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Contact Info
Home Town Yakima, Washington
Last Address 22208 - 8th Avenue South Des Moines, Washington 98198
Date of Passing Jun 18, 2016
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
1942-1942, BT-13 Valiant
From Year 1942
To Year 1942
Personal Memories
It was such a day of those high, big fluffy clouds, thunderheads to be exact. I was alone but I wanted to get up there and fly around these beautiful clouds. It's always been known that flying through them is a no-no. Should you do so, you may not make it through the cloud as winds in excess of 100 mph going up and down would tear off your wings. One of the more famous flyers for movie stunts did this. He was seen to fly into a heavy cloud and never made it through, Frank Tallman was his name and we have seen him fly in airshows doing incredible stunts.
At 10,000 feet or so there is no such white on earth and the sight near or around them can never be matched. This day I flew around them, through alleys between them and there I too touched the hand of God. After 10 minutes there, it was time to head back to earth. Getting lower and looking around nothing was familiar, so I flew in the directior from whence I came and finally found the airbase. He had guided me back to where I came from.
This day in my life is as clear today as it was flying around those beautiful clouds. And my flying career has been blessed with wonderful experiences I shall NOT forget.
Image
BT-13 Valiant Details
Aircraft/Missile Information
General characteristics
* Crew: two, student and instructor * Length: 28 ft 10 in (8.79 m) * Wingspan: 42 ft 0 in (12.80 m) * Height: 11 ft 6 in (3.51 m) * Wing area: 239 ft² (22 m²) * Empty: 3,375 lb (1,531 kg) * Maximum takeoff: 4,496 lb (2,039 kg) * Powerplant: 1 x Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-1, 450 hp (336 kW)
[edit] Performance
* Maximum speed: 180 mph (290 km/h) * Range: 725 miles (1,167 km) * Service ceiling: 21,650 ft (6,600 m)
