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Combat Air Museum "Wing"
Vultee BT-13A Valiant
Vultee BT-13A Valiant (USAAC s/n 41-11584)
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Known to its student pilots as the “Vultee Vibrator,” thousands of Army Air Corps, Navy, and Marine Corps aviation cadets flew the BT-13 series aircraft during World War II as the next step in their pilot training after primary instruction. The Navy designation for the BT-13 was SNV.

The BT-13 was similar to Vultee’s Basic Combat trainer, the BC-51/BC-3, developed in the late 1930’s but never placed into production. The BT-13 had fixed landing gear and used a smaller engine than the BC-51/BC-3.

After the initial production of 300 BT-13s, Vultee built the improved BT-13A (SNV-1) (he BT-13A was produced to the extent of 7,057 aircraft) followed by the BT-13B (SNV-2) with a 24 volt electric system and other minor changes. Vultee delivered a total of 9,833 all BT-13/SNV types to the Army and Navy between1940 -1944. This particular plane, 41-11584 was assigned to the AAF Training Command at Luke auxilliary Field (previously Echeverria Field), Wickenburg in Arizona, Nov 13, 1944. The rest of its history is unknown.

Museum volunteers recovered this aircraft from a farm near Colby, Kansas in 1988.

TECHNICAL NOTES:

Manufacturer:
Vultee
Basic Role:
WWII Basic Trainer
Crew:
2
Engines:
One 450 hp (340 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-1 nine-cylinder radial, single-row, air- cooled engine
Maximum speed:
182 mph (293km/hr)
Cruising Speed:
170 mph (274km/hr)
Max. Range:
725 miles (1,191 km)
Service Ceiling:
21,000 ft (6,400.8m)
Wingspan:
42 feet 0 inches (12.8m)
Length:
28 feet 10 inches (8.8m)
Height:
(antenna mast): 11 feet 8 inches (3.6m)
Wing Area:
239 sq ft (208 sq m)
Weight:
2,976 pounds empty (1,352.7kgs) 3,991 pounds loaded (1,814.1kgs)
Armament:
None
Serial number:
USAAC s/n 41-11584
Vultee BT-13A WreckageVultee BT-13A Wreckage being towed to Combat Air Museum for restoration

Condition of Vultee BT-13 as retrieved from behind a farm barn near Colby, Kansas

Vultee BT-13 innards
Controls and Innards of the restored BT-13 preserved for all to see
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