Vultee BT-13 Valiant | |
| 国 | 米国 |
| 役割 | 練習機 |
| 初飛行 | 1939年3月 |
| 構築 | 9525 |
ザ バルティー BT-13 ヴァリアント は、第二次世界大戦時代の基本的な練習機で、ヴァルティーエアクラフトが米国陸軍航空隊、後に米陸軍空軍のために製造しました。USAAC / USAAFサービスでのBT-13のその後の変種はBT-15ヴァリアントとして知られていましたが、米海軍の同じバージョンはSNVとして知られており、米海軍とその姉妹サービスである米海兵隊と米国沿岸警備隊の海軍飛行士の訓練に使用されました。
| Vultee BT-13 Valiant | |
|---|---|
| カメラマン | ウラジーミル・ヤクボフ |
| ローカライズ | トラビス空軍基地博物館 |
| 写真 | 102 |
| BT-13B ヴァリアント ウォークアラウンド | |
|---|---|
| カメラマン | ドン・ブサック |
| ローカライズ | 知りません |
| 写真 | 17 |
コーヒーを買って関連項目:
| Vultee BT-13B Valiant | |
|---|---|
| カメラマン | ウラジーミル・ヤクボフ |
| ローカライズ | ホリスター航空ショー |
| 写真 | 114 |
The “Basic” Step to Victory
ザ バルティー BT-13 ヴァリアント was the primary “Basic” trainer for the U.S. Army Air Forces during WWII. After cadets survived primary training in biplanes or light monoplanes like the PT-22, they moved to the BT-13. It was a larger, heavier aircraft designed to introduce students to more complex systems like two-way radios, landing flaps, and two-position controllable-pitch propellers. Despite its official name, almost every pilot who flew it knew it as the “Vibrator.” This was due to its tendency to shake violently at high speeds or during stalls, and the way the canopy windows would rattle during takeoff.
| Attribute | Technical Specification (BT-13A) |
|---|---|
| 役割 | ベーシックトレーナー |
| 乗組員 | 2 (Student and Instructor) |
| パワープラント | 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-1 Wasp Junior radial |
| Horsepower | 450 hp (336 kW) |
| 最高速度 | 290 km/h (180 mph) |
| Cruising Speed | 225 km/h (140 mph) |
| Construction | Steel tube fuselage (forward), Semi-monocoque (aft) |
| Landing Gear | Fixed (Non-retractable) |
Design Engineering: The “Basic” Complexities
- The Wasp Junior: The BT-13 was powered by the Pratt & Whitney R-985. This was a significant jump in power from primary trainers, giving students their first taste of a “real” radial engine. It featured a two-position Hamilton Standard propeller, teaching pilots how to manage RPM and manifold pressure.
- Hybrid Fuselage: The BT-13 featured a unique construction. The forward section (cockpit area) was made of welded steel tubing covered by removable metal panels for easy maintenance, while the rear section was a light-alloy semi-monocoque structure.
- Fixed Gear, Heavy Handling: Unlike the advanced AT-6, the BT-13 had fixed landing gear. This simplified maintenance but limited its top speed. Its heavy control feel was intentional, meant to prepare students for the physical effort required to fly heavy bombers and fighters.
- The “SNV” Variant: The U.S. Navy also used the aircraft extensively, designating it the SNV. Aside from minor equipment differences, it was essentially the same rugged “Vibrator” used by the Army.
Legacy: The “Valiant” Movie Star
- Mass Production: Over 9,500 BT-13s were built. During the peak of the war, Vultee’s Downey, California plant was turning out one aircraft every few minutes using a revolutionary (for the time) powered assembly line.
- Hollywood Zero: Because of its general shape and the availability of surplus airframes, dozens of BT-13s were modified after the war to look like Japanese Aichi D3A “Val” dive bombers or Nakajima B5N “Kate” torpedo bombers for films like Tora! Tora! Tora! そして The Midway.
- The “BT-15”: When the supply of Pratt & Whitney engines ran low, Vultee equipped the airframe with the Wright R-975 engine, resulting in the BT-15. Pilots generally preferred the BT-13, as the Wright engine was considered more temperamental.
- Post-War Utility: Many surplus BT-13s were used by crop dusters and private owners after 1945. Today, they are cherished warbirds, prized for their relatively affordable operation and the authentic 1940s radial engine experience they provide.
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