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Vultee BT-13 Valiant

The BT-13 Valiant was an American World War II-era basic trainer aircraft built by Vultee Aircraft for the United States Army Air Corps. The BT designation indicated the aircraft was a "Basic Trainer".

The BT-13 was the basic trainer flown by most American pilots during World War II. It was the second phase of the three phase training program for pilots. After primary training in PT-13, PT-17, or PT-19 trainers, the student pilot moved to the more complex Vultee for continued flight training. The BT-13 had a more powerful engine and was faster and heavier than the primary trainer.

The BT-13 had a continuous canopy with its crew of two sitting in tandem behind dual controls. It was also equipped with blind flying instruments to teach new pilots the basics of flying at night or in foul weather.

The first flight of the BT-13 was in March 1939, with introduction to service in June of 1940.

A subsequent variant of the BT-13 in USAAC/USAAF service was known as the BT-15 Valiant.

An identical version for the US Navy was known as the SNV and was used to train naval aviators for the US Navy, US Marine Corps and US Coast Guard.

Other training aircraft used during the war included the T-6 Texan and Harvard.

A total of 9,525 BT-13 aircraft were built.

Vultee BT-13 Valiant Photos

Vultee BT-13 Valiant, 42-352,"Last Date", in Melun, France in 2018 (Photo by DELEHELLE Eric)
Vultee BT-13 Valiant, 42-352,"Last Date", in Melun, France

Vultee BT-13B (SNV-2) Valiant of the Commemorative Air Force, 290026, L99, Registration Number N63282
in flight over the Eagle River in Alaska
Photo courtesy of Alaska Professional Photography
U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor takeoff at Artic Thunder Air Show

BT-13A Valiant, S/N 41-21487, at the March Field Air Museum in California (Staff Photo)
BT-13A Valiant, S/N 41-21487, at the March Field Air Museum