N440WQ - 1986 Valentin Gmbh Taifun 17E Aircraft Registration

N440WQ is a 1986 Valentin Gmbh TAIFUN 17E, a single-engine reciprocating (piston) aircraft registered to Wagenknecht Harold H in Ruther Glen, VA. This aircraft holds a experimental airworthiness certificate issued by the Federal Aviation Administration on June 29, 2015. The registration certificate was issued on July 31, 2018. The registration is set to expire on July 31, 2028. Powered by a Limbach L2400 engine producing 87 horsepower, N440WQ is. The aircraft's Mode S transponder code is A54CA0 (hex), used for ADS-B identification and flight tracking. The FAA registry record for N440WQ was last updated on May 26, 2023. AviatorDB monitors aircraft positions through ADS-B surveillance data and updates records as new position data is received.

The Valentin Taifun was a pioneering two-seat motor glider that combined soaring performance with self-launching capability, eliminating the need for tow planes in gliding operations. First flown on February 28, 1981, it was an all-composite low-wing monoplane with a T-tail configuration that could seat two pilots side-by-side. With its 17-meter wingspan and impressive 30:1 glide ratio, the aircraft matched the performance of pure gliders while offering powered cruise capabilities. Manufactured by Valentin Flugzeugbau GmbH in Hasfurt, Germany, exactly 136 aircraft were built during the 1980s production run. AviatorDB tracks 20 Valentin Gmbh aircraft currently registered in the FAA database. The ICAO type designator for this aircraft model is TFUN.

AviatorDB has found no NTSB accident or incident reports involving N440WQ. AviatorDB cross-references all FAA registration data with NTSB accident and incident reports, providing a comprehensive safety overview for every registered aircraft in the United States.