Continental A40

A40
	Preserved Continental A40-5 (dual magneto, two spark plugs per cylinder)
Type	Piston aero-engine
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Teledyne Continental Motors
First run	1931
Major applications	Taylor E-2 Cub; Piper J-2 Cub

The printable version is no longer supported and may have rendering errors. Please update your browser bookmarks and please use the default browser print function instead.

The Continental A40 engine is a carbureted four-cylinder, horizontally opposed, air-cooled aircraft engine that was developed especially for use in light aircraft by Continental Motors. It was produced between 1931 and 1941.^[1]^[2]^[3]

Design and development

The 37 hp (28 kW) A40 was introduced in the depths of the Great Depression. 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 40 hp (30 kW). The engine later inspired the A-50 and subsequent engines.^[1]^[2]^[4]

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.^[2]^[3]

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.^[2]^[3]

Variants

A40: Single ignition, 37 hp (28 kW) at 2550 rpm, dry weight 144 lb (65 kg)^[2]
A40-2: Single ignition, 37 hp (28 kW) at 2550 rpm, dry weight 144 lb (65 kg)^[2]
A-40-3: Single ignition, 37 hp (28 kW) at 2550 rpm, dry weight 144 lb (65 kg)^[2] Featured cadmium-nickel connecting rod bearings.^[5]
A40-4: Single ignition, 40 hp (30 kW) at 2575 rpm, dry weight 144 lb (65 kg),^[2] Steel backed connecting rod inserts
A40-5: Dual ignition, 40 hp (30 kW) at 2575 rpm, dry weight 156 lb (71 kg)^[3]

Applications

Taylor E-2 Cub showing its A-40 engine with the cylinders protruding through the cowling, Canada Aviation Museum.

Engines on display

Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome^[1]

Specifications (A40-5)

Data from Type Certificate Data Sheet 72,^[2] Jane's 1938^[10]

General characteristics

Type: 4-cylinder air-cooled horizontally opposed aircraft piston engine
Bore: 3.125 in (79.3 mm)
Stroke: 3.75 in (95.3 mm)
Displacement: 115 cu in (1.9 L)
Length: 27.9375 in (710 mm)
Width: 26.4375 in (672 mm)
Height: 20.4375 in (519 mm)
Dry weight: 154 lb (69.9 kg) dry with carburrettor and magnetos

Components

Valvetrain: One intake and one exhaust side-valve per cylinder with a flathead valve design.
Fuel system: CMC Stromberg NA-82 carburetor
Fuel type: minimum 73 octane
Cooling system: Air-cooled

Performance

Power output: 40 hp (30 kW) at 2,575 rpm
Specific power: 0.35 hp/(cu in) (15.3 kW/L)
Compression ratio: 5.2:1
Specific fuel consumption: 0.72 lb/(hp h) (0.439 kg/(kW h))
Oil consumption: 0.025 lb/(hp h) (0.0153 kg/(kW h))
Power-to-weight ratio: 0.28 hp/lb (0.45 kW/kg)

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "Continental A-40". Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome. Retrieved 2011-09-26.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Federal Aviation Administration (November 1941). "Approved Type Certificate 72" (PDF). Retrieved 2019-01-11.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Federal Aviation Administration (November 1941). "Approved Type Certificate 174" (PDF). Retrieved 2019-01-11.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ Christy, Joe: Engines for Homebuilt Aircraft & Ultralights, pages 8-9. TAB Books, 1983. ISBN 0-8306-2347-7
^ "Question & Answer Department". Sport Aviation: 25. December 1959.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Wooden props (2008). "Fahlin Propellers". Archived from the original on 2013-12-28. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
^ "ATC 660 data sheet" (PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-12-28. Retrieved 2011-09-27.
^ "Aircraft Specification No. A-691" (PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-11-04. Retrieved 2011-09-27.
^ "TC 637 data sheet" (PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-11-15. Retrieved 2011-09-26.
^ Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1938. London: Sampson, Low & Martin company Limited. 1938.

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

[Rhinebeck-1] "Continental A-40". Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome. Retrieved 2011-09-26.

[ATC72-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Federal Aviation Administration (November 1941). "Approved Type Certificate 72" (PDF). Retrieved 2019-01-11.^{[permanent dead link‍]}

[ATC174-3] Federal Aviation Administration (November 1941). "Approved Type Certificate 174" (PDF). Retrieved 2019-01-11.^{[permanent dead link‍]}

[Christy-4] Christy, Joe: Engines for Homebuilt Aircraft & Ultralights, pages 8-9. TAB Books, 1983. ISBN 0-8306-2347-7

[5] "Question & Answer Department". Sport Aviation: 25. December 1959.

[Fahlin-6] Wooden props (2008). "Fahlin Propellers". Archived from the original on 2013-12-28. Retrieved 2008-12-13.

[7] "ATC 660 data sheet" (PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-12-28. Retrieved 2011-09-27.

[8] "Aircraft Specification No. A-691" (PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-11-04. Retrieved 2011-09-27.

[9] "TC 637 data sheet" (PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-11-15. Retrieved 2011-09-26.

[JAWA1938-10] Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1938. London: Sampson, Low & Martin company Limited. 1938.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]