Continental O-240 Explained

The Continental O-240 engine is a four-cylinder, horizontally opposed, air-cooled aircraft engine that was developed in the late 1960s for use in light aircraft by Continental Motors, Inc. The first O-240 was certified on 7 July 1971.^[1] ^[2]

Design and development

The 1300NaN0 O-240 was a new engine design derived from the six-cylinder Continental O-360 and introduced in 1971. It is generally similar in overall dimensions to the Continental O-200, but with a higher 8.5:1 compression ratio, designed to run on 100/130 avgas. The O-240 delivers 30% more power than the O-200 while it weighs only 12% more. It may be mounted in tractor or pusher configuration.^[3] ^[4]

The O-240 was produced under license in the United Kingdom by Rolls-Royce Limited and was used to power the Reims-Cessna FRA150 Aerobat, a more powerful aerobatic model of the Cessna 150 constructed in France by Reims Aviation under license.^[5] Rolls-Royce acquired the rights to the O-240, but not the IO-240 in 1977.

The fuel-injected IO-240-A and -B were introduced in 1993. The A and B versions differ only in the type of fuel injector used.

The IOF-240 is similar to the IO-240-B except that it employs an Aerosance FADEC system to control the ignition and fuel injection systems. The engine was not selected to power any production North American-manufactured aircraft until the Liberty XL2 entered production in 2006 powered by the IOF-240-B.

Variants

O-240-A

Dual ignition, 1300NaN0 at 2800 rpm, dry weight 2460NaN0 including starter and generator. Uses a Marvel-Schebler MA-3SPA IO 5067 carburetor. Certified 7 July 1971

IO-240-A

Dual ignition, 1250NaN0 at 2800 rpm, dry weight 2460NaN0, uses a TCM 639231A27 fuel injector

IO-240-B

Dual ignition, 1250NaN0 at 2800 rpm, dry weight 2460NaN0, uses a TCM 639231A34 fuel injector

IOF-240-B

Aerosance FADEC system controls the ignition and fuel injection systems, 1250NaN0 at 2800 rpm, dry weight 2550NaN0

Applications

O-240

AESL Airtourer T3
Reims Cessna FRA150 Aerobat ("R" meaning a Rolls-Royce-built O-240)
Rutan Voyager (front engine)
Practavia Sprite
Rollason Condor (D62C)
St Croix Pietenpol Aerial
Tri-R KIS TR-1
Warner Revolution II

IO-240

IOF-240-B

References

Bibliography

Gunston, Bill. World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines. Cambridge, England. Patrick Stephens Limited, 1989.

Notes and References

Web site: TYPE CERTIFICATE DATA SHEET NO. E7SO Revision 4. 2008-12-18. Federal Aviation Administration. March 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20160131044634/http://www.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgMakeModel.nsf/0/743bafcc465dabc386257297007258ac/$FILE/E7SO.pdf. 2016-01-31. dead.
Web site: TYPE CERTIFICATE DATA SHEET NO. E11EU Revision 4. 2008-12-27. Federal Aviation Administration. March 2007.
Christy, Joe: Engines for Homebuilt Aircraft & Ultralights, pages 58-59. TAB Books, 1983.
Web site: Continental O-240. 2008-12-18. Shanaberger. Kenneth. 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081010184200/http://www.shanaberger.com/engines/O-240.htm. 2008-10-10. dead.
Gunston 1989, p.42.