Vultee BT-13 / SNV "Valiant"
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Scott, e-mail, 25.04.2023 20:34

Do you still have this? Pics? How much left? Thanks!


Scott, e-mail, 25.04.2023 20:33

Do you still have this? Pics? How much left? Thanks!


Scott, e-mail, 25.04.2023 20:28

Do you still have this? Pics? How much left? Thanks!


Art Whittaker, e-mail, 02.01.2023 22:23

I have a partial fuselage I found in the woods. Long story. Let me know if interested in the whole thing. ??


Art Whittaker, e-mail, 02.01.2023 22:21

I have a fuselage I found in the woods ..!!


Art Whittaker, e-mail, 02.01.2023 22:17

I have a fuselage I found in the woods ..!!


Malcolm Laing, e-mail, 02.01.2022 19:18

I have a friend with one, email me with a phone number and I will send you his contact


gee bee, e-mail, 25.10.2021 05:14

hi
anyone have a bt13 exhaust dishpan?thanks


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?


B. Laing, e-mail, 02.06.2021 01:04

Found a comment in a thread from 2010. I currently own and fly BT-13 N4794N. Do you have any photos of the ship from the early 50s?

Regards,
Brian


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


ejonker, e-mail, 06.02.2017 18:18

I am currently looking for Vultee B13 valiant construction
drawings.
Thanks a lot, Evert


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.


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.


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.


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


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.


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


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.


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.


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


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.


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.


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.


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


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


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.


MARK NOVACK, e-mail, 13.09.2010 22:34

I JUST SAW THIS BT-13 CHAT THREAD. I AM CURRENTLY LISTING A SUPERB CONDITION VULTEE BT-13 VALIANT VERTICAL TAIL FIN - STABILIZER ON EBAY. THE LISTING WILL START TODAY - MONDAY 9-13-2010 AT 2:00PM PST (5:00PM EST). THE FIN COMES W/ IT'S ORIGINAL HINGE BRACKETS, ORIGINAL DATA PLATE AND ORIGINAL INSPECTION PORT COVER PLATE. THE FIN IS IN SUPERB SHAPE INSIDE & OUT. JUST THOUGHT IF ANYONE WAS INTERESTED, THIS FIN COULD BE OF HELP IN A RESTORATION.


Dick Walker, e-mail, 03.09.2010 02:03

Graduating in class 44J,..Dec, 44, I flew the BT-13, Vultee Vibrator at Marana AFB, Tucson, AZ.. Remembedr one time when I got into a spin and it would not come out. Scared to death, I opened the canaop, stuck one leg out prior to the big jump, when all of the sudden my leg must have broke the air flow enouhg to cause the airplane to recover from the spin enough that I was able to get back in the plane and assist in the recovery. WOW... Others experienced the same dilema, so it was soon restricted from practice spins.


Robert Laird, e-mail, 27.04.2010 04:12

My dad was an instructor out of Corpus Christi during the war, and taught using SNV-1. Here is a photo of him flying one: http://rlaird.net/images/dad-flying-snv1.jpg If anyone out there knew my dad, Ray W. Laird, I'd appreciate you dropping me a line... rlaird at ymail dot com


Jack Herrington, e-mail, 20.03.2010 05:46

I got my Basic flight training in the B-13 at Merced, California. I was sent to twin engine flight school at Marfa AAB, Texas for Advance. Really enjoyed flying the B-13.


Ken Theis, e-mail, 07.01.2010 22:56

I had a beloved uncle who was killed in 1958 at age 43 while instructing a student pilot. The accident occured in the San Luis Valley of Colorado. From old newspaper clippings I learned that the aircraft was a Vultee trainer. A witness said the plane was making a horrible noise before stalling and crashing from only about 800 feet altitude. Is anyone familiar with this airplane aware of its flying characteristics and potential for engine failure?


Lester, e-mail, 04.06.2009 07:07

Yeah, Prince. I'll get right on that. You wouldn't have an extra bar or two laying around that you could send me? Just to check it out, of course.


Marc, e-mail, 23.02.2009 05:51

I am restoring a navy SNV-1 (BT-13) In bakersfield Ca.If anyone know's of anyone who may have parts for sale Please contact me!Another BT-13 is almost finished,all are located at Minter Field the largest training field on the west coast during WWII. Go to www.masseyaircraftservice.com for picture's under project page!


guy oliver, e-mail, 22.02.2009 19:30

I flew this SNV in Basic at Corpus Christi, Tex and again used it for cross country flights from Norman Ok where I was a Primary flight instructor in the N2S. It was the aircraft of choice due to its range, meaning less fuel stops. 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.


George E. Suttton, e-mail, 01.09.2008 22:42

Upon transferring from the RCAF/RAF, where I had been flying Beaufighters, the U. S. Navy sent me to basic training to fly the Vultee Vibrator! It was very uncomfortable since it would barely fly at the stalling speed of the Beau. Howver, I survived it!


gene cody,17.07.08, e-mail, 17.07.2008 20:08

M basic trainer at Sumter,SC in early 1942. Later instructed cadets at Greenville Army Air Base,MS and supervised cadet training at Greenwood Army Air Base, MS.Enjoyed flying at night rounding up students lost and recovering aircraft where cadets got lost on day flights and landed in pastures. Most of my flying hours were in this aircraft. Two tornadoes a week apart at Grennwood damaged a lot of aircraft and buildings.


Ace Avakian, e-mail, 07.06.2008 03:18

...started out in Primary (Air Corps) in the Wright powered BT15 at Thunderbird II. Pleasant airplane to fly... 'went to the BT13 later and then on to Advanced but still have a soft spot for the "Vibrator".


Robert Seymour, e-mail, 05.06.2008 22:49

I took basic in this airplane in early 1943, in Greenwood, Ms.
Good preparation for advanced twin engine training. I remember little of the plane itself, was too busy learning to fly it!


Ivan E. (Gene) Hutchins, e-mail, 01.06.2008 22:28

At age 17 (n 1948)another lineboy and I bought a BT-13 for $250 from the manager of Lakeside Airport,near Collinsville, Illinois. I'd gotten my Private pilots license that year and flew most all SEL Mil.trainers available to the civilian market. Soloed in a T-Craft and flew all PT type too. The G.I. Bill was going strong at that time and Lakeside was noted to be one of the largest GI Bill flight schools in the midwest. At age 77 i am still somewhat active and fly when i can afford it.


Paul R. Flow, e-mail, 11.05.2008 20:44

In the late 1950's, I was a Mechanic/Pilot for a company in Monroe, NC. We used to go to Camden, SC to buy surplus planes from the War Assets Adminstration.We got BT-13's for about $150 and flew them home, got them licensed for civilian use and resold them. Some people bought them just to get the Pratt-Whitney R-985 to put on Stearmans for crop-dusting.


Gary Dammer, e-mail, 29.04.2008 00:03

I owned a BT-13 that I was restoring. But sold it before it was done in 1974. Many of the parts were destroyed in a hanger fire. I understand that the remaing parts (Wing center section, Fusealage), were made into a static display aircraft for a museum. I paid $100.00 for the origional aircraft in 1968. It sat deralect at a airport in St Charles Mo. for years. It had been converted into a single place smoke writer aircraft. There were at least 4 coats of paint when I stripped the old paint off. It would of been a nice restoration, had a lot of the parts not been destroyed by the fire.




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