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Transport Aircraft of the VNVV
- Bv146
- Kaproni-Balgarski KB-14 Bora
- DAR-17 Pcheloyad

Blohm und Voss Bv146
General characteristics
Crew: 3 (Pilot, copilot, radio operator)
Capacity: 28 troops, 20 paratroops, or 3,500 kg cargo
Length: 21.8 m
Wingspan: 27 m
Height: 5.94 m
Wing area: 88 m²
Empty weight: 8,200 kg ( lb)
Gross weight: 13,500 kg ( lb)
Powerplant: 2 × BMW-801MC two-row radial engines (1,750 hp each)

Performance
Maximum speed: 470 km/h (274 mph)
Range: 1550 km ( miles)
Service ceiling: 11200 m ( ft)

Notes

Kaproni-Balgarski KB-14 Bora
The Caproni Bora was developed in Italy by the Caproni aviation manufacturer. The Italians needed a sturdy, low-maintenance tactical airlifter and transport both for use in the Italian Metropole and in their African territories. Caproni analyzed similar aircraft entering service elsewhere in the world and incorporated many of their features into their final design, which first flew in January 1947 and entered service with the Italian military in December of 1948. The Bora proved extremely rugged and reliable in service, with outstanding rough-field and short takeoff characteristics.

In 1948, the prototype was demonstrated to the Bulgarian Air Force, which ordered twelve aircraft, to be constructed in Bulgaria by Kaproni-Balgarski. The KB-14 featured several changes to the avionics in order to be used by Cyrillic speakers, but was otherwise identical to the Italian design.

Specifications
Crew: 4
Passengers: 45 troops
Length: 22.65 m
Wingspan: 31.6 m
Height: 8.75 m
Wing area: 107.45 m²
Empty weight: 14,569 kg
Max takeoff weight: 25,272 kg
Powerplant: 2 × SAI R.25 radial engines, 2500 hp each

Performance
Maximum speed: 449 kph (242 knots, 279 mph)
Cruising speed: 347 kph (187 knots, 215 mph)
Range: 2,388 km
Ferry range: 4,955 km
Service ceiling: 7,200 m
Rate of climb: 7 m/s

Notes
Cargo can be loaded through a single hydraulically-operated ramp in the rear of the aircraft.

Variants
- KB-14 Bora: license-built in Bulgaria by Kaproni-Balgarski
- CASA C-252: license-built in Iberia by CASA

DAR-17 Pcheloyad Utility Aircraft
In May 1947, the Bulgarian State Aircraft Workshops (Derzhavna Aeroplanna Rabotilnitsa, or DAR) negotiated a license to build the Antonov An-2 light transport. The resulting aircraft entered production in January 1948 under the designation DAR-17 Pcheloyad ("Bee-eater"). Twelve aircraft were built for the Bulgarian Air Force, while further quantities were delivered to civil aviation customers in Bulgaria, Romania and Czechoslovakia.

General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Passengers: 14-16, depending upon configuration
- Length: 15.25 m (52 feet)
- Wingspan: 19.8 m (64.9 feet)
- Height: 5.3 m (17.4 feet)
- Wing area: 39 m² (422 ft²)
- Empty weight: 2,880 kg (6,350 lbs)
- Loaded weight: 5,100 kg (11,244 lbs)
- Powerplant: 2 × 555hp (414 kW) Tumansky turboprop engines

Performance:
- Maximum speed: 325 km/h (175 knots / 202 mph)
- Cruise speed: 275 km/h (148 knots / 171 mph)
- Stall speed: 100 km/h ( knots / 62 mph)
- Max Range: 1,410 km (876 miles)
- Service ceiling: 7,500 meters (24,600 feet)
- Rate of climb: 2.29 m/s (7.5 ft/s)

Notes:
License-built in Bulgaria as the DAR-17 Pcheloyad, and in Poland as the PZL P.55 Norki.