Planes of Perrin VULTEE BT-13B "VALIANT" BASIC TRAINER

The "Valiant" was the basic trainer most widely used by the USAAF during WW II. It represented the second of the three stages of pilot training--primary, basic and advanced. Compared with the primary trainers in use at the time, it was considerably more complex. The BT-13 not only had a more powerful engine it was also faster and heavier. In addition, it required the student pilot to use two-way radio communications with the ground, operate landing flaps and a two-position variable pitch propeller. Nicknamed the "Vibrator" by the pilot's, who flew it, the BT-13 was powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-985 engine. But to counter the shortage of these engines early in the BT-13 production program, 1,693 Valiants were produced in 1941-2 with a Wright R-975 engine and were designated as BT-15s. By the end of WW II, the US Army Air Forces had accepted over 10,375 BT-13s. There where 1,775 BT-13B's built.

SPECIFICATIONS
Span: 42 ft. 2 in.
Length: 28 ft. 8 1/2 in.
Height: 12 ft. 4 3/4 in.
Weight: 4,227 lbs. loaded
Armament: None
Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-985 of 450 hp.
Crew: Two (instructor & student)
Cost: $20,000

Flying in Echelon Formation




BT-13 Check out