Valiant Effort Foundation
Preserving the past for the future.
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Latest News
March 2, 2026
Well before Annie’s first flight, the organization agreed that we would closely monitor how well her restoration held up. A good benchmark most operators use is an inspection conducted every 100 hrs. Every 50 hrs is even better. We chose 25 hrs.
Here we go. Every well maintained plane needs a few hours of TLC for every hour of operation.
With that mark reached at the end of January, Annie went back into the barn in February, where the members and volunteers descended on her with gusto. With the to-do list in hand, panels were pulled as we started the process of meticulously inspecting everything. So far, the oil has been drained and replaced, the tail wheel has been removed for a swap out with a fresh one, conducted leak checks of the fuel system, and new push to talk buttons have been installed. We’re also looking at needed tweaks to the electrical system, testing the brakes, making sure the control cables are still hale and hearty, etc.
Like we said, “everything”.
Greg and Charlie working their magic.
It’s been a good time, partly because everything is looking good, and partly because of the camaraderie. It’s always a good time when you put together a group on individuals with similar interests working towards a shared goal.
When will it be done? We’re pretty much accepting the goal of, “When it’s done.” haha. If one was to twist our arms, we would cautiously choose sometime in May, even though the current progress points to sometime in April. But like we said, there’s no chosen date. Annie will let us know when we are done.
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 2025Valiant 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.
