The Continental IO-550 engine is a large family of 9 liter

fuel injected Fuel injection is the introduction of fuel in an internal combustion engine, most commonly automotive engines, by the means of an injector. This article focuses on fuel injection in reciprocating piston and Wankel rotary engines. All comp ...

six-cylinder, horizontally opposed, air-cooled aircraft engines that were developed for use in

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

Teledyne Continental Motors Continental Aerospace Technologies is an aircraft engine manufacturer located at the Brookley Aeroplex in Mobile, Alabama, United States. It was originally spun off from automobile engine manufacturer Continental Motors Company in 1929 and owne ...

. The first IO-550 was delivered in 1983 and the type remains in production. The IOF-550 is an Aerosance

FADEC A full authority digital engine (or electronics) control (FADEC) is a system consisting of a digital computer, called an "electronic engine controller" (EEC) or "engine control unit" (ECU), and its related accessories that control all aspects of ai ...

equipped version of the same basic engine, the TSIO-550 is a dual

turbocharged In an internal combustion engine, a turbocharger (often called a turbo) is a forced induction device that is powered by the flow of exhaust gases. It uses this energy to compress the intake gas, forcing more air into the engine in order to pro ...

version and the TSIOL-550 is a liquid-cooled variant. There is no O-550 engine, which would be a carburetor-equipped variant, hence the base model is the IO-550. This engine family competes with the

Lycoming IO-580 The Lycoming IO-580 engine is a horizontally opposed, six-cylinder aircraft engine featuring three cylinders per side, manufactured by Lycoming Engines. There is no carburetted version of the engine, which would have been designated O-580 and ...

series which are also six-cylinder engines with similar power output and weight.

Design and development

The IO-550 family of engines was developed from the IO-520 series, with the stroke increased from 4.00 to 4.25 inches, increasing the displacement to 552 in³ (9.05 L). The engine family covers a power range from to . The engines were first developed in the early 1980s and first certified on a regulatory basis of FAR 33, 1 February 1965 amendment, 33-8, 2 May 1977. The first IO-550 model was certified on 13 October 1983.

Variants

;IO-550-A : at 2700 rpm, dry weight . Certified 13 October 1983. ;IO-550-B : at 2700 rpm, dry weight . Certified 13 October 1983. ;IO-550-C : at 2700 rpm, dry weight . Certified 13 October 1983. ;IO-550-D : at 2700 rpm, dry weight . Certified 23 June 1988. ;IO-550-E : at 2700 rpm, dry weight . Certified 20 December 1989. ;IO-550-F : at 2700 rpm, dry weight . Similar to the IO-550-A,B & C, with a top-mounted induction system and 12-quart oil sump. Certified 23 June 1988. ;IO-550-G : at 2500 rpm, dry weight . Certified 17 March 1989. ;IO-550-L : at 2700 rpm, dry weight . Certified 23 June 1988. ;IO-550-N : at 2700 rpm, dry weight . Similar to the IO-550-G with increased power rating. Certified 16 August 1996. ;IO-550-P : at 2700 rpm, dry weight . Similar to the IO-550-N with oil sump from the IO-550-L. Certified 1 March 2000. ;IO-550-R : at 2700 rpm, dry weight . Similar to the IO-550-N but with the oil sump, oil suction tube and mount legs from the IO-550-B. Certified 1 March 2000.

FADEC models

;IOF-550-B : at 2700 rpm, dry weight . Similar to the IO-550-B with an Aerosance FADEC fuel and ignition control system. Certified 4 February 2002. ;IOF-550-C : at 2700 rpm, dry weight . Similar to the IO-550-C with an Aerosance FADEC fuel and ignition control system. Certified 4 February 2002. ;IOF-550-D : at 2700 rpm, dry weight . Similar to the IO-550-D with an Aerosance FADEC fuel and ignition control system. Certified 4 February 2002. ;IOF-550-E : at 2700 rpm, dry weight . Similar to the IO-550-E with an Aerosance FADEC fuel and ignition control system. Certified 4 February 2002. ;IOF-550-F : at 2700 rpm, dry weight . Similar to the IO-550-F with an Aerosance FADEC fuel and ignition control system. Certified 4 February 2002. ;IOF-550-L : at 2700 rpm, dry weight . Similar to the IO-550-L with an Aerosance FADEC fuel and ignition control system. Certified 4 February 2002. ;IOF-550-N : at 2700 rpm, dry weight . Similar to the IO-550-N with an Aerosance FADEC fuel and ignition control system. Certified 4 February 2002. ;IOF-550-P : at 2700 rpm, dry weight . Similar to the IO-550-P with an Aerosance FADEC fuel and ignition control system. Certified 4 February 2002. ;IOF-550-R : at 2700 rpm, dry weight . Similar to the IO-550-R with an Aerosance FADEC fuel and ignition control system. Certified 4 February 2002.

