- Aircraft
- References Citations Notes Bibliography
This is a list of aircraft formerly used by the Bulgarian Air Force and Bulgarian Navy. For aircraft currently in service, see List of active Bulgarian military aircraft. Aircraft Aircraft | Local name | Origin | Type | {{abbr|TOS|Year Taken on strength | {{abbr|WFU|Year Withdrawn from use | # | Aero A.304 | - | Czechoslovakia | Bomber | 1939 | 1943 | 1}} | Aero L-29 | - | Czechoslovakia | Trainer | 1965 | 2002 | 150}} | Aero MB.200[1] | Buhal (Owl) | France/Czechoslovakia | Bomber | 1939 | 1941 | 6}} | Albatros B.I | - | Germany | Reconnaissance | 1914 | 1916 | 2}} | Albatros C.III[2] | - | Germany | Reconnaissance | 1916 | 1934+ | 38}}+ | Albatros D.III | - | Germany | Fighter | 1918 | 1918 | few | Albatros F.2 | - | Germany | Utility | 1912 | 1914 | 3}} | Albatros L 73 | - | Germany | Transport | 1929 | ? | 2}} | Antonov An-2 | - | USSR | Transport | 1956 | 2001 | 87}} | Antonov An-14 | - | USSR | Transport | 1966 | 1993 | 8}} | Antonov An-24 | - | USSR | Transport | 1967 | 2001 | 12}}+ | Arado Ar 65 | Orel (Eagle) | Germany | Fighter | 1937 | 1940 | 12}} | Arado Ar 96 | Soyka (Jay) | Germany | Trainer | 1940 | 1953 | 34}} | Arado Ar 196 | Akula (Shark) | Germany | Recon floatplane | 1943 | 1945 | 12}} | Armstrong Whitworth F.K.3 | - | United Kingdom | Reconnaissance | 1917 | ? | 1}}[3] | Avia B-71[4] | Jerav (Crane) | USSR/Czechoslovakia | Bomber | 1939 | 1945 | 42}} | Avia B-122 | Osa (Wasp) | Czechoslovakia | Trainer | 1939 | 1951 | 28}} | Avia B-135 | Lyastovitsa (Swallow) | Czechoslovakia | Fighter | 1943 | 1944 | 12}} | Avia B.534-IV | Dogan (Hunting Hawk) | Czechoslovakia | Fighter | 1939 | 1945 | 78}} | Bleriot XI, XIbis and XI-2 | - | France | Trainer/reconnaissance | 1912 | 1916 | 16}} | Blériot XXI | - | France | Reconnaissance | 1912 | 1913 | 1}} | Bristol Boxkite | - | United Kingdom | Trainer | 1912 | 1912 | 1}} | Bristol Prier monoplane | - | United Kingdom | Trainer | 1912 | 1913 | 6}} | Bristol Primary Trainer/Lucifer | - | United Kingdom | Trainer | 1926 | ? | 1}} | Bristol Type 88 Tourer | - | United Kingdom | Utility | 1924 | 1926 | 5}} | Bücker Bü 131 | Ljastovica (Swallow) | Germany | Trainer | 1938 | 1949+ | 12}}-15 | Bücker Bü 181 | - | Germany | Trainer | 1943 | 1944 | 15}}-24 | Caudron C.59 | - | France | Trainer | 1924 | ? | 3}} | Caudron C.440 Goéland | - | France | Transport | 1936 | 1936 | 1}} | DAR 1 & 1A | Peperuda (Butterfly) | Bulgaria | Trainer | 1926 | 1940+ | 20}} | DAR 3/Lazarov Laz-3 | Garvan (Raven) | Bulgaria | Reconnaissance | 1929 | 1940 | 31}} | DAR 5 | Brambar (Beetle) | Bulgaria | Bomber | 1930 | ? | 1}} | DAR 6 | - | Bulgaria | Trainer | 1932 | ? | 3}} | DAR 7 | - | Bulgaria | ? | 1935 | ? | 1}} | DAR 8 | Slavei (Nightingale) | Bulgaria | Trainer | 1940 | 1941 | 12}} | DAR 10 | Bekas (Snipe) | Bulgaria | Reconnaissance | 1941 | 1949 | 2}} | Dewoitine D.520 | - | France | Fighter | 1943 | 1947 | 120}} | DFW C.Va[5] | - | Germany | Reconnaissance | 1917 | ? | 19}} | Dornier Do 11D | Prilep (Bat) | Germany | Bomber | 1937 | 1941 | 12}} | Dornier Do 17 | Uragan (Hurricane) | Germany | Bomber | 1940 | 1945 | 44}}-51[6] | Farman VII (via Russia) | - | France | Utility | 1912 | 1915 | 5}} | Fieseler Fi 156C-3 | Drozd (Thrush) | Germany | Reconnaissance/Liaison | 1940 | 1953 | 19}} | Focke-Wulf A 20 | - | Germany | Transport | 1930 | 1934+ | 1}} | Focke-Wulf Fw 43 | - | Germany | Trainer | 1939 | ? | 1}} | Focke-Wulf Fw 44[7] | Sinijert/Vrabche (Chickadee/Sparrow) | Germany | Trainer | 1936 | 1957 | 109}} | Focke-Wulf Fw 56 | Komar (Mosquito) | Germany | Trainer | 1936 | 1940 | 6}} | Focke-Wulf Fw 58 | Gulub (Dove) | Germany | Trainer/transport | 1937 | 1950 c. | 34}} | Focke-Wulf Fw 189A | Nebesno Oko (Eye of Heaven) | Germany | Reconnaissance | 1943 | 1950 c. | 19}} | Fokker D.VII | - | Germany | Fighter | 1918 | 1927+ | 8}} | Fokker E.III | - | Germany | Fighter | 1915 | 1916 | 3}} | Friedrichshafen FF.33L | - | Germany | Recon floatplane | 1916 | 1917 | 8}} | Grigorov-1 | - | Bulgaria | Recon floatplane | ? | ? | 1}} | Hanriot HD-14 | - | France | Trainer | 1924 | ? | 1}}+ | Heinkel He 42 | Patica (Duck) | Germany | Recon floatplane | 1942 | ? | 2}} | Heinkel He 45B | Starkel (Stark?) | Germany | Bomber | 1936 | 1942 | 12}} | Heinkel He 51B | Sokol (Falcon) | Germany | Fighter | 1936 | 1940 | 12}} | Heinkel He 60 | Tulen (Seal) | Germany | Reconnaissance | 1942 | 1944 | 5}} | Heinkel He 72 | Kanarche (Canary) | Germany | Trainer | 1936 | 1940 | 6}} | Heinkel He 111H-16 | - | Germany | Transport/Bomber | 1943 | 1944 | 1}} | Ilyushin Il-2 | - | USSR | Attack | 1945 | 1958 | 130}} | Ilyushin Il-10/Avia B.33 | - | USSR | Attack | 1951 | 1958 | 100}} c. | Ilyushin Il-14 | - | USSR | Transport | 1958 | 1982 | 20}}+ | Ilyushin Il-28 | - | USSR | Bomber/reconnaissance | 1955 | 1974 | 15}} | Jordanov-1 | - | Bulgaria | Reconnaissance | 1915 | ? | 1}} | Junkers A 20 | - | Germany | Bomber | 1932 | ? | 1}} | Junkers F 13 | - | Germany | Transport | 1927 | 1928 | 2}} | Junkers W 34 | - | Germany | Transport | 1944 | 1949 c. | 1}} | Junkers Ju 52/3m | Sowa (Owl) | Germany | Transport | 1938 | 1960 | 12}} | Junkers Ju 87 | Sztuka (Stuka) | Germany | Bomber | 1943 | 1945 | 52}} | Kamov Ka-25Tz | - | USSR | Anti-Submarine Helicopter | 1984 | 1991 | 1}} | Kaproni-Bulgarski KB-1[8] | Peperuda (Butterfly) | Italy | Trainer | 1932 | ? | 7}} | Kaproni-Bulgarski KB-2, 3, 4 & 5[9] | Chuchuliga (Lark) | Italy | Trainer | 1933 | 1949 | 107}} | Kaproni-Bulgarski KB-6/KB-309[10] | Papagol (Parrot) | Italy/Bulgaria | Bomber | 1940 | 1946 | 12}} | Kaproni Bulgarski KB-11 | Fazan (Pheasant) | Bulgaria | Liaison | 1940 | 1947 | 50}} | Lazarov Laz-7 | - | Bulgaria | Trainer | 1948 | 1967? | 313}} | Lazarov Laz-8 | - | Bulgaria | Transport | 1949 | 1958 | 1}} | Let L-200 | - | Czechoslovakia | Transport | 1960 | 1964 | 4}} | Letov Š-18 | - | Czechoslovakia | Trainer | 1925 | 1926 | 10}} | Letov Š-328 | Vrana (Crow or Raven) | Czechoslovakia | Reconnaissance | 1939 | 1946 | 62}} | Lisunov Li-2 | - | USSR | Transport | 1946? | 1979 | 12}} | LVG B.II[11] | - | Germany | Reconnaissance | 1915 | 1917? | 12}} | Messerschmitt Bf 108B | Lebed (Swan) | Germany | Liaison | 1940 | 1944 | 6}} | Messerschmitt Bf 109 | Strela (Arrow) | Germany | Fighter | 1939 | 1947 | 168}} | MiG-15 | - | USSR | fighter | 1951 | 1981 | 272}} c. | MiG-17 | - | USSR | Fighter | 1955 | 1990 | 94}}+ | Lim-6 | - | Poland | Fighter | ? | ? | 31}} | MiG-19 | - | USSR | Fighter | 1958 | 1986 | 70}}+ | MiG-21 | - | USSR | Fighter/Attack/Reconnaissance | 1963 | 2015 | 226}} | MiG-23 | - | USSR | Fighter/Attack | 1973 | 2004? | 180}} | MiG-25[12] | - | USSR | Reconnaissance | 1982 | 1991 | 4}} | Mil Mi-1 | - | USSR | Utility helicopter | 1957 | 1993 | 4}} | Mil Mi-2 | - | USSR | Transport helicopter | 1957 | ? | 42}}+ | Mil Mi-4 | - | USSR | Transport Helicopter | 1957 | 1991 | 60}} | Mil Mi-6 | - | USSR | Heavy Transport Helicopter | 1972 | 1989 | 6}} | Mil Mi-8 | - | USSR | Transport Helicopter | 1970 | ? | 36}} | Nieuport IV | - | France | Utility | 1912 | 1913 | 2}} | Nieuport 24 | - | France | Fighter | 1917 | 1918 | 2}}[3] | Otto C.I | - | Germany | Reconnaissance | 1915 | 1917 | 13}} | Petlyakov Pe-2 | - | USSR | Bomber | 1945 | 1958 | 98}} | Polikarpov Po-2 | - | USSR | Utility | 1946 | 1969 | 1}}+ | Potez VIII | - | France | Trainer | ? | ? | 2}} | Potez XVII | - | France | Reconnaissance | 1925 | ? | 30}} | PZL P.24 | Yastreb (Hawk) | Poland | Fighter | 1937 | 1942 | 82}} | PZL.43 | Chaika (Gull) | Poland | Bomber | 1937 | 1944 | 47}} | PWS-26 | Yunak (Hero) | Poland | Trainer | ? | ? | 1}} | Roland D.II | - | Germany | Fighter | 1917 | 1918 | 6}} | Roland D.III | - | Germany | Fighter | 1918 | 1920 | 6}} | Sukhoi Su-25[13][14] | - | USSR | Attack | 1986 | 2012 | 42}} | Tupolev Tu-2 | - | USSR | Bomber | 1946 | 1954 | 36}} | Tupolev Tu-154M | - | USSR | Transport | 1991 | 1999 | 1}} | Yakovlev Yak-9 | - | USSR | Fighter/Trainer | 1944 | 1955 | 180}}+ | Yakovlev Yak-11 | - | USSR | Trainer | 1948 | 1991 | 50}} | Yakovlev Yak-12 | - | USSR | Transport | 1947 | 1948 | 2}} | Yakovlev Yak-18 | - | USSR | Trainer | 1958 | 1996 | 16}}+ | Yakovlev Yak-23 | - | USSR | Fighter | 1949 | 1958 c. | 24}} | Yakovlev Yak-40 | - | USSR | Transport | 1975 | 2001 | 1}} | Zlín Z 142 | - | Czechoslovakia | Trainer | 1995 | 1996 | 4}} |
ReferencesCitations1. ^Bloch MB.200 built under licence in Czechoslovakia by Aero and Avia 2. ^Also built in Bulgaria as DAR-2 3. ^1 Captured 4. ^Tupolev SB built under licence in Czechoslovakia by Avia 5. ^Also built in Bulgaria as DAR U-1 6. ^Some captured from Yugoslavia 7. ^Also built in Bulgaria as DAR-6 and DAR-9 8. ^Caproni Ca.100 built under licence by Bulgarian subsidiary of Caproni. 9. ^Caproni Ca.113 built under licence by Bulgarian subsidiary of Caproni. 10. ^Caproni Ca.309 built under licence by Bulgarian subsidiary of Caproni. 11. ^Misidentified in some sources as an LVG C.II as they were later armed. 12. ^Traded for MiG-23s 13. ^Grounded 2012. 10 to Georgia 2013. 14. ^ "Bulgaria sells ten Su-25s to Georgia"
Notes{{Reflist|group=note}}Bibliography- Bulgaria Air Force Aircraft Types Accessdate:August 2014
- Bulgaria Air Force Aircraft Types NOT Used Accessdate:August 2014
- {{cite book|last=Nedialkov|first=Dimitar|title=Air Power of the Kingdom of Bulgaria Part II|series=|publisher=Fark Ood/Air Sofia|location=Sofia|year=2001|asin=B004LCRNEY}}
- {{cite book|last=Nedialkov|first=Dimitar|title=Air Power of the Kingdom of Bulgaria Part III|series=|publisher=Fark Ood/Air Sofia|location=Sofia|year=2001|asin=B002M3RQS2}}
- {{cite book|last=Nedialkov|first=Dimitar|title=Air Power of the Kingdom of Bulgaria Part IV|series=|publisher=Fark Ood/Air Sofia|location=Sofia|year=2001|asin=B002M3LX4A}}
- {{cite book|last=Rajlich|first=Jiri|title=Slovakian and Bulgarian Aces of World War 2|series=Aircraft of the Aces 58|publisher=Osprey|year=2004|isbn=9781841766522}}
3 : Bulgarian Air Force|Lists of military aircraft|Bulgarian military aircraft |