The Continental O-200 is a naturally aspirated four-cylinder aircraft piston engine rated at 100 hp at 2,750 rpm. Its long association with the Cessna 150 made it a familiar training powerplant. Later versions continued the family's use in light aircraft, including the Vashon Ranger R7.[1][2]
Arrangement
The engine has horizontally opposed cylinders, air cooling and a carburettor. It drives its propeller directly from the crankshaft, without an intervening speed-reduction gearbox. Displacement is 201 cubic inches, with a bore of approximately 4.063 inches and a stroke of 3.875 inches. The O-200-A and lighter O-200-D retain the same displacement and nominal output despite differences in compression ratio and weight.[3][2]
The lightweight O-200-D
Continental's specification sheet lists the O-200-A at 216.1 lb dry and the O-200-D at 196.8 lb, including accessories under the manufacturer's stated weight definition. Compression ratio rises from 7.0:1 in the A to 8.5:1 in the D. Both remain 100 hp engines: the lighter model changes the installation's weight requirement without moving into a higher power class.[3]
Installation in the Ranger
The Ranger combines its O-200-D with a two-bladed, fixed-pitch Catto propeller of 70-inch diameter. This installation keeps propeller operation mechanically simple, with no separate constant-speed governor control. Its published engine specification identifies a normally aspirated, carburettor-equipped powerplant.[2]
The aircraft's throttle and mixture controls sit in the centre console, accessible from either seat. The mixture control adjusts the air-to-fuel ratio and also operates the carburettor's idle cut-off. Thus, the engine installation retains separate pilot control over power and mixture, a familiar arrangement in training aircraft using conventional avgas piston engines.[4]