DAR 9 Siniger

The DAR-9 Siniger, (tomtit or titmouse) was a trainer produced in Bulgaria during World War II.

Design and development
To provide the Bulgarian Air Force with a modern trainer, DAR took out a licence to build the Focke-Wulf Fw 44J. The first series powered by a Siemens-Halske Sh14 radial engine were built at the DAR factory, but subsequent series were built at the DSF (Derzhavna Samoletna Fabrika)

Surviving aircraft in 1948 were re-engined with Walter Minor 6.III in-line engines due to the difficulties in procuring spares and the poor condition of the Siemens-Halske engines.

DAR 9 production consisted of series 1, which was built at the DAR factory and which carried the construction numbers 88 to 93 and Series 2 to Series 5, built at the DSF factory and which carried construction numbers 95 to 130.

Operational history
The DAR 9s were used for training at the Kazanlak Air School until at least 1949. Nine surplus DAR 9s were transferred to the Yugoslavian Air Force in 1947, withdrawn from service by 1958. One DAR 9 is preserved at the Technicki Muzej, Zagreb, Croatia.

Variants

 * DAR 9
 * Initial designation of the Sh-14 powered aircraft.


 * DAR 9A
 * Aircraft re-engined with Walter Minor 6.III engines were re-designated DAR 9A.

Operators

 * Bulgarian Air Force
 * Kazanlak Air School
 * Kazanlak Air School


 * Yugoslavian Air Force
 * Yugoslavian Air Force