Kaproni-Balgarski KB-9 Bekas
The KB-9 Bekas is a twin-engine liaison plane locally-designed in Bulgaria. It first entered service in 1940.
Specifications
Crew: 2
Passengers: 4
Length: 13.5 m (44.3 ft)
Wingspan: 18 m (59 ft)
Height: 4 m (13 ft)
Wing area: 45 m² (484.4 ft²)
Empty weight: 2,500 kg (5,512 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 3,900 kg (8,598 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × Argus As 410 inverted V-12, 450hp each
Performance
Maximum speed: 338 kph (210 mph)
Range: 1,287 km (800 mi)
Service ceiling: 6,096 m (20,000 ft)
Armament
- 1 × 7.5mm MG
- 150kg bombs
Notes
- 100 aircraft sold to Turkey
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Kaproni-Balgarski KB-9-II Bekas
The KB-9-II Bekas was a significant modernization of the earlier KB-9, which first entered service in 1940 as a six-seat, twin-engine liaison aircraft. The aircraft featured upgraded avionics, improved controls, and a number of ease-of-manufacturing improvements. One of the most significant changes was the substitution of Russian-designed Tumansky turboprops for the original Argus V-12 engines, which provided one-fifth more horsepower for a minor increase in weight.
Specifications
Crew: 2
Passengers: 4
Length: 13.5 m (44.3 ft)
Wingspan: 18 m (59 ft)
Height: 4 m (13 ft)
Wing area: 45 m² (484.4 ft²)
Empty weight: 2,600 kg (5,732 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 4,075 kg (8,984 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × Tumansky turboprops, 555shp each
Performance
Maximum speed: 338 kph (210 mph)
Range: 1,320 km (820 mi)
Service ceiling: 6,300 m (20,669 ft)
Armament
- 1 × 7.5mm MG
- 150kg bombs