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13 & 14 SEPTEMBER 2025 - Sanicole Airfield (Hechtel-Eksel)

Vultee BT-13 Valiant

  • Land / Country: Netherlands
  • Manufacturer: Vultee Aircraft
  • Tech Spec: Speed: 290 km/h; Ceiling: 5500 m; Range: 1080 km; Length: 8.8 m; Width: 12.8 m; MTOW: 2050 kg
  • Power: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-985 radial (~450 hp)

During the Second World War, this static participant played an interesting role in the Dutch military.

The historic Vultee BT-13A is coming over from the airfield at Lelystad is thanks to the Early Birds foundation. This type was essential to the training of allied pilots during World War II and has strong bonds with the Dutch military at this crucial juncture in time as many pilots were trained on it in the Royal Netherlands Military Flying School at Jackson Army Airfield (RNMFS) in the period May 1942 until February 1944. About 60 Valiants were part of RNMFS, and they were nicknamed the ‘Vibrators‘ because the canopy would shake during flight.

The Valiant was significantly more powerful than basic flight trainers at the time and was therefore an important milestone in the progress of military pilots before continuing to combat aircraft. The Early Birds BT-13 was built in 1943 and came over to The Netherlands in 2013.

Discover this remarkable part of Dutch aviation history in the static display at the International Sanicole Airshow on 13 &14 September 2025 at Hechtel-Eksel.

Sanicole Airshow

The most anticipated event in Limburg. The Sanicole Airshow attracts 40,000 visitors each year.

The biggest and most awarded airshow of the Benelux and far beyond.

Contact

For general information about the International Sanicole Airshow, contact us via email: 
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Future Dates:
2026: 12 & 13 September

DATES

Saturday 12 Sept 2026
Sunset Airshow (17h00 - 20h15)

Sunday 13 Sept 2026
Sanicole Airshow (10h00 - 17h30)

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