BT-13 flight report

Had the opportunity to go fly in a BT-13 this last week. Overall feeling a bit smaller than a T-6, the overall experience was much like a Texan in sounds and feel. Like all BT-13s, there was a small tank leak - this one at he back of the starboard flap. One new comment I heard about this tendency was that it was a lot due to the twisting stress the flap put on the aft spar if the flaps were overspeeded. Only way to fix it is to go through the access panel in the bottom and slop arouond the tank joints. Other than that and crappy radios, the plane was VERY nice and original and polished.

The mid-time P/W 985 started much like its big brother 1340. It was the first time I had used an inertial starter - While it sounds good spinning up, I think the direct drives are a bit safer as you can cotinue to crank in case of a stack fire instead of re-spinning up. Interestingly, once started, although it sounded like a 1340, it seemed a bit quieter to me.

The cockpit was as big if a bit romier than a T-6; the view over the nose taxiing was fine, and it was quite easy to steer. With no hydraulics other than the brakes, no hydraulics systems check for gear and flaps (the flaps roll down with a crank on the left hand side).

Take off run with 20 flaps got us off pretty quickly and climb out was a bit over 100. Once stabilized at about 4600 feet and a density altitude of 6K, she indicated a solid 130 at about 26" and 1800 rpm. Fuel burn was stated to be about 20 gph. Very nice control harmony, much like a T-6 with response and pressures - easy to coordinate.

Approach and landing was very straightforward with about 90 over the fence with a straight forward roll out.

At about half the price of a t-6, it seems only let down by the wet wing tank issues. Other than that, it seems a fairly maint. friendly a/c, requiring about 20 hrs for annual.

Very impressive.
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Sparky -
yes, the more I look at this in detail, it is a bit worrisome - it IS NOT in annual for being out of limits (yes, there is a specified limit) for fuel linkage.

Similarly, there is now a BT-9 Yale on the market. For new folks, that's a fixed gear T-6 with a Wright 975 440 hp engine. the specs are very much like a BT-13, except the BT-9 has tanks so the wet wing is less of a problem. The also cruise about 130 - 140 at about 20 gph. Again, manual flaps and fixed gear suggest lower maintenance, but I am unfamiliar with the Wright 975. The PW 985 is reputed s bulletproof, but never heard much on the W975. This model painted as a prewar BT at Randolph, so it is rather attractive.

Any experience with W-975s?
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