Book a Flight

Reserve a ride aboard the BT-13 Valiant during Pistons & Props. Ride reservations are $325 per passenger and are handled directly through the CAF Minnesota Wing.

Aircraft ride tickets do not include admission to the Pistons & Props Airshow. A separate event ticket is required for all ride participants.

Commemorative Air Force Minnesota Wing

Before the Missions, There Was the Valiant

BT-13 on a runway about to take off
Controls panels of the BT-13 Aircraft
The propeller spinning on the BT-13 aircraft

All WWII pilots—whether bound for fighters or bombers—began their journey with the basics. One of the most important primary trainers of the era was the BT-13 Valiant. Nicknamed the "Vibrator" (thanks to the way it rattled windows as it flew overhead), this fixed-gear aircraft was rugged, reliable, and vital in teaching thousands of cadets the fundamentals of flight.

The Commemorative Air Force Minnesota Wing proudly operates this historic BT-13 as part of our History Flight program—giving you the rare opportunity to fly in the very aircraft that launched the careers of America's wartime aviators.

Specifications

Crew
Two (student and instructor)
Length
29 ft
Wingspan
42 ft
Height
11 ft 6 in
Empty Weight
3,375 lb
Maximum Takeoff Weight
4,496 lb
Engine
1 × Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-1
Engine Power
450 hp
Maximum Speed
180 mph
Range
725 miles
Service Ceiling
21,650 ft
Armament
None