Bulgarian Air Force, 1950
It's been awhile since I've given much of an update to the Bulgarian Royal Air Force (VNVV) in any sort of detail. This should give you an idea of where the VNVV currently stands, and some ideas into where it might be going.
Overview
Overall, the VNVV's focus has always looked primarily toward air defense and army cooperation, including tactical bombing. As a result, Bulgaria fields an oversized force of fighters, primarily focused on the interceptor role, as well as numerous ground-attacker and tactical liaison types.
The VNVV's premier aircraft remains the BCAC (Vickers-Supermarine) Spiteful, the final descendant of the long line of Spitfires that the Bulgarians have used extensively over the years. The Spitefuls congregate in the Strike Aviation Brigade, along with half of Bulgaria's bombers.
Four other types of fighters remain in use with the VNVV. Over two hundred Spitfires remain in service, although these are increasingly found in reserve units rather than active squadrons. Bolstering that force are a modest number of DAR-16 Orels (the license-built Soko Orao) and Fairey Fireflies. A small force of Arsenal VG.640 Graoullys round out that number, although these are set to be speedily retired.
In 1946, the VNVV upgraded their light bomber fleet with an order for seventy-two Dutch-built Koolhoven F.K.61 fast bombers, which narrowly beat out the de Havilland Mosquito. Deliveries were complete in early 1948. Twelve of the aircraft were modified by DAR to serve as dedicated night fighters, using Phillips electronics. As of July 1949, the VNVV is investigating the possibility of purchasing the follow-on Koolhoven F.K.62 jet, although no contracts have yet been signed.
As of July 1949, the most recent additions to the VNVV's roster are twelve Kaproni-Balgarski KB-14 Bora transports, designed in Italy and built in Bulgaria by the Kaproni-Balgarski firm. The final unit of twelve entered service in May of 1949. However, several important projects are in the works.
Maritime Units
Bulgaria does not maintain a naval aviation arm, but the VNVV does operate the 6th Fighter (Maritime) Orlyak, with its long-range Fairey Fireflies, in order to provide air cover to the Bulgarian Navy. In theory, these fighter squadrons are on detached duty from the air force and assigned to naval command. Some of the Fireflies have been modified with an underwing radar for use as night-fighters, although this is not their normal role and equipment.
Jets
The Bulgarian high command has been very reluctant to make an early commitment to jet aircraft. This is largely due to concern about the reliability of the earliest jet-powered aircraft. Over the last five years, a small group of pilots in the VNVV, the 20th Fighter Yato, have spent significant time flying various foreign jet aircraft, as well as a group of twelve Arsenal VG.640 Graoullys purchased very cheaply from France in 1947. This group of Bulgarian pilots eventually logged time in an impressive variety of craft including the de Havilland Vampire, Dassault Ouragan, Bf-262, Cometa, Cinghiale, MiG-9 and MiG-15, Su-7, I-212, Strsljen, I-05 Pulqui III, P-80, and P-64 Sokol.
By 1948, the Bulgarians had collected enough observational data to make some initial decisions about their first jet aircraft. Two aircraft in particular interested them: the Saab 29 Tunnan (from Nordmark) and the Swiss N-20 Aiguillon. However, development of the Aiguillon proceeds too slowly and unreliably for Bulgaria's tastes, which led to the VNVV's interests solidifying in the Tunnan. Bulgarian pilot Stoyan Stoyanov flew the Tunnan in Nordmark during April 1949. On Stoyanov's recommendation, the Bulgarian State Aircraft Workshops (Derzhavna Aeroplanna Rabotilnitsa, or DAR) opened discussions with Saab for assembling Tunnans on the basis of kits. DAR designated the type the DAR-18 Tormozya (badger). They assembled one preproduction aircraft in October 1949 in order to assess the factory's capability for further production. This sparked a factory reorganization that continued through May of 1950, and DAR began assembling their first Tunnan kits in September of 1950. The first aircraft entered line service in the VNVV in March 1951, several months after the first Nordish aircraft.
Due to the length of time necessary to get the Tunnan into service, the VNVV leased eighteen MiG-15s, including two twin-seat trainers, from the Russian Federation. The MiGs arrived in Bulgaria in July 1949, and the VNVV bought them outright in mid-1950.
To help with the transition to jet aircraft, the Bulgarians approached Morane-Saulnier in January 1949 for MS.660 Aquilons. This aircraft had been repeatedly showcased to the VNVV since its inception in 1946, and Bulgarian pilots had flown its Swiss variant, the EKW D.3901, as early as 1947. The Bulgarians investigated the idea of building Aquilons at DAR, but eventually rejected this option, as it would disrupt DAR's preparations to build the Tunnan. Forty-eight aircraft were ordered, with the Swiss EKW firm filling the order with D.3901s due to the timing of the contract. Deliveries from EKW began in August 1949 and were complete by October.
Helicopters
In 1948, the VNVV dispatched a number of pilots to France and the Russian Federation to be trained as helicopter pilots. Twelve Sikorsky S-19 helicopters were ordered from Russia shortly thereafter, forming a transport orlyak.
Local Aircraft
In 1948, DAR received the license to build the Antonov An-2 twin-engine STOL aircraft, which became the DAR-17 Pcheloyad ("Bee-eater"). The Bulgarian Air Force ordered twelve aircraft, while other examples were built for airlines and cargo-haulers.
The Kaproni-Balgarski factory also launched an updated version of their KB-9 Bekas twin-engine liaison aircraft. The KB-9-II included updated Tumansky turboprops identical to those used on the DAR-17 Pcheloyad, as well as upgraded avionics.
Kaproni-Balgarski also license-built twelve KB-14 Bora twin-engine medium transports, of Italian design.
Beginning in April 1948, DAR started working on the design of an intermediate trainer aircraft, bridging the gap between the biplanes and gliders used for basic training, and the Miles Masters and Aquilons. Design is ongoing, but no specifications will be available until 1950.
Friday, April 19th 2024, 9:38pm
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