The Turner T-40B is basically the same as the T-40A, but with tricycle landing gear and other improvements. Development of the prototype began in 1966 and the first flight was made in 1969. Originally an 85-hp engine was used, but it was replaced by a 125-hp Lycoming in order to improve high altitude performance. Other refinements on the basic T-40A frame are: a bubble canopy, hydraulically-operated double-slotted flaps, and a fixed leading-edge droop.

Engine: Lycoming, 150 hp
HP range: 100-150
Height: 6 ft
Length: 20.8 ft
Wing span: 29.6 ft
Wing area: 106 sq.ft
Weight empty: 1050 lbs
Gross: 1640 lbs
Fuel cap: 30 USG
Speed max: 170 mph
Cruise: 155 mph
Range: 525 sm
Stall: 62 mph
ROC: 1200 fpm
Take-off dist: 1100 ft
Landing dist: 900 ft
Service ceiling: 14,500 ft
Seats: 2
Landing gear: nose or tail wheel

The T-40 was so successful that it collected 18 awards and convinced Turner that the only thing wrong with it was that nobody could ride along to enjoy the reading on the airspeed indicator; thus he created the T-40A. It is a two-place version of its predecessor. Turner simply divided the entire fuselage of the T-40 down the middle and in¬creased the cabin width from 24 to 40 inches. Flight tests showed that the 85-hp engine would still deliver 163 mph top speed with a fuselage nearly twice as wide as before and with considerably more airframe weight. Both Turners feature folding wings.

A Super T-40A with a 125hp motor appeared in 1972, and 1981 saw the entry of T-40C, or T-77, with a 150hp Lycoming.

T-40A
Engine: Lycoming, 125 hp
HP range: 100-125
Height: 6 ft
Length: 20 ft
Wing span: 25.4 ft
Wing area: 96 sq.ft
Empty weight: 1050 lb
Gross weight: 1600 lb
Fuel capacity: 22 USG
Top speed: 160 mph
Cruise: 147 mph
Stall: 56 mph
Range: 475 nm
Rate of climb: 850 fpm
Takeoff dist: 1250 ft
Landing dist: 1200 ft
Service ceiling: 12,000 ft
Seats: 2
Landing gear: nose or tailwheel

“Super” T-40A
Engine: Lycoming, 125 hp
Height: 6 ft
Length: 20 ft
Wing span: 27.67 ft
Wing area: 96 sq.ft
Weight empty: 1050 lbs
Gross: 1600 lbs
Fuel cap: 22 USG
Speed max: 170 mph
Cruise: 147 mph
Range: 475 sm
Stall: 56 mph
ROC: 850 fpm
Take-off dist: 1250 ft
Landing dist: 1200 ft
Service ceiling: 12,000 ft
Seats: 2
Landing gear: nose or tail wheel

The Turner airplane family got started in 1958. First aircraft in the series was the T-40, a sleek, hot little single-seater which won the 1961 Outstanding Design Trophy at the Experimental Aircraft Association Fly-In. Of all-wood construction and featuring a sliding hood canopy, the T-40 was first powered by a 65-hp engine and did without all the frills associated with an electrical system. First flying on 3 April 1961, in this form it cruised at 128 and blitzed along at 145 with the throttle firewalled. It featured folding wings for storage in a single-car garage. Later, an 85-hp package was added. Both Turners feature folding wings.

Engine: Continental, 85 hp
HP range: 60-125
Height: 5.42 ft
Length: 19.75 ft
Wing span: 22.25 ft
Wing area: 78 sq.ft
Weight empty: 750 lbs
Gross: 1060 lbs
Fuel cap: 19 USG
Speed max: 170 mph
Cruise: 145 mph
Range: 525 sm
Stall: 55 mph
ROC: 1100 fpm
Take-off dist: 600 ft
Landing dist: 400 ft
Service ceiling: 12,500 ft
Seats: 1
Landing gear: nose or tail wheel