Turner T-40

"Ophelia Bumps!"

This T-40 has a modified canopy and was the first tri-gear Turner T-40 to be built.  Bill Betts of Watkinsville, Georgia built this airplane and worked with Gene Turner to create the modifications that made this beautiful Turner T-40.  Gene later purchased this aircraft and he and his son Jerry "Jet" Turner rebuilt the airplane into the gorgeous aircraft that you see pictured above.  This aircraft was donated to the EAA Museum in the name of Gene's daughter, Dr. Jeannine Turner.

Click on this link to view the full size 3-view of the Turner T-40 drawing

       T-40 Specifications

Dimensions:

Wingspan	22' 3"
Wing chord	3' 6"
Length	19' 9"
Height (top of cabin)	6 '0"
Cockpit width	2' 0"
Wings folded	7'10"
Wing area	75 sq. ft.
Flap area	9.9 sq. ft.
Vertical tail area	9.6 sq. ft.
Horizontal tail area	11.34 sq. ft.
Gross weight	1,140 lbs.
Empty Weight (Prototype)	820 lbs.
Useful load	320 lbs.
Fuel	108 lbs. (18 gal.)
Baggage	20 lbs.

Performance:

Vmax – Max speed	170 mph
Vcr - Cruise speed	145 mph
Vs - Stall Clean	55 mph
Vso – Stall, Flaps	49 mph
Va – Maneuvering speed	120 mph
Vd – Red line	220 mph
Vgust	145 mph
Range – Max No wind	482 miles
Rate of Climb @ SL	1,100 ft/min
Service Ceiling	15,000 ft.
Takeoff Distance	600 ft.
Landing Distance	470 ft.

T-40 Design:

Wing Design	Low	Folding Wings	Yes
No. of Seats	1	Tandem	No
Cockpit Width (in)	24
Landing Gear	Tricycle, Tailwheel
Materials	Composite, Wood, Steel and Aluminum

Powerplant:

Engine	Continental C-85
Design Horsepower	85	H.P. Low Range	65
Fuel Capacity (US Gal.)	18	H.P. High Range	125

Performance figures based on the following: T-40 with conventional landing gear and 85hp engine.  Both conventional and tricycle landing gear options are available on the T-40 and each option is depicted in the drawings. The landing gears were designed using this FAA FAR 23.471, Ground loads as a guide. (The remainder of FAR 23 was used where appropriate.) Stress analyses and static load testing were used to substantiate the aircraft structure.

The construction manual has been completed, however, we still have a couple of drawings to complete for the T-40 plans to be made available.  Once completed, the drawings will consist of twenty extremely detailed sheets that are 24" x 36" in size.  The construction manual may be purchased using US funds in the amount of $175.00 plus shipping costs:

The plan set will be shipped out insured, rolled rather than folded and placed in a shipping tube for protection.  You may use cash, personal check (must clear both banks), US Postal Money Order, or Certified Check for payment purposes.  Note: Georgia residents must add 7% sales tax. 

If you wish to purchase online, please use PayPal as your option, this will allow you to use:

Click on the PayPal image below to go to the PayPal website. Use "contact @ adamsaero dot com" for the recipient ("To") e-mail address. Remember to add the appropriate shipping amount plus tax if applicable to the plans total.  Please e-mail "kenneth.l.adams.jr @ gmail dot com" or call 404.219.7326 when you use PayPal, we have had issues with their notification process.

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Gene Turner and his Beautiful T-40 Tail-End Charlie and the Prototype

The pictures below were taken of the last Turner T-40 that Gene Turner built called Tail End Charlie.  The plane was painted in the WWII colors of his training squadron which was named "Squadron 45G."  During the war, Gene became a very skilled P-47 pilot and his squadron was the very last to graduate in support of WWII.  The name "Tail End Charlie" was attributed to Gene because he would always be the last aircraft in his flight.  This wasn't because he didn't want to be a leader, a leader he was for sure.  The truth is, Gene wanted to be able to observe and protect his squadron's "6."  Thus, he was given the name "Tail End Charlie."  Yes, that is Gene sitting in his beautiful airplane that began as a dream when he was a child.  The T-40 design began with pencil to paper in 1958 and was realized with Gene's first flights on his birthday. April 3, 1961.  This T-40 is currently on display at the Minter Field Air Museum in Shafter, California.  Donations to the museum in Gene Turner honor are much appreciated.

