BT-13 VALIANT

The BT-13 Valiant is a basic trainer aircraft of World War II manufactured by Vultee Aircraft and was designed by Richard Palmer.

The BT-13 Valiant was flown by most American pilots during World War II. The BT-13 incorporates a more powerful engine and was faster and heavier than the primary trainer. The BT-13s maiden flight was on March 1939. The BT-13 had served its purpose well and it made a good aircraft to help transition many hundreds of pilots toward their advance trainers and fighters yet to be mastered. The BT-13 has a crew of two, for a student and instructor. It has a maximum speed of 180 mph and a range of 725 miles. It incorporates a Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-1. The primary users and oerators of the BT-13 are the USAAF and the US Navy.

Curently, some BTs including the BT-13s are still flying, though there were only limited numbers. Postwar, virtually all were sold as surplus for a a few hundred dollars each. The BT-13 production run outnumbered all other Basic Trainer types produced.