{{Short description|German motor glider, 1981}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}} {{Use British English|date=December 2022}} <!-- This article is a part of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft]]. Please see [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content]] for recommended layout. --> {{Infobox aircraft | name = Taifun | logo = | logo_size = | image = VALENTIN_GMBH_TAIFUN_17E_motorglider_N13BH_05.JPG | alt = | caption = Valentin Taifun 17E | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = [[Motor glider]] | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = Germany | manufacturer = [[Valentin Flugzeugbau]] | design_group = | designer = | builder = | issuer = | status = Production completed | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = 136 | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = 1981 | retired = | first_flight = 28 February 1981 | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }}

[[File:VALENTIN GMBH TAIFUN 17E motorglider N13BH 07.JPG|thumb|right|Valentin Taifun 17E, showing its 17-metre (55 foot) wingspan]] The '''Valentin Taifun''' is a two-seat [[Motor glider|self-launching sailplane]] designed and built by [[Valentin Flugzeugbau|Valentin Flugzeugbau GmbH]] of Hasfurt, Germany.

==Design and development== The Taifun is an all glass-fibre low-wing cantilever [[monoplane]] with a [[T-tail]] and side-by-side seating for two occupants. It has a manually operated retractable [[tricycle landing gear]]. The Taifun is powered originally by an 80&nbsp;hp (60&nbsp;kW) [[Limbach L2000EB]] (Volkswagen) engine with later production aircraft being fitted with 90&nbsp;hp (67&nbsp;kW) [[Limbach L2400EB]] engine. The wings fold back along the fuselage sides for transportation and storage. The prototype, registered ''D-KONO'', first flew on the 28 February 1981. The main production aircraft had a 17-metre wingspan and was designated the '''Taifun 17E'''. Two examples of aircraft with a 12-metre wingspan were built as the '''Taifun 12E''' which were classed as light-aircraft rather than a motor glider. An improved four-seat '''Taifun 11S''' was studied with a 115&nbsp;hp (86&nbsp;kW) [[Lycoming O-235]] engine and fixed landing gear but the design was abandoned.

==Variants== ;Taifun 17E :Main production variant with a 17 metre wingspan and a Limbach flat-four engine. ;Taifun 17E II :Later production variant with a 17 metre wingspan and a Limbach flat-four engine or can be retrofitted with a [[Rotax 914]], hydraulically operated landing gear, double panel [[Schempp-Hirth]] type airbrakes on the upper wing surface. aka '''WI Taifun 17 EII''' ;Taifun 12E :Variant with a 12 metre wingspan, two built. ;Taifun 11S :Planned variant with four-seats, not built.

==Aircraft on display== *[[Deutsches Museum Flugwerft Schleissheim]], near Munich, Germany.

==Specifications (17E)== {{Aircraft specs |ref=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1985–86,<ref name=JAWA85-86>{{cite book|title=Jane's all the world's aircraft, 1985-86 |editor1-last=Taylor|editor1-first=John W.R.|editor2-last=Munson|editor2-first=Kenneth |date=1985|publisher=Jane's Pub.|location=London|isbn=978-0-7106-0821-5|edition=76|page=744}}</ref> Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1988-89<ref name=JAWA88-89>{{cite book |title=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1988-89 |year=1988 |publisher=Jane's Information Group |location=London |isbn=0-7106-0867-5 |editor=John W.R. Taylor|pages=634–635}}</ref> |prime units?=met <!-- General characteristics --> |crew=2 |capacity= |length m=7.782 |span m=17 |height m=2.48 |wing area sqm=17.6 |aspect ratio=16.4 |airfoil=Wortmann FX-67-K-170/17 |empty weight kg=610 |max takeoff weight kg=850 |fuel capacity={{convert|90|L|USgal impgal|0|abbr=on}} |more general= <!-- Powerplant --> |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=[[Limbach L.2000EB]] |eng1 type=4-cyl. air-cooled horizontally-opposed piston engine |eng1 kw=60

|prop blade number=2 |prop name=Mühlbauer MTV-1-A variable-pitch feathering propeller |prop dia m=1.6 <!-- Performance --> |cruise speed kmh=220 |cruise speed note=max |stall speed kmh=72 |stall speed note=un-powered |never exceed speed kmh=250 |never exceed speed note=in smooth air ::::{{convert|185|kph|kn mph|abbr=on}} in rough air |range km=1250 |range note=with maximum fuel |ceiling m=5000 |g limits=+5.3 -2.65 |glide ratio=30 at {{convert|105|kph|kn mph|abbr=on}} |climb rate ms=3.2 |climb rate note=max at Sea level |sink rate ms=0.95 |sink rate note=at {{convert|75|kph|kn mph|abbr=on}} |lift to drag= |wing loading kg/m2=48.3 |fuel consumption kg/km= |fuel consumption lb/mi= |power/mass=12.67 kg/kW (20.82 lb/hp) |more performance= |avionics= }}

==See also== {{aircontent <!-- include as many lines are appropriate. additional lines/entries with carriage return. --> |see also= |related=<!-- related developments --> |similar aircraft=<!-- similar or comparable aircraft --> *[[Diamond HK36 Super Dimona]] *[[Grob G 109]] |sequence=<!-- designation sequence, if appropriate --> |lists=<!-- related lists --> }}

==References== {{reflist}}

===Bibliography=== {{refbegin}} *{{cite book|title=Jane's all the world's aircraft, 1985-86 |editor1-last=Taylor|editor1-first=John W.R.|editor2-last=Munson|editor2-first=Kenneth |date=1985|publisher=Jane's Pub.|location=London|isbn=978-0-7106-0821-5|edition=76|page=744}} * {{cite book |title=Jane's Encyclopaedia of Aviation |last=Taylor |first=Michael J.H. |year=1989 |publisher=Studio Editions |location=London |isbn=978-0-517-69186-1}} * {{cite book |title=Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1988-89 |year=1988 |publisher=Jane's Information Group |location=London |isbn=0-7106-0867-5 |editor=John W.R. Taylor}} *{{cite book |last=Simpson |first= R.W.|title= Airlife's General Aviation|year=1991 |publisher= Airlife Publishing|location= England |isbn=1-85310-194-X}} {{refend}}

==External links== {{commons category|Valentin Taifun}} * [http://easa.europa.eu/ws_prod/c/doc/Design_Appro/Aircrafts/TCDS_A_299_Taifun_17_E_issue_01.pdf European Aviation Safety Agency Type Certificate Data Sheet - Taifun 17E]{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

[[Category:1980s German sailplanes]] [[Category:Motor gliders]] [[Category:T-tail aircraft]] [[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]] [[Category:Low-wing aircraft]] [[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1981]] [[Category:Aircraft with retractable tricycle landing gear]] [[Category:Valentin aircraft|Taifun]] [[Category:Single-engined piston aircraft]]