Vultee BT-13 Valiant Basic Trainer Aircraft

Specifications

Year: 1939
Manufacturer(s): Vultee Aircraft - USA
Production: 11,537
Capabilities: Training;

Crew: 2
Length: 28.74 ft (8.76 m)
Width: 42.19 ft (12.86 m)
Height: 12.30 ft (3.75 m)
Weight (MTOW): 4,365 lb (1,980 kg)

Power: 1 x Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-1 Wasp Jr 9-cylinder radial engine developing 450 horsepower.

Speed: 183 mph (295 kph; 159 kts)
Ceiling: 16,503 feet (5,030 m; 3.13 miles)
Range: 513 miles (826 km; 446 nm)

Operators: Australia; Chile; China; Egypt; France; Honduras; Peru; Soviet Union; United States

The BT-13 Valiant was a stellar trainer aircraft used for basic flight training and for blind instrument training throughout World War 2. The rear cockpit was equipped with a curtain that could be moved forward to cover the student pilot's vision, forcing him to fly by the aircraft by the five basic instruments: altimeter, air-speed indicator, compass, bank and turn indicators, and an optional tachometer. The BT-13 series differed slightly from the training offered with the AT-6 Texan in that it did not have retractable landing gear. The first delivery to the military was in 1942.

The BT-13 series spawned a few variants including a "A" and a "B" model, both fitted with Pratt & Whitney brand engines. The BT-15 appeared along with the introduction of Wright radial engines to help handle rising production needs. The United States Navy operated the BT-13A and BT-13B as the SNV-1 and SNV-2 respectively. Total production of the BT Valiant series as a whole amounted to over 11,500 examples, some which still fly in the hands of private collectors today.

Armament

None.

Variants / Models

• V-51 - Prototype
• BC-51 - Prototype Designation for USAAC contract competition.
• VF-51 - Based on the BC-51 prototype
• VF-54 - Refined VF-51 design
• VF-54A - Revised VF-54 model
• BT-13 USAAC Base Production Model Designation; 300 initially ordered.
• BT-13A - Fitted with Pratt & Whitney engines.
• BT-13B - Fitted with Pratt & Whitney engines.
• SNV-1 - US Navy designation for the BT-13A series.
• SNV-2 - US Navy designation for the BT-13B series.
• BT-15 - Fitted with Wright-series R-975 radial engine.