Continental O-200

The Continental C90 and O-200 are a family of air-cooled, horizontally opposed, four-cylinder, direct-drive aircraft engines of 201 in<sup>3</sup> (3.29 L) displacement, producing between 90 and 100 horsepower (67 and 75 kW).

Built by Continental Motors these engines are used in many light aircraft designs of the United States, including the early Piper PA-18 Super Cub, the Champion 7EC, the Alon Aircoupe, and the Cessna 150.

Though the C90 was superseded by the O-200, and many of the designs utilizing the O-200 had gone out of production by 1980, with the 2004 publication of the United States Federal Aviation Administration light-sport aircraft regulations came a resurgence in demand for the O-200.

Design and development

The C90 was introduced in 1947 as a development from the earlier O-190 series (C75/C85) by increasing the stroke <small></small> inch, which in turn is an enlarged bore upgrade of the O-170 series (A50/A65/A75/A80) which had been in production since 1939.

Many of the designs powered by the C90 are upgraded variants of earlier A65 powered designs, such as the Piper J-3 Cub and PA-11 Cub Special, Aeronca 7AC,

This engine family is considered to be dependable, according to both industry publications and the FAA.

In a cooperative venture, Rolls-Royce produced these same designs in England, under separate certification, with model designations beginning RR, e.g. the Rolls-Royce RR C90-12FH is the equivalent of the Continental C90-12FH; the Rolls-Royce versions are "directly interchangeable with the equivalent models manufactured by Continental." The Rolls-Royce O-200-A powers the Beagle Pup Series 1, the Rollason Condor, the Bölkow Bo 208 C Junior, the Avions Robin DR 220, The standard certification for the C90 and O-200 specifies Avgas 80/87 as the minimum fuel grade.

While the C90 is approved for takeoff power of 95 horsepower (71 kW) at 2,625 rpm for five minutes, the designation is derived from its continuous power rating of 90 hp (67 kW) at 2,475 rpm. As noted above, certain models of the C90 replace the usual carburetor with a fuel injection system. In addition, there are models which provide for the installation of a controllable-pitch propeller and one, the C90-12FP, designed for a pusher configuration installation.

The O-200 is an updated and upgraded version of the engine, achieving increased power of 100 hp (75 kW) at 2,750 rpm as a result of higher maximum rpm. The standard and most common model of the engine is the O-200-A; the -B model is designed for a pusher installation, the -C model provides for the installation of a controllable-pitch propeller, and the -D model is a lower-weight version designed for light-sport aircraft.

Formula One racer Sharp Nemesis, designed and flown by Jon Sharp, was powered by a 'stock' O-200. Between 1991 and 1999, the aircraft won 45 of the 48 events in which it was entered, as well as winning three Louis Blériot medals, four Pulitzer Trophies, and setting 16 speed records in its class. In one of those records, Nemesis was clocked at more than 290 mph (467 km/h). By contrast, the O-200 powered Legend Cub cruises at 95 mph (152.9 km/h).

Variants

thumb|Continental O-200D

thumb|right|O-200AF

Certified versions

C90

;C90-8F:Lacks provisions for generator and starter drives, continuous, for take-off.

;IOL-200/Voyager 200:The aft engine of the round the world flight Rutan Voyager

Applications

right|thumb|With 23,949 [[Cessna 150s built, this type is the most common application for the O-200.]]

Specifications (O-200-A)

Data from Engine specifications: O-200-A & B.

References

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