Gene Turner is pictured above holding the 1961 Outstanding Design Trophy awarded to him by the Experimental Aircraft Association.  This award was presented to Gene for his work on the original design Turner T-40 he called Ophelia Bumps!  

Above are pictures of Gene's original T-40, notice that the tail was not modified.

The T-40 N-number and the Name Ophelia Bumps

Here is a little history behind the "N-number" and the name "Ophelia Bumps."  All of Gene's T-40s were called "Ophelia Bumps" and they all carried the N115ET N-number registration.  All, except for the T-40 derivatives that were so different from the T-40 series called the T-77 & T-77A.  The FAA made Gene change the version number on those designs because of all the changes he included in these test aircraft designs.  They were still T-40s in spirit though.  

The T-40 N-number

The FAA originally reserved the N-number, "N10T" for Gene's original T-40 aircraft design.  Gene wanted the "short number" and initially had it approved.  Then for no reason, the FAA rescinded the registration stating that short N-numbers were designated for "small planes" only.  Gene went on a mission to show that he had a "small plane" and that there were "big planes" with short N-numbers such as DC-3s and DC-4s in the Dallas/Ft Worth area that "sported short N-numbers."  After a "lengthy battle" with an FAA "Airhead" in Washington to get a short N-number, Gene was told to make a list of numbers and choose one.  He did and he chose N115ET and was able to get that one approved.  

He made his N-number comply with all the rules at the time except, he slanted the number 15 degrees to the right.  The inspector who came by to make sure that the airplane markings conformed with the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) 45, reviewed the plane but failed to document if Gene had put N-numbers on both sides.  

Once the inspector got back to his office, he telephoned Gene and asked if the N-Number was painted on both sides of the fuselage because he had only looked on one side.  Gene assured him that it was on both sides.  The funny thing is that the inspector never said anything about the 15 degree slant Gene added for his N-number.  The regulation stated vertical N-numbers only were approved at that time.  Shortly after Gene displayed his T-40 at the National EAA Fly-in in Rockford, Illinois in 1961, Cessna airplanes came out with slanted N-numbers.  What a trend setter Gene was!  

The Name Ophelia Bumps

Back in 1946, Gene was doing what he enjoyed most, flying as a flight instructor in the small town of Oswego, Michigan.  Since he had been recently discharged from the US Army Air Corps, he had little money and no car.  However, he did have a "cute slender blond" girlfriend named Elaine, from nearby Allegan.  Elain was providing transportation for the couple when they went out on dates.  She had inherited an old Ford V-8 and Gene always teased her about her car.  

Gene's brother worked for Kaiser-Frazer and employees could purchase a new car.  Waiting time for employees was only six months, whereas other buyers had to wait many more months.  Gene's brother gave him his slot so that he could purchase a new car and Gene was waiting for it to be delivered while dating Elaine.

One afternoon, Gene and Elaine were heading toward Kalamazoo.  Elaine stopped her car at a crossroad and the old Ford was really rattling and making weird noises.  Of course, Gene had to complain about the "old rust bucket."  Elaine looked at Gene and said, "Just wait until you get your new car, every time it hits a bump, I am going to say, Oh, feel the bumps!"    

When the new Kaiser was delivered, it was christened, "Ophelia Bumps."  Gene said at the time, "When I get an airplane, I will call it "Ophelia Currents."  As time wore on, he married and his wife, who was not Elaine, insisted that his airplane carry the name "Ophelia Bumps."  Gene stated that this name, thanks to "Jane's All the World's Aircraft" and many magazine articles, is known all around the world.

Gene told this writer the story about how the name "Ophelia Bumps" was chosen and he also documented the story in his book, "Fabulous Affairs with Aircraft and Federal Aviation Airheads."  The one thing that he didn't put in his book was that there really wasn't anything wrong with the "Old Ford V-8."  The problem was that where they lived, most of the roads were dirt and not paved until you came into town.  The country roads were not kept up well and when bad weather, rain and winter months came, potholes formed everywhere.  It seemed to Gene that Elaine hit all of the potholes in the road. Elaine's "Oh, feel the bumps!"  became "Ophelia Bumps."  This name was given to every T-40 series Gene ever owned.

As a side note, "Airheads" was not Gene's first choice to use as a name for many of the FAA officials he encountered over his 70 years of aviation.  You, the reader, may possibly guess what he really wanted to title the book.  

Above is an old promotional drawing used by Gene Turner in his T-40 information package.

                                                               This information is subject to change without notice.