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 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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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

Engines on display[edit]

Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome^[1]

Specifications (A40-5)[edit]

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[edit]

^ ^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[edit]

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.

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