed, and the main gears were spatted. the wings had wooden structure, covered with plywood. Flaps were not used.

The fuselage was comparatively wide and deep, to accommodate the nose-mounted radial engine. It was constructed of steel-tube framework and wood formers, covered with fabric.

Three-bladed steel propellers were used.

Two prototypes were built, powered by different engines:
*DAR-10A "Bekas" (Bulgarian: "snipe"), powered by an Alfa Romeo 128 R.C.21 9-cylinder radial engine rated at 950 hp (709 kW). This was the first DAR-10 to fly, in July 1941. It was designed to carry four machine guns (2 fixed forward-firing and 2 in rear gunner position). It could carry five 100-kg bombs, mounted under the wings. There was also the possibility of a fixed 20 mm forward-firing cannon installation in the forward fuselage.

This aircraft crashed in the summer of 1942. In spite of good flight reviews, the type was not chosen for production. The high-wing KB-11 Fazan was selected for production instead.

*Dar-10F (the "F" to indicate its Fiat engine), powered by a Fiat A 74 R.C.38 14-cylinder radial engine rated at 870 hp (649 kW). This aircraft first flew in March 1945. It was slightly heavier and longer than the DAR-10A. Its top speed was 454 km/h (282 mph). Thanks to a stronger construction and dive flaps, it could serve also as a dive bomber. It could be equipped with two fixed fuselage-mounted 20 mm cannons firing forward, two fixed wing-mounted machine guns, and two machine guns for the gunner. It could carry 650 kg bombs (1 x 250 kg and 4 x 100 kg) - or 450 kg, according to other data. The bombs would be mounted under the wings.

The DAR-10 was not selected for production. Some sources suggest that it was passed over in favor of the German Junkers Ju-87 Stuka dive bomber.

Variants

;DAR-10A:First prototype, powered by an Alfa Romeo radial engine.;DAR-10F:Second prototype, powered by a Fiat radial engine.

Operators

;flag|Bulgaria|1878
*Bulgarian Air Force

=Specifications (DAR-10)= aircraft specifications/switch
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
ref=Jane's Aircraft Recognition Guide [cite book|title=Jane's Aircraft Recognition Guide|last=Rendall|first=David|pages=505|year=1995|id=ISBN 0-00-4709802|publisher=HarperCollinsPublishers|location=Glasgow, UK]
crew=2
length main=9.54 m
length alt=31.3 feet
span main=12.20 m
span alt=40.0 feet
height main=3.3 m
height alt=10.8 feet
area main=22.2 m²
area alt=239 ft²
empty weight main=1,843 kg
empty weight alt=4,063 lb
loaded weight main=2,570 kg
loaded weight alt=5,666 lb
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main=
max takeoff weight alt=
engine (prop)=Alfa Romeo 128 R.C.21
type of prop=
number of props=1
power main=708 kW
power alt=950 hp
max speed main=410 km/h
max speed alt=255 mph
max speed more=
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
range main=1,170 km
range alt=727 miles
ceiling main=7,250 m
ceiling alt=23,785 feet
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main=
loading alt=
thrust/weight=
armament=
*4x machine guns:
*2x 7.92 mm fixed in wings
*2x 7.7 mm in rear upper station
*1x 20 mm gun in nose (?)
*500 kg bombs

References

External links

* [http://www.aeroplanesdar.com Official site of Aeroplanes DAR Ltd - Sofia]
* [http://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contributions/Braas/4218.htm Photo of DAR-10A]
* [http://www.geocities.com/bulgarian_aviation/ Bulgarian Aviation]

ee also

aircontent

related=

similar aircraft=
* PZL.23 Karaś
* Neman R-10
* Junkers Ju 87
* Mitsubishi Ki-30

sequence=

lists=
* List of bomber aircraft

see also=