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|---|---|---|---|
| Description | |||
| Manufacturer: | Vultee | ||
| Designation: | BT-13 | ||
| Version: | A | ||
| Nickname: | Valiant | ||
| Type: | Trainer (Basic) | ||
| Specifications | |||
| Length: | 28' 10" | 8.79 M | |
| Height: | 9' 1" | 2.77 M | |
| Wingspan: | 42' 2" | 12.85 M | |
| Wingarea: | 238.00 Sq Ft | 22.11 Sq M | |
| Empty Weight: | 3375.00 lbs | 1530.00 Kg | |
| Gross Weight: | 4496.00 lbs | 2039.00 Kg | |
| Propulsion | |||
| No. of Engines: | 1 | ||
| Powerplant: | Pratt & Whitney R-985-25 | ||
| Horsepower (each): | 450 | ||
| Performance | |||
| Range: | 516 miles | 830.00 Km | |
| Cruise Speed: | 140.00 mph | 225.00 Km/H | 121.62 Kt |
| Max Speed: | 166.00 Mph | 267.00 Km/H | 144.32 Kt |
| Ceiling: | 16500.0 Ft | 5029.00 M | |
The BT-13 was a basic trainer built by Consolidated Vultee Corp., Vultee Field, California. In 1940, the Army Air Corps placed the largest order for one plane when it ordered the BT-13. Over 11,000 were built by 1945. Aviation cadets moved from their primary trainers to this all-metal, flush-riveted metal skin, closed-canopy plane with a 450 hp Pratt & Whitney "Wasp Junior" or a Wright Whirlwind" that gave it speeds up to 176 mph over a range of 1,050 miles. It had a Hamilton Standard 2-position variable pitch propeller and was equipped with full navigation and night-flying instruments.
The museum's BT-13A, s/n 41-21487, was manufactured by Vultee Aviation, Downey, CA, and received by the USAAF on 28 Jun 1941. It was assigned to the Pilot School (Basic) at Cochran AAF, Macon GA. It was wrecked on 3 May 1943 and disposed as surplus on 25 Sep 1943 with 1553 airframe hours. The museum received the aircraft in October, 1980. (Note: we had identified our aircraft in the past as s/n 41-1306). This aircraft is on loan from the USAF.
