It's
a question we receive once a month from people all over the world:
"Can you tell me what are the major differences (if any) between
a Valentine Taifun 17E and a Valentin Taifun 17EII motorglider?".
To answer this simple but obvious question we summed up the main differences.
-
A Taifun 17 E II is equipped with an electric/hydraulic retractable
gear, while the gear on a 17 E is operated by hand. In case of an
emergency with failing hydraulics, the gear of a 17E II can be geared
down automatically by switching off the pressure holding up the gear.
In case of no pressure, the gear will come down by opening a pressure
lever.
-
A Taifun 17E II has a lower TOW, because of absence of metal parts
for the gear, thus allowing more weight/load.
-
A Taifun 17 E II is equipped with gear indicators, gear warning and
emergency gear, all absent with a Taifun 17E.
-
A Taifun 17 E II has double speed brakes, allowing steep descents
and short field landings, while a 17E is equipped with single speed
brakes.
-
With a Taifun 17E II all operating switches and handles are concentrated
in the middle of the instrument panel, while a 17E has several handles
(breaks etc.) aside the seats.
-
With a Taifun 17E II the way the bolt mechanism attaching the wings
to the fuselage is slightly different from a 17E. As a result of this
difference with a 17E the wings can be folded backwards after pulling
them out of the fuselage, while with a 17E II the wings can only be
detached from the fuselage. Because the bolt-connection mechanism
(pipes) from a 17E cannot be removed, a 17E has slightly more weight
than a 17E II.
-
While flying the nose wheel from a 17E will be retracted completely
inside of the fuselage, while with a 17E II half of the nose wheel
will stay outside of the fuselage. It's done that way while in case
of an emergency landing a 17E II is able to land on the nose wheel
and the tail wheel without having to gear down all three wheels.
Images
17EII
(front) and 17E (back), the nosewheel of the 17EII clearly can be seen
while the wheel of the 17E has been retracted completely.
17E with retracted gear. All is hidden behind closed doors.
17EII
with gear retracted gear.
17EII
with gear out.
17E cockpit and instrument panel
17EII cockpit and instrument panel.
|