The Continental A40 engine is a carbureted four-cylinder, horizontally opposed, air-cooled aircraft engine that was developed especially for use in

light aircraft A light aircraft is an aircraft that has a Maximum Takeoff Weight, maximum gross takeoff weight of or less.Crane, Dale: ''Dictionary of Aeronautical Terms, third edition'', page 308. Aviation Supplies & Academics, 1997. Light aircraft are use ...

by Continental Motors. It was produced between 1931 and 1941.

Design and development

The A40 was introduced in the depths of the

Great Depression The Great Depression was a severe global economic downturn from 1929 to 1939. The period was characterized by high rates of unemployment and poverty, drastic reductions in industrial production and international trade, and widespread bank and ...

. At the time there were a number of small engines available but all suffered from either high cost, complexity, or low reliability. The A-40 addressed all those shortcomings and was instrumental in the production of light aircraft in the difficult economic constraints of the period. The A-40-4 introduced an increase in power to . The engine later inspired the A-50 and subsequent engines.Christy, Joe: ''Engines for Homebuilt Aircraft & Ultralights'', pages 8-9. TAB Books, 1983. The A40 featured single ignition until the A-40-5 version, which introduced dual ignition. All engines in this family have a 5.2:1 compression ratio and were designed to run on fuel with a minimum octane rating of 73. The entire family of engines had its certification terminated on 1 November 1941. Engines produced before that date are still certified, but none can be produced after that date.

Variants

;A40 :Single ignition, at 2550 rpm, dry weight ;A40-2 :Single ignition, at 2550 rpm, dry weight ;A-40-3 :Single ignition, at 2550 rpm, dry weight Featured cadmium-nickel connecting rod bearings. ;A40-4 :Single ignition, at 2575 rpm, dry weight , Steel backed connecting rod inserts ;A40-5 :Dual ignition, at 2575 rpm, dry weight

Applications

* Aeronca KC * Arup S-2 * Heath Parasol LNA-40 * Nicholson Junior KN-2 *

Piper J-3 Cub The Piper J-3 Cub is an American light aircraft that was built between 1938 and 1947 by Piper Aircraft. The aircraft has a simple, lightweight design which gives it good low-speed handling properties and short-field performance. The Cub is Pi ...

* Porterfield CP-40 Zephyr * Rose Parakeet * Taylor E-2 Cub * Piper J-2 Cub * Taylorcraft A * Welch OW-5M

Engines on display

Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome The Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome is a living museum in Red Hook, New York, Red Hook, New York, adjacent to the town of Rhinebeck (town), New York, Rhinebeck. Founded in 1958, it owns many examples of airworthy aircraft from the Aviation in the pioneer ...

Specifications (A40-5)

References

External links

E-2 "Cub" Powerplant Instl - Holcomb's Aerodrome
The A-40, as installed in the Taylor E-2 Cub.
90 Years of General Aviation Powered by the Continental A-40 Engine
{{Continental aeroengines Boxer engines 1930s aircraft piston engines A-40