The Continental IO-520 is a six-cylinder, horizontally opposed aircraft engine produced by Teledyne Continental Motors . First run in 1963 as a development of the IO-346 , it has been produced in versions incorporating fuel injection ( IO-520 ), turbo-charging ( TSIO-520 ), and gearing ( GTSIO-520 ).
10-571: The IO-520 series engines normally produce 285 to 310 horsepower (213 to 231 kW) and are used in numerous aircraft such as certain models of the Bellanca Viking 300 and Super Viking , the Beech Bonanza and Baron , and Cessna 185 - 206 -, 210 -, 310 -, and 400 -series aircraft. The IO-520 remained in production in 2019. The turbocharged GTSIO-520's most common applications are the twin-engine Cessna 404 and 421 , where it
20-475: A Viking powered by a 290 hp (later 300 hp) Lycoming IO-540 was introduced, either normally aspirated (17-31) or turbocharged (17-31TC). Over the years there were a number of refinements to the aircraft. The original hydraulic gear and flap actuation system was redesigned in 1968 introducing electric flaps. In 1969, the FAA issued Type Certificate A18CE and the aircraft built under that design were designated
30-460: A bigger version of the "Model 260" with at least 300 horsepower. The company was based in Minnesota and employed skilled craftsmen who manufactured the wing from spruce, and the new 300 hp model was named the "Viking" in respect to the many Scandinavians of the area. The first Model 17 Viking appeared in 1967 called the "17-30." It was powered by a 300 hp Continental IO-520-K . In 1969,
40-588: A fully enclosed nosewheel thanks to a redesign of the engine mount. This necessitated the use of cowl flaps for the first time on the Viking but resulted in a 12 mph increase. In 1979 production of the Lycoming-powered 17-31A ceased. In 1996, the Continental IO-550 was made available as an option. Since 2002, the company has been operated by a group of six Bellanca enthusiasts who bought
50-461: Is rated at 375 hp (280 kW). The 'G' prefix indicated the incorporation of propeller reduction gearing. Data from Continental Motors. [REDACTED] Media related to Continental O-520 at Wikimedia Commons Bellanca 17-30 The Bellanca Viking and Super Viking are a series of single-engine, four-seat, high performance, retractable gear aircraft manufactured in the USA during
60-517: The "A" series "Super Vikings". Aside from refinements already made to late Viking 300 models, the new 300A Vikings (17-30A, 17-31A and 17-31ATC) had a gross weight increase to 3,325 lbs. The original complex fuel system with five tanks and two fuel selectors allowing eight possible combinations of selector settings was simplified to a left, right and auxiliary system in 1974. After several years of financial losses, Viking sales became profitable again in 1978. In 1979, Continental-powered Vikings sported
70-483: The 1960s and 1970s. The aircraft developed through modifications of classic designs by the aviation pioneer Giuseppe Bellanca . A total of 1,356 Vikings have been produced with most production between 1968 and 1975 (1019 planes). The Viking is a derivative of the Bellanca Cruisair , a retractable gear taildragger with two extra vertical fins on the tips of the horizontal stabilizer. The 14-13 Cruisair series
80-471: The 260. The 14-19-3 260 retained the wire-braced triple tail into the 1962 model year. After that year, the triple tail design was modified to a single tail with the same aggregate surface area, and manufactured as the Model 260A. The later Vikings retain the oversized vertical fin that contributes to the distinctive flying characteristics of the aircraft. The Viking model was born out of discussions at Downer for
90-445: The company from the state of Minnesota and established Alexandria Aircraft Co. LLC. They provide technical support and parts to owners and A&Ps in the field. They have sold one new aircraft, manufactured in 2005. The aircraft fuselage is constructed from tubular steel overlaid with fabric, while the wings are fashioned from spruce with a plywood skin. Bill Cox, an aviation journalist at Plane and Pilot Magazine commented regarding
100-405: Was developed into the larger, more powerful 14-19 Cruisemaster in the early 1950s. After the original Bellanca company went out of business, Downer Aircraft took over the type certificate and built the 14-19-2 Cruisemaster by mating the airframe with a Continental O-470 of 230 hp. In 1958, Downer redesigned the airplane with a nosewheel and fuel injected IO-470 of 260 hp, and redesignated it
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