Valentin Taifun
The Valentin Taifun is a touring motor glider from the German manufacturer Valentin GmbH. In the production period 1981 to 1990 a total of 136 copies were made . The prototype with the registration D - KONO launched on 28 February 1981 on its maiden flight.
Construction
The typhoon belongs to the time of development of the new class motor sailer in plastic construction with side-by- side seating and T-tail. In contrast to their direct competitors in this class - the Hoffmann Dimona, the Grob G 109 and the Scheibe SF 36 - she, however, has a retractable landing gear. In addition, the wings for easier placement in the hangar can be folded from one person to save space to the rear of the hull, the area requirement is then only about 8.5 x 3 meters.
The typhoon has both the usual gliders air brakes, as well as on (coupled to the ailerons) flaps. The fuel supply is housed in two tanks in the wings with a total capacity of 90 liters. Is powered by the typhoon in the original version as well as the same time published Grob G 109A by a Limbach aircraft engine with 80 hp.
Versions
The typhoon was originally offered in four versions: the versions Taifun 17E and 17S typhoon with a wingspan of 17 meters and the versions Taifun 15E and 15S typhoon with 15 m span. Here is the E for the standard version with a retractable tricycle landing gear completely, the S stands for the version with spur wheel chassis, with the tail wheel is retractable.
In the original version, the landing gear was retracted mechanically by hand crank, which put certain demands on the health of the pilot. When driving a Limbach L 2000 came in conjunction with a Hoffmann- pitch propeller with three stages takeoff, cruise flight and gliding are used. The engine was this version was considered by many pilots as insufficient, especially because the rated power of 59 kW (80 hp) was only achieved at 3400 rpm, but the propeller used left due to its diameter only a maximum speed of 3200 rpm to so were effectively only 50 kW (68 hp). Therefore, a conversion to the later published Limbach L 2400 was carried out with 90 hp with subsequent type certification under the auspices of the aviation technical operations Korff in some copies. To increase the efficiency on this engine an electrically adjustable stepless regulating constant- speed propeller the company Mühlbauer used.
Taifun 17E II
In this revised version was L2400 reinstated from the factory, 90 hp Limbach in connection with the electrically controlled Mühlbauer Constant -speed propellers. With the electrically retractable landing gear, a further point of criticism has been eliminated. To save weight, the lever for the brake valve was installed in the center console, while ever there was a lever for pilot and co-pilot before in this version.
Taifun 12E and 11S
The Taifun 12E was a variant with a shortened span of 12 meters. From this approved as a normal light aircraft in Germany version two copies were made .
Valentin also made at least one copy of the four-seater Typhoon 11S ( registered D - EVFB ), powered by a Lycoming O -235 and provided with a rigid chassis. Like the 12E never went this variant in series and was discarded end of 1987.