Help with fuselage ID?

FAH 619 · **Posted:** Tue Jun 21, 2005 6:56 pm

Boneyard Folks:

Can you help us ID this fuselage/aircraft found S. of the border at Toncontin FAH boneyard? c. 97-98 Photo Via Brad. Tks C/w.com

Dan Jones · **Posted:** Tue Jun 21, 2005 7:45 pm

I'll have to check mine when I get home, but that looks a little like a BT-13 firewall to me.

Dan

Brad · **Joined:** Thu Apr 29, 2004 10:30 pm **Posts:** 1131

I wish now that I had taken more pictures of it. I'm 99.9% sure it was a BT-13.

Broken-Wrench · **Joined:** Sun Oct 24, 2004 12:37 pm **Posts:** 1197

I think it could be HarvardIV's T-6 hiding in the woods from him? The Butcher!

FAH 619 · **Posted:** Tue Jun 21, 2005 10:55 pm

B/W:

Can you post if available a picture of the AT-6 fire wall and the BT-13 for comparison?

What is your best guesstimate about the type of aircraft in this picture? Boneyard buff/FAH 619

Steve T · **Posted:** Wed Jun 22, 2005 9:35 am

619--

I concur, this looks like a Vultee Valiant...The top of the windshield is just visible above the firewall and it sure ain't a Texan unit, too wide and flat-topped. I'm guessing Dan Jones could confirm it is/isn't a BT-13...

S.

bdk · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am **Posts:** 11324

Shots of my T-6 firewall:

http://community.webshots.com/album/244637426kDNsQH/2

Conclusion: Not a T-6!

Dan Jones · **Posted:** Wed Jun 22, 2005 12:25 pm

I'll post a good clean shot of the BT's firewall on Saturday morning. I'm on the road just now but I'll be home on Friday night. Those two diagonals spot welded to the firewall look awful familiar.

Brad, did you take a closer look at the airplane, or was that as close as you got?

Dan

Brad · **Joined:** Thu Apr 29, 2004 10:30 pm **Posts:** 1131

Dan Jones wrote:

Brad, did you take a closer look at the airplane, or was that as close as you got?

Dan

I did get up on the wing and look at it. I know vultee had very distinct rudder pedals and I remember looking at them. Best I can remember, the panel was there, but stripped out. I don't recall anything of much substance being left in the plane. I wish I had taken more pictures now!

I am still 99.9999% sure that it was a BT.

Dan Jones · **Posted:** Wed Jun 22, 2005 12:42 pm

The BT'a also got a very wide wing center-section. I'd gotten so used to looking at mine that when I saw a Harvard project in Winnipeg a few months ago I was really suprised at how short the center-section on it was. The outer wings of the BT are actually shorter than the upper wings of a Stearman.

Dan

FAH 619 · **Posted:** Wed Jun 22, 2005 10:13 pm

Dan:

We'll be looking fwd to see close-ups of your BT-13 firewall. Plz include any Mod ID Plates at the fire wall or any other structures. Do the wings show any mod plates also?

We are particularly interested in that small ID plate underneath the horizontal stab. Tks BT-13 Buff FAH619/ C/w.com

Dan Jones · **Posted:** Thu Jun 23, 2005 11:21 am

Whereabouts under the horizontal stab?

FAH 619 · **Posted:** Thu Jun 23, 2005 6:07 pm

Dan:

Included is the aft section (R/S) of BT-13A N62700, AAF 41-9167 showing the small id plate.

The small ID plate in the circle could be an after-market ID plate installed by the owner. Perhaps you know if all BT-13s from the Vultee factory carry this type of plate? Id plate buff/FAH619

Plz send me PM a picture of one if you have one available. Attch coming -up.

FAH 619 · **Posted:** Thu Jun 23, 2005 6:09 pm

p.s And now the pic.

Dan Jones · **Posted:** Thu Jun 23, 2005 6:41 pm

I'm not sure what the story is with those, whether like you say it's an after-market thing or what, but I have seen them before. I might actually be thinking of that particular airplane as I was looking at it at Oshkosh a couple of years ago. In your picture it appears to be attached to the very forward edge of the tailcone assembly and I have two of those in the shop right now so I'll check them both. I'll let you know on Saturday am.

Dan

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Help with fuselage ID?

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