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| The original contract for the BT-13 two-seat basic trainer was awarded in September 1939. Production ceased in the summer of 1944 after 11,537 Valiants had been delivered to the USAAF as BT-13/BT-15 and the US Navy as SNV. There were also several variants of the design: the BT-13 and SNV types using the 335.3kW Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-1 or -3 as the basic power plant, and the BT-15 with the Wright R-975-11.
| MODEL | BT-13A |
| ENGINE | 1 x Pratt-Whitney R-985-AN-1 Wasp Junior, 336kW |
| WEIGHTS |
| Take-off weight | 2039 kg | 4495 lb |
| Empty weight | 1531 kg | 3375 lb |
| DIMENSIONS |
| Wingspan | 12.8 m | 42 ft 0 in |
| Length | 8.79 m | 29 ft 10 in |
| Height | 3.51 m | 12 ft 6 in |
| Wing area | 22.2 m2 | 238.96 sq ft |
| PERFORMANCE |
| Max. speed | 290 km/h | 180 mph |
| Ceiling | 6600 m | 21650 ft |
| Range | 1167 km | 725 miles |
| MARK NOVACK, e-mail, 13.09.2010 22:34 I JUST SAW THIS BT-13 CHAT THREAD. I AM CURRENTLY LISTING A SUPERB CONDITION VULTEE BT-13 VALIANT VERTICAL TAIL FIN - STABILIZER ON EBAY. THE LISTING WILL START TODAY - MONDAY 9-13-2010 AT 2:00PM PST (5:00PM EST). THE FIN COMES W / IT'S ORIGINAL HINGE BRACKETS, ORIGINAL DATA PLATE AND ORIGINAL INSPECTION PORT COVER PLATE. THE FIN IS IN SUPERB SHAPE INSIDE & OUT. JUST THOUGHT IF ANYONE WAS INTERESTED, THIS FIN COULD BE OF HELP IN A RESTORATION. reply | | Robert Laird, e-mail, 27.04.2010 04:12 My dad was an instructor out of Corpus Christi during the war, and taught using SNV-1. Here is a photo of him flying one: rlaird.net /images /dad-flying-snv1.jpg If anyone out there knew my dad, Ray W. Laird, I'd appreciate you dropping me a line... rlaird at ymail dot com reply | | Jack Herrington, e-mail, 20.03.2010 05:46 I got my Basic flight training in the B-13 at Merced, California. I was sent to twin engine flight school at Marfa AAB, Texas for Advance. Really enjoyed flying the B-13. reply | | Dick Walker, e-mail, 03.09.2010 02:03 Graduating in class 44J,..Dec, 44, I flew the BT-13, Vultee Vibrator at Marana AFB, Tucson, AZ.. Remembedr one time when I got into a spin and it would not come out. Scared to death, I opened the canaop, stuck one leg out prior to the big jump, when all of the sudden my leg must have broke the air flow enouhg to cause the airplane to recover from the spin enough that I was able to get back in the plane and assist in the recovery. WOW... Others experienced the same dilema, so it was soon restricted from practice spins. reply | |
| | Ken Theis, e-mail, 07.01.2010 22:56 I had a beloved uncle who was killed in 1958 at age 43 while instructing a student pilot. The accident occured in the San Luis Valley of Colorado. From old newspaper clippings I learned that the aircraft was a Vultee trainer. A witness said the plane was making a horrible noise before stalling and crashing from only about 800 feet altitude. Is anyone familiar with this airplane aware of its flying characteristics and potential for engine failure? reply | | Lester, e-mail, 04.06.2009 07:07 Yeah, Prince. I'll get right on that. You wouldn't have an extra bar or two laying around that you could send me? Just to check it out, of course. reply | | Marc, e-mail, 23.02.2009 05:51 I am restoring a navy SNV-1 (BT-13) In bakersfield Ca.If anyone know's of anyone who may have parts for sale Please contact me!Another BT-13 is almost finished,all are located at Minter Field the largest training field on the west coast during WWII. Go to www.masseyaircraftservice.com for picture's under project page! reply |
| guy oliver, e-mail, 22.02.2009 19:30 I flew this SNV in Basic at Corpus Christi, Tex and again used it for cross country flights from Norman Ok where I was a Primary flight instructor in the N2S. It was the aircraft of choice due to its range, meaning less fuel stops. Due to the wide tread it was supposed to be almost impossible to ground loop but I saw an instructor due it and get a wing tip also. reply | | George E. Suttton, e-mail, 01.09.2008 22:42 Upon transferring from the RCAF /RAF, where I had been flying Beaufighters, the U. S. Navy sent me to basic training to fly the Vultee Vibrator! It was very uncomfortable since it would barely fly at the stalling speed of the Beau. Howver, I survived it! reply | | gene cody,17.07.08, e-mail, 17.07.2008 20:08 M basic trainer at Sumter,SC in early 1942. Later instructed cadets at Greenville Army Air Base,MS and supervised cadet training at Greenwood Army Air Base, MS.Enjoyed flying at night rounding up students lost and recovering aircraft where cadets got lost on day flights and landed in pastures. Most of my flying hours were in this aircraft. Two tornadoes a week apart at Grennwood damaged a lot of aircraft and buildings. reply | | Ace Avakian, e-mail, 07.06.2008 03:18 ...started out in Primary (Air Corps) in the Wright powered BT15 at Thunderbird II. Pleasant airplane to fly... 'went to the BT13 later and then on to Advanced but still have a soft spot for the "Vibrator". reply | | Robert Seymour, e-mail, 05.06.2008 22:49 I took basic in this airplane in early 1943, in Greenwood, Ms.
Good preparation for advanced twin engine training. I remember little of the plane itself, was too busy learning to fly it! reply | | Ivan E. (Gene) Hutchins, e-mail, 01.06.2008 22:28 At age 17 (n 1948)another lineboy and I bought a BT-13 for $250 from the manager of Lakeside Airport,near Collinsville, Illinois. I'd gotten my Private pilots license that year and flew most all SEL Mil.trainers available to the civilian market. Soloed in a T-Craft and flew all PT type too. The G.I. Bill was going strong at that time and Lakeside was noted to be one of the largest GI Bill flight schools in the midwest. At age 77 i am still somewhat active and fly when i can afford it. reply | | Paul R. Flow, e-mail, 11.05.2008 20:44 In the late 1950's, I was a Mechanic /Pilot for a company in Monroe, NC. We used to go to Camden, SC to buy surplus planes from the War Assets Adminstration.We got BT-13's for about $150 and flew them home, got them licensed for civilian use and resold them. Some people bought them just to get the Pratt-Whitney R-985 to put on Stearmans for crop-dusting. reply | |
| | Gary Dammer, e-mail, 29.04.2008 00:03 I owned a BT-13 that I was restoring. But sold it before it was done in 1974. Many of the parts were destroyed in a hanger fire. I understand that the remaing parts (Wing center section, Fusealage), were made into a static display aircraft for a museum. I paid $100.00 for the origional aircraft in 1968. It sat deralect at a airport in St Charles Mo. for years. It had been converted into a single place smoke writer aircraft. There were at least 4 coats of paint when I stripped the old paint off. It would of been a nice restoration, had a lot of the parts not been destroyed by the fire. reply |
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Marc
I have a fuselage I found in the woods ..!!
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