Main Page
Welcome to the home of the BT-13 Vultee Valiant WWII Trainer!
NEWS/Added Information
Added/Updated Aircraft Info
1/9/2023 - Added Aircraft 42-42374 - Unknown Location Photo
1/2/2023 - Added Parts Graphics
1/2/2023 - Added Categories for Surviving Static Aircraft and Airworthy Aircraft
1/2/2023 - Added Aircraft BT-13B 42-90629
12/22/2022 - Added Aircraft B-427 – BT-13A on display at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar, Bali.
12/20/2022 - Added Field Codes Page
12/20/2022 - 40-1491 - Unknown Information on Aircraft Picture only
12/20/2022 - Added 41-10814 – BT-13A airworthy with Mark Howard of Oklahoma.
NEWS/Latest Happenings
New site is launched and ready. We are looking for any information.
| BT-13 Valiant | |
|---|---|
| Role | Trainer |
| Manufacturer | Vultee Aircraft |
| First flight | March 1939 |
| Introduction | June 1940 |
| Primary users | United States Army Air Forces
United States Navy |
| Number built | 11,537 ( Approx ) |
The Vultee BT-13 Valiant is an American World War II-era basic (a category between primary and advanced) trainer aircraft built by Vultee Aircraft for the United States Army Air Corps, and later US Army Air Forces. A subsequent variant of the BT-13 in USAAC/USAAF service was known as the BT-15 Valiant, while an identical version for the US Navy was known as the SNV and was used to train naval aviators for the US Navy and its sister services, the US Marine Corps and US Coast Guard.
In 1938, Vultee chief designer Richard Palmer began designing a single-engine fighter aircraft. About that time, the Army Air Corps issued a solicitation for an advanced trainer, with the promise of a substantial order if selected. Palmer adapted his design concept from a fighter to an advanced trainer, resulting in the V-51 prototype.
The prototype flew on 24 March 1939 as a cantilever low-wing monoplane of all-metal construction, with fabric-covered control surfaces. It was powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-1340-S3H1-G Wasp radial engine of
600 hp (450 kW), driving a two-blade variable-pitch metal propeller. It had an enclosed cockpit for the instructor and student, integral wing fuel tanks, and a hydraulic system to operate the flaps and retractable main landing gear. The V-51 was entered into the USAAC competition as the BC-51 in May 1939. The USAAC instead chose the North American BC-2 in the competition, but also purchased the BC-51 prototype for further study, designating it the BC-3. Palmer refined his design, resulting in the VF-54, with the goal of selling the trainer to other countries. It used the same basic airframe as the VF-51, but was fitted with a lower powered engine. However, no export sales resulted from this proposal.
The V-54 was further refined, resulting in the VF-54A, with a well-faired fixed landing gear, manually-operated landing flaps, powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-985-T3B Wasp Jr. radial rated at 450 hp (340 kW). It was offered to the USAAC in this form, and in August 1939 the type was ordered as the BT-13. The initial order was for 300 aircraft with a Pratt & Whitney R-985-25 radial. The first aircraft was delivered to the USAAC in June 1940.
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The BT-13A was produced to the extent of 7,037 aircraft and differed only in the substitution of a Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-1 radial engine, and deletion of the landing gear fairings. 1,125 units designated BT-13B were then produced; they differed from the A model in replacing the 12v electrical system with a 24v system.
Due an industry-wide demand for the Pratt & Whitney R-985 engine, a total of 1,263 units were then produced incorporating the Wright R-975-11 engine of equal power rating. They were accepted by the USAAC as BT-15.
The US Navy also ordered 1,150 BT-13A models under the designation SNV-1. It also ordered another 650 units designated SNV-2, based on the BT-13B.
Once in service, the aircraft quickly got its nickname of "Vibrator." There are several explanations given for this nickname. 1: Because it had a tendency to shake quite violently as it approached its stall speed. 2. During more adventurous maneuvers the canopy vibrated. 3. On takeoff, the aircraft caused windows on the ground to vibrate. 4. The two-position propeller had an irritating vibration in high pitch. The BT-13 served its intended purpose well. It and its successors were unforgiving aircraft to fly, but were also extremely agile. Thus the BT-13 made a good aircraft to help transition many hundreds of pilots toward their advanced trainers and fighters yet to be mastered. The BT-13 was not without its faults. The tail was held on with only three bolts and after several in-flight failures, the Navy restricted the aircraft from aerobatic and violent maneuvers. The Navy declared the SNV obsolete in May 1945 and replaced it in the basic training role with the SNJ (T-6). The Army also replaced the BT-13 with the AT-6 before the end of the war.
After World War II, virtually all were sold as surplus for a few hundred dollars each. Many were purchased just to obtain their engines, which were mounted on surplus biplanes (such as Stearmans) to replace their less powerful engines for use as crop dusters. The BT airframes were then scrapped. Several others were modified as multi-passenger civilian aircraft; one as the "Viceroy" and at least two others by a different firm. Today, some "BT's" (collectively, BT-13s, BT-15s and SNVs) are still flying, though in very limited numbers (and none in military or government service).
Variants
Operators
Aircraft Status
Surviving Static Aircraft
Other Status Aircraft
Airworthy Aircraft
Specifications (BT-13A)
General characteristics
- Crew = 2
- Length: 28 ft 10 in (8.79 m)
- Wingspan: 42 ft 0 in (12.80 m)
- Height: 11 ft 6 in (3.51 m)
- Wing area: 239 sq ft (22.2 m2)
- Empty weight: 3,375 lb (1,531 kg)
- Gross weight: 4,496 lb (2,039 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-1 nine-cylinder air-cooled radial engine, 450 hp (340 kW)
- Propellers: 2-bladed Hamilton-Standard 2-position
Performance
- Maximum speed: 180 mph (290 km/h, 160 kn)
- Range: 725 mi (1,167 km, 630 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 21,650 ft (6,600 m)
- Time to altitude: 9.2 minutes to 10,000 ft (3,000 m)
Specifications (BT-13B)
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-985 of 450 hp
- Maximum speed: 155 mph
- Cruising speed: 130 mph
- Range: 880 miles
- Ceiling: 19,400 ft.
- Span: 42 ft. 2 in.
- Length: 28 ft. 8 1/2 in.
- Height: 12 ft. 4 3/4 in.
- Weight: 4,227 lbs. loaded
Field Codes
References
Bibliography
External links
Social Media Links
Facebook Group
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Contact Information
Any information or photos you may have, you can contact me personal email until I get my vultee one up and running.