Valiant Effort Foundation
Preserving the past for the future.
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Latest News
June 3, 2026
It’s been an interesting time since our last update. Most of it has centered around our addressing the little things in what can only be described as a serious bout of nitpicking. While Annie is an airworthy bird, we are constantly striving to make her better than ever. That has generally meant swapping out older-yet-functional components for brand new ones. The big one on this list is our generator - a new one just got installed, and we are in the middle of testing it out to ensure that it can handle the electrical loads as it keeps our battery charged.
Wrenching. There’s no rest for our maintainers.
The other item is pilot training. Charlie leapt out of the gate with a few flights to get to know Annie’s handling in the air and on the ground. Quite quickly, he learned that this is no Stinson (haha), but he deftly adapted to mannerisms of the heavier Vultee- he is well on his way to becoming the newest pilot on our roster. Bob’s own training is right over the horizon; we brough in one of Annie’s older pilots and brought him up back up to speed in the plane that he used to regularly fly.
Pilot Training.
In between it all, we managed to squeeze in a mission. The Veteran’s Center or Danville requested our presence to kick off their Memorial Day celebrations, and it went incredibly well.
https://www.nbcbayarea.com/video/news/local/bay-area-memorial-day-gatherings/4089888/
Thank you for visiting Valiant Effort LLC, a grassroots organization dedicated to the maintenance and operation of a 1941 Vultee BT-13A Valiant, a military basic flight trainer used by all the armed forces in the United States in World War 2. Our current mission goals are as follows:
Upkeep
After a painstaking restoration that took nearly seven years, Annie is back in the skies, and it goes without saying that keeping her that way is “Priority Number One”! Our Vultee is one of only a few dozen BT-13s that still exist, and one of the very few that is airworthy. This requires contant upkeep, which is accomplished through the meticulous work done by a cadre of experienced mechanics who put in many hours of their own personal time so that the aircraft can continue her mission of serving as a Living Witness Exhibit.
“Living Winess Exhibit”
As she has done for so many years, our BT-13A will continue to do what she has done best - to educate the general public on HOW World War 2 aviators and aviatrixes in the US earned their wings prior to deployment for combat or other auxiliary duties during that timeframe. Few things come close to accomplishing that than to physically see and touch one of those trainers such as our BT-13A. To support this endValiant Effort Foundation regularly flies their BT-13 to local aviation venues to serve as a static display so that the public can see her up and close.
Now Available
Greg Gibson of Props & Gears has created a collection of merchandiset celebrating Annie and all other BT-13s around the world. All set an actual image of ol’ 59842 against a weathered American flag, and includes the Vultee Aircraft logo. Additionally, it highlights our partnership with the Association of Professional Warbird Operators, whom we are eternally grateful for their support during this restoration. Please visit the page here for your Annie themed merch
A portion of the proceeds from its sale will go directly to the restoration/operation costs of Annie. It will be offered in a variety and colors and sizes so that almost every supporter can proudly display their love and affection for their favorite Valiant!
Monthly Newsletter
For the fastest way to catch up on the current situation with our BT-13, click on the following links.
January 2025February 2025March 2025April 2025March 2026
Valiant Effort LLC would like to extend a warm “thank you” to the following organizations for their continued interest in our project. Please help us return the favor in visiting their websites.
