The C90 was introduced in 1947 as a development from the earlier
O-190 series (C75/C85) by increasing the stroke inch, which in turn is an enlarged bore upgrade of the
O-170 series (A50/A65/A75/A80) which had been in production since 1939. Many of the designs powered by the C90 are upgraded variants of earlier A65 powered designs, such as the
Piper J-3 Cub and PA-11 Cub Special,
Aeronca 7AC, This engine family is considered to be dependable, according to both industry publications and the FAA. In a cooperative venture,
Rolls-Royce produced these same designs in England, under separate certification, with model designations beginning RR, e.g. the Rolls-Royce RR C90-12FH is the equivalent of the Continental C90-12FH; the Rolls-Royce versions are "directly interchangeable with the equivalent models manufactured by Continental." The Rolls-Royce O-200-A powers the
Beagle Pup Series 1, the
Rollason Condor, the
Bölkow Bo 208 C Junior, the
Avions Robin DR 220, The standard certification for the C90 and O-200 specifies
Avgas 80/87 as the minimum fuel grade. While the C90 is approved for takeoff power of 95 horsepower (71 kW) at 2,625 rpm for five minutes, the designation is derived from its continuous power rating of 90 hp (67 kW) at 2,475 rpm. As noted above, certain models of the C90 replace the usual carburetor with a fuel injection system. In addition, there are models which provide for the installation of a
controllable-pitch propeller and one, the C90-12FP, designed for a
pusher configuration installation. The O-200 is an updated and upgraded version of the engine, achieving increased power of 100 hp (75 kW) at 2,750 rpm as a result of higher maximum rpm. The standard and most common model of the engine is the O-200-A; the -B model is designed for a pusher installation, the -C model provides for the installation of a controllable-pitch propeller, and the -D model is a lower-weight version designed for light-sport aircraft. ==Operational history==