N721DM - 1983 Valentin Gmbh Taifun 17E Aircraft Registration

TFUN

1983 VALENTIN GMBH TAIFUN 17E

Aircraft Description

N721DM is a 1983 Valentin Gmbh TAIFUN 17E, a single-engine reciprocating (piston) aircraft registered to Davis Gary J in Murphy, NC. This aircraft holds a standard airworthiness certificate issued by the Federal Aviation Administration on July 23, 2002. The registration certificate was issued on June 30, 2010. The registration is set to expire on July 31, 2027. Powered by a Limbach LIMBACH L2000 engine producing 80 horsepower, N721DM is. The aircraft's Mode S transponder code is A9A79A (hex), used for ADS-B identification and flight tracking. The FAA registry record for N721DM was last updated on March 4, 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 N721DM. 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
1983
Manufacturer
VALENTIN GMBH
Model
TAIFUN 17E
Type Aircraft
Glider
ICAO Type Code
TFUNTaifun
Weight Class
Up to 12,500 lbs
Airworthiness Date
July 23, 2002
Classification
Standard Utility Category
Type Registration
Individual
Status
Valid Registration
Cert Issue Date
June 30, 2010

Registered Owner

Name
DAVIS GARY J
Address
658 SIERRA CIR
City
MURPHY
State / Zip Code
North Carolina28906-8916
Country
United States

Powerplant & Avionics

Engine Type
Reciprocating
Number of Engines
1
Engine Manufacturer
LIMBACH
Engine Model
LIMBACH L2000
Horsepower
80 HP
Mode S Code (Oct)
52323632
Mode S Code (Hex)
A9A79A

Additional Details

Registration
N721DM
Serial Number
1005
Number of Engines
1
Number of Seats
2
Expiration Date
July 31, 2027
Last Action Date
March 4, 2023
Last Update Date
January 19, 2026
Unique ID
00634087

Last Known Position

Date
April 21, 2026 (UTC 20:48:08)
Airport
Latitude
35.014801
Longitude
-84.503865

Data Source

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

Last updated: 2026-05-01 01:32:20 UTC