In mid-March, the CAF National Capitol Squadron’s BT-13 Valiant experienced power loss and engine vibration on the downwind leg coming in to its home field at Culpeper Regional Airport in Culpeper, Virginia. Thankfully the pilot made a safe, but effectively dead-stick landing.
The engine is now with Covington Aircraft Engines in Okmulgee, Oklahoma for a complete overhaul, but the bill is expected to cost a whopping US$78,000. The National Capitol Squadron is now entering a fund raising campaign to gather the necessary capital to support the rebuild.
The National Capitol Squadron’s Vultee BT-13 is painted to represent a trainer based at Tuskegee Army Air Field during WWII in honor of Squadron and Commemorative Air Force Honorary Members, General Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., USAF (Ret) combat leader of the Tuskegee Airmen, and Colonel Charles E. McGee, USAF (Ret) also a leading Tuskegee Airman.
The aircraft’s side number, TU-70, represents a BT-13 that Colonel McGee flew the most (over 20 times) during his pilot training in 1943. Although trainers were not assigned to individual airmen, the National Capitol Squadron has ceremonially added pilot’s names on the BT-13 in honor of General Davis and Colonel McGee. The unit takes great pride in helping educate the public about the sacrifices of the Tuskegee Airmen, often in conjunction with members of the Tuskegee Airmen including Colonel McGee.
http://www.warbirdsnews.com/warbirds-news/warbird-collections/commemorative-air-force-news/tuskegee-valiant-campaign.html
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