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Home > Fact Sheets > Vultee BT-13B Valiant
VULTEE BT-13B VALIANT
Posted 2/4/2011
Printable Fact Sheet
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DAYTON, Ohio -- Vultee BT-13B Valiant (foreground) and Stearman PT-13D Kaydet in the World War II Gallery at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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The Valiant was the basic trainer most widely used by the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War 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 and to operate landing flaps and a two-position variable pitch propeller.
Nicknamed the "Vibrator" by the pilots who flew it, the BT-13 was powered by a 450-hp Pratt & Whitney R-985 engine. Because of a shortage of these engines, however, 1,693 Valiants flew with Wright R-975 engines, thereby becoming BT-15s. By the end of WWII, 10,375 BT-13s and BT-15s had been accepted by the USAAF.
The BT-13B on display, one of 1,775 Bs built, was acquired from Raymond Brandly of West Carrollton, Ohio, in 1965.
TECHNICAL NOTES:
Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-985 of 450 hp
Maximum speed: 155 mph
Cruising speed: 130 mph
Range: 880 miles
Ceiling: 19,400 ft.
Span: 42 ft. 2 in.
Length: 28 ft. 8 1/2 in.
Height: 12 ft. 4 3/4 in.
Weight: 4,227 lbs. loaded
Serial number: 42-90629
Click here to return to the World War II Gallery.
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