N66BV - Valentin Gmbh Taifun 17E Aircraft Registration

TFUN

VALENTIN GMBH TAIFUN 17E

Aircraft Description

N66BV is a Valentin Gmbh TAIFUN 17E, a single-engine reciprocating (piston) aircraft registered to Smith James E Trustee in Kalispell, MT. The registration certificate was issued on February 8, 2024. The registration is set to expire on February 28, 2031. The aircraft is configured with 2 seats. The aircraft's Mode S transponder code is A8B20D (hex), used for ADS-B identification and flight tracking. The FAA registry record for N66BV was last updated on February 8, 2024. 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 N66BV. 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.

Model Year
Manufacturer
VALENTIN GMBH
Model
TAIFUN 17E
Type Aircraft
Glider
ICAO Type Code
TFUNTaifun
Weight Class
Up to 12,500 lbs
Airworthiness Date
Classification
Type Registration
Co-Owned
Status
Valid Registration
Cert Issue Date
February 8, 2024

Registered Owner

Name
SMITH JAMES E TRUSTEE
Address
PO BOX 8177
City
KALISPELL
State / Zip Code
Montana59904-1177
Country
United States

Powerplant & Avionics

Engine Type
Reciprocating
Number of Engines
1
Mode S Code (Oct)
52131015
Mode S Code (Hex)
A8B20D

Additional Details

Registration
N66BV
Serial Number
1070
Number of Engines
1
Number of Seats
2
Expiration Date
February 28, 2031
Last Action Date
February 8, 2024
Last Update Date
February 8, 2024
Unique ID
00812816

Data Source

Data provided by the US Federal Aviation Administration. View on FAA.gov

Last updated: 2026-06-15 01:32:20 UTC