Turbocharged models

;TSIO-550-A : at 2600 rpm, dry weight plus two turbochargers of each. ;TSIO-550-B : at 2700 rpm, dry weight plus two turbochargers of each. Similar to the TSIO-550-A except with a 12 quart sump, sonic venturii removed and the two stage fuel pump replaced by a single stage fuel pump. ;TSIO-550-C : at 2600 rpm, dry weight plus two turbochargers of each. ;TSIO-550-E : at 2700 rpm, dry weight plus two turbochargers of each. Similar to TSIO-550-C with the oil sump and maximum continuous power rating of the TSIO-550-B. ;TSIO-550-G : at 2700 rpm, dry weight plus two turbochargers of each. Similar to the TSIO-550-E with smaller surface area intercoolers, different oil sump capacity and power rating. ;TSIO-550-K : at 2500 rpm, dry weight plus two turbochargers of each. Similar to the TSIO-550-E with new oil sump and capacity, decreased maximum continuous power, increased turbo boost pressure, decreased engine speed rating and tapered cylinder barrel fins.

Turbocharged & FADEC models

;TSIOF-550-D : at 2600 rpm, dry weight plus two turbochargers of each. Similar to the TSIOF-550-J except the exhaust system and low voltage harness. ;TSIOF-550-J : at 2600 rpm, dry weight plus two turbochargers of each. Similar to the TSIO-550-E except for

fuel injection and ignition control, turbochargers, tapered cylinder barrel fins, oil sump and capacity, maximum continuous speed and manifold pressure rating. ;TSIOF-550-K : at 2500 rpm, dry weight plus two turbochargers of each. Similar to the TSIO-550-K but with FADEC fuel injection and ignition control.

Liquid-cooled models

;TSIOL-550-A : at 2700 rpm, dry weight . Similar to the TSIO-520-NB but with a new cylinder design that uses liquid cooling. The coolant manifold is on top of the cylinder head, with a coolant pump fitted to the starter adapter, driven by the starter adapter shaft and the oil cooler is mounted on the airframe, not the engine. The engine has an

AiResearch Garrett AiResearch was a manufacturer of turboprop engines and turbochargers, and a pioneer in numerous aerospace technologies. It was previously known as Aircraft Tool and Supply Company, Garrett Supply Company, AiResearch Manufacturing Compa ...

TA81 turbocharger. ;TSIOL-550-B : at 2700 rpm, dry weight . Similar to the TSIO-520-UB but with a new cylinder design that uses liquid cooling. The coolant manifold is on top of the cylinder head, with a coolant pump fitted to the starter adapter, driven by the propeller shaft using sheaves, the oil cooler is mounted on the airframe, not the engine. A coolant tank and coolant lines are added to the installation. The engine has an AiResearch TS06 turbocharger. ;TSIOL-550-C : at 2600 rpm, dry weight . Similar to the TSIOL-550-A but with the exhaust system and turbocharger bracket from the TSIOL-550-B. The engine is modified to accept the AiResearch TA81 turbocharger. Neither oil nor coolant radiators are provided with the engine.

Geared models

;GIO-550-A :A special non-certified geared engine developed for the

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covert reconnaissance aircraft, incorporating 3:2 gear reduction to 2267 rpm.

Applications

;IO-550 *

Beechcraft Baron The Beechcraft Baron is a light twin-engined piston aircraft designed and produced by Beechcraft. The aircraft was introduced in 1961. A low-wing monoplane developed from the Travel Air, it remains in production. Design and development The di ...

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(STC SA09133SC, modification) *

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(modification) *

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(modification)Cessna 210 Centurion
Disciples of Flight, 2/21/15, Aircraft Engine Upgrade section. *

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* Cirrus VK-30 * Freedom Aviation Phoenix * Lancair Barracuda *

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* Mooney M20 * Seawind 300C * Velocity XL-RG * Washington T-411 Wolverine * Yakovlev Yak-112 ;TSIO-550 *

Adam A500 The Adam A500 is an American six-seat civil utility aircraft that was produced by Adam Aircraft Industries. The aircraft is of pod-and-boom, push-pull configuration with its two Continental TSIO-550-E piston engines mounted to provide ...

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* Lancair IV * Mooney M20TN * Velocity TXL-RG *

Cirrus SR22T The Cirrus SR22 is a single-engine four- or five-seat composite material, composite aircraft built from 2001 by Cirrus Aircraft of Duluth, Minnesota. It is a development of the Cirrus SR20, with a larger wing, higher fuel capacity, and a more p ...

;TSIOF-550 *

Diamond DA50 The Diamond DA50 is a five seat, single-engine, composite aircraft designed and built by Diamond Aircraft Industries. First shown in 2006, it made its maiden flight on 4 April 2007. The project has been proposed to be powered by several differe ...

* Cobalt Co50 Valkyrie * KAI KC-100 ;TSIOL-550 *

Extra EA-400 The Extra EA-400 is a six-seat, single-engined, high-wing monoplane produced by Extra Flugzeugbau GmbH. The EA-400 is powered by a liquid-cooled Continental Voyager turbocharged piston engine. Design and development Started by Walter Extra, t ...

Viper Aircraft Viperfan The Viper Aircraft Viperfan was an American homebuilt aircraft that was designed and produced by Viper Aircraft of Kennewick, Washington, introduced in the late 1990s. The aircraft was intended to be supplied as a kit for amateur construction, ...

;GIO-550 *

Specifications (IO-550-A)

References

External links

Continental Specification Sheet IO-550-N
{{Continental aeroengines 1980s aircraft piston engines Boxer engines IO-550