Continental IO-550

First run in 1984, the Continental IO-550 is a piston from Continental Aerospace built for general-aviation aircraft, where simplicity and overhaul cost dominate the economics, producing 310 shp of shaft power. It is a long-serving design with a deep installed base.

The Continental IO-550 is a fuel-injected, horizontally opposed six-cylinder aircraft engine with 550 cubic inches of displacement, producing 280 to 350 hp depending on the variant. It is used in high-performance single-engine aircraft and is known for its smooth power delivery and strong midrange torque. The IO-550 powers several popular Beechcraft Bonanza and Cessna 400 variants, and was the engine of choice for the Cirrus SR22 until 2003. Its applications include the Beechcraft Bonanza G36, Cessna 400 (Columbia 400), Cirrus SR22 (early) and Piper PA-46 Malibu Mirage — and an engine's installed base matters commercially, because a widely flown type means deeper parts availability, more shop options and better residual liquidity.

For a piston engine, the decisive numbers are time since major overhaul against TBO, the quality of the overhaul shop, and consistency of use — an engine flown regularly usually presents better internally than a low-time engine that sat. Condition, documentation and programme status are what separate two otherwise identical engines — request a quote above and we'll set out the options by condition: new, overhauled, serviceable or core.