Vultee BT-13 Valiant

Vultee BT-13 Brave Story

The BT-13 Valiant was an excellent trainer used during WWII for basic flight instruction and instrumentation training for the blind. The rear cockpit has a curtain that can be moved forward to block the student pilot's view, forcing him to fly over the plane using five basic instruments: an altimeter, airspeed indicator, compass, bank and turn indicators, and an optional tachometer.

The BT-13 series offers slightly different training than the AT-6 Texan, as it does not have a retractable landing gear. First delivered to the military in 1942.

The BT-13 family produced several variants, including the "A" and "B" models, both equipped with Pratt & Whitney engines. The BT-15 came along with the introduction of the Wright radial engine in response to growing production demands. The US Navy uses the BT-13A and BT-13B as the SNV-1 and SNV-2, respectively.

Total production of the BT Valiant collection exceeds 11,500 examples, some of which are still in private collectors today.

Specification

Basic

Production

Roles

Dimensions

Weight

Performance

Performance

Armor

Changes