Vultee BT-13 / SNV Valiant

gee bee, e-mail, 25.10.2021 05:14 hi anyone have a bt13 exhaust dishpan?thanks reply

BOBBY HALFORD, e-mail, 13.10.2021 06:36 Does anyone know where all the Vultee Plants were located during WWII? Where were all the BTs manufactured? reply

Rick Jones, e-mail, 12.03.2017 00:02 Evert, send me an e-mail at rickgjones@hotmail.com and I can give you information for drawings reply

ejonker, e-mail, 06.02.2017 18:18 I am currently looking for Vultee B13 valiant construction drawings. Thanks a lot, Evert reply

Robert Wall, e-mail, 31.12.2013 05:42 I bought a BT13A in 1950 for $450. It was built using the best parts of three BT's, had O /H'd instruments and all metal. Many surplus BT's had wood and fiber parts (monoque, control surfaces, side panels, even wood prop blades so an "all metal" BT was a valued item. Kept it at Van Nuys airport in a group of five BT's tied down there. Had a ball with it until drafted for the Korean war. Gas was $.32 a gallon and tie down $10 /month. I was making $.75 /hour on the electric department of the City of Glendale. After I retired from corporate flying in 1991 I had an North American T6-G for eighteen years--loved it too but the BT was exciting and challenging for a 200 hr. Private pilot. Many, many BT's were cannibalized for the P /W 985 engines which went into Stearman crop dusters. It was common to see a few BT hulks minus engines in the weeds at a crop duster field in the agricultural areas of the U.S. reply

Carl Wittfeld, e-mail, 21.12.2012 07:40 My Father owned a BT-13 and instructed in it after WW II, where he served in the AAC in the Phillipines. His plane was damaged when a hurricane blew a hangar door in on it, where he instructed in Florida back in the 50s. He was an instructor for the Embry Riddle flight school back then, before it was an "Aeronautical University". He also taught in piper cubs and Stearmans, and did exhibition flights in Stearmans. Wondered if anyone still around from that era. His name was Carl J. Wittfeld Jr; flew for Gibbs Corp and then for the FAA until he retired in the 1980's in Anchorage AK. reply

Brian Baldridge, e-mail, 27.09.2012 01:24 The Chico Army Air Field in Northern Califoria was a large training base during WW2 flying primarily BT-13's. We have a relatively new Air Museum and are looking for a static display Valiant to be the centerpiece of the tribute to Army Air Corp pilots and personnel that came through Chico. We are certified non-profit. Check out our website at chicoairmuseum.org. Let us know if you know where there might be am aircraft that would fit the bill. reply

Shashu, e-mail, 28.03.2012 21:13 I have a cargo door panel and an inspection panel for a Vultee BT-13. I'm planning on listing these on E-Bay but have no idea what I should set the reserve price at for each. Any ideas? Thanks reply

Dave Williams, e-mail, 04.03.2012 04:29 Living in North Orange County in Southern Cal., it was common to hear Vultee vibrators overhead, with the new pilots playing with the variable pitch prop. When I get to a museum where there is one, I try to at least touch a wingtip. You see, my mom worked the swingshift at Vultee during WW2, and made the map cases for them. So many trips to that factory and back in blinding fog, for the war effort. I have a natural affection for this plane. reply

Jason Reid, e-mail, 13.08.2011 04:42 I am the proud owner of a 1943 BT-13A sn.10425 AAF 42-43210 . It Is undergoing a total restoration at this time and I hope to have it completed by summer of 2012 if all goes well. This ship was stationed in Waco, Tx. and Enid, Ok. If there are any students still around from any of the two locations where this plane was stationed and had flown or know someone who has, I would like to hear from you to get more history on her and possibly some photos of her in WWII. Thanks, ,Jason Reid reply

pree, 21.06.2011 07:27 Due to the wide tread it was supposed to be almost impossible to ground loop but I saw an instructor due it and get a wing tip also. reply

Dan Jones, e-mail, 21.03.2011 22:36 I have a basket-case BT-13 that I'm restoring to flying condition. I'm having a good time with it mechanically and am very much looking forward to being able to fly it someday. reply

Dave Marvosh, e-mail, 16.03.2011 03:27 My dad was an instructor during the war and used the BT-13's. Most of the guys are gone now but if anyone looking at this site remembers him I would love to hear from you. I know he was in Coffeeville KS and Texas and possibly Oklahoma but I don't know weather he was training or instructing at these locations His name was Nick Marvosh. There is a photo of him flying a BT-13 in the Smithsonian Institution archives, SI Neg. #75-5230 reply

LTC (Rt) Ray burke, e-mail, 24.02.2011 13:44 Got my basic training in the vibrator at Marana AZ in early '44. Enjoyed the airplane, but the housing at Marana was TERRIBLE! Oh well, c'est la guerre. reply

Louis Pratt, e-mail, 24.01.2011 09:09 I am a proud owner of one of the few BT-13s left flying. It was manufactured in April 1942. It was assigned to Lemoore, Stockton, Lancaster, Ontario (CA), and Marana and Kingman (AZ). I restored it in the 1980s. It's a great airplane and very enjoyable to fly. reply

Lee McDuff, e-mail, 17.01.2011 00:01 I flew the BT-13 Vultee Vibrator in basic training at coffeyville, Kansas. I flew the PT-19 earlier as a primary trainer. Then the AT-6, the P-40, and the P-47. The BT-13 was the sorriest excuse for an airplane that I ever flew. The AT-6 and the P-47 were the best planes that I flew. I flew the Thunderbolt in combat as a fighter-bomber. I was shot down in Sept of 1944, and spent the remainder of the war as a POW. All-in-all I believe the time spent flying the BT-13 was a waste of time. We should have gone from the PT-19 directly to the AT-6. reply

Tredgar R Smiley, e-mail, 29.11.2010 06:25 In the late 50`s I was a Mechanic /pilot for Plains Aero service in Dalhart, Texas. We converted nine BT-13 into sprayers. We did large area spraying. It was a great sprayer.It would carry 210 galons of water very nicely. Dalhart airport elevation was 4100 ft. We flew the aircraft over it`s max weight most of the time.I sprayed with the BT-13 over 1500hrs And loved every minute reply

Tredgar R Smiley, e-mail, 29.11.2010 06:24 In the late 50`s I was a Mechanic /pilot for Plains Aero service in Dalhart, Texas. We converted nine BT-13 into sprayers. We did large area spraying. It was a great sprayer.It would carry 210 galons of water very nicely. Dalhart airport elevation was 4100 ft. We flew the aircraft over it`s max weight most of the time.I sprayed with the BT-13 over 1500hrs And loved every minute reply

John Cahill, e-mail, 16.11.2010 00:05 In late 1949 or 1950 my older brother purchased a BT 13A {N4794N}. I learned to fly from the back seat of that vibrator, until I was old enough to solo it. I have many good memories of it. reply