From: Jim Rice (ltc_rice@hotmail.com)
Date: Wed Aug 07 2002 - 09:16:19 PDT
Tried sending this to the list, but never seemed to make it....oh well.
John,
The old BT-13 is a great plane. I flew one during an airshow season back in
1986 and had a ball ending up with about 30+ hours in it. They are a great
flying plane, just don't get it slow and uncoordinated. That is about the
only time they will bite...and bite hard.
My dad trained in BTs during WWII and owned a couple after the war. During
his training, the plane immediately ahead of him in the pattern spun in.
The BT was intolerate of slow speed and poorly coordinated
turns. When I first started flying the BT, I always remembered dad's
stories about the BT and gave her a wide berth in slow flight. Just keep
your speed up down to final and keep the ball centered. Once you get some
time in her, climb to a safe altitude, slow down to just above stall, set up
a 60 degree bank angle, pull back a little and touch top rudder. It will
uncouple and snap back the opposite direction in the blink of an eye. Very
impressive when executed at altitude. Deadly in the pattern.
I loved flying the BT. The smells, the sounds, the excitement of arriving
at a new airfield and the people gathering around. I sure miss it but had
to give it up to move into the right seat of the B-25J. But that is another
story!
Good luck. It looks like you have quite a project ahead. Have you checked
the integrity of the steel tube fuselage? After setting out for all those
years, I'd assume the lower longerons are suspect due to water causing rust
and possibly freezing temperatures causing splitting. Do you have an engine
yet? The P&W R-985 AN-1 or -3 IIRC was standard, of course a -14 will work
too. I'd personally go with a fully constant speed prop over the two
position as used in training. In fact, I am not sure a 2 position can even
be certified. Another strange requirement for the BT is a 1-1/2 or 2 inch
extension on the back of the elevator trim tabs. It ends up providing so
much force, it is virtually impossible to overpower the trim system by hand.
I used to demostrate that to folks as incentive to always remember and
check the trim prior to taking off. It is was set to an extreme, you would
be in trouble.
I am sorry to have rambled so long. I really enjoyed the BT and agree it is
indeed an important plane in WWII pilot training history and sadly, almost
totally eclipsed by the Stearman and T6.
Regards,
Jim Rice
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