Lycoming IO-390

Design and development

The engine was originally conceived in the 1970s as the IO-400-X, but the project was never pursued.

The IO-390 family of engines, which Lycoming refers to as the IO-390-X, produce 200 hp to 215 hp. The IO-390 was developed from the similar IO-360 engine, to increase the O-360's cylinder bore. (Although the IO-390 cylinder assembly is not the same part number as the IO-580, the cylinder barrels of both have a 5.318 bore and 4.375 stroke dimension.)

It features a tuned induction system, roller tappets and Slick Start ignition. The engine has a fuel injection system which meters fuel in proportion to the induction airflow with fuel vaporization taking place at the intake ports. The engine has a displacement of 390 cuin. The cylinders have air-cooled heads.

The IO-390 was first introduced at AirVenture 2002. It has a factory recommended TBO of 2000 hours and requires a dynafocal engine mount.

The IO-390 was initially marketed through Lycoming's custom engine subsidiary, Thunderbolt Engines, prior to the engine's certification and was at that time only available for installation on non-certified aircraft. The IO-390 was certified on 30 March 2009 to FAR 33.

In January 2009 the base price of the IO-390-EXP version was USD$32,650.00.

In November 2009 Lycoming announced that it had obtained an FAA Supplemental Type Certificate to replace the originally fitted Lycoming O-360 engines in the Mooney M20E, M20F and M20J with a new or remanufactured IO-390-A3A6 engine. Also on November 12, 2009 Commander Aircraft received an STC for its model 112B using the MTV-12-B/188-59b propeller.

Variants

IO-390 models

;IO-390-X :Four-cylinder, fuel-injected, horizontally opposed, air-cooled direct drive, 390 cuin, 210 hp at 2700 rpm, dry weight 308 lb, The "X" designation is a generic indicator for all engines in the family. ;IO-390-EXP :Four-cylinder, fuel-injected, horizontally opposed, air-cooled direct drive, 390 cuin, 210 hp at 2700 rpm, dry weight 308 lb, non-certified engine for experimental aircraft assembled by Lycoming's Thunderbolt division. ;IO-390-A1A6 :The initial certified version: four-cylinder, fuel-injected, horizontally opposed, air-cooled direct drive, 390 cuin, 210 hp at 2700 rpm. This model includes provisions for a single-action controllable-pitch propeller. Certified 30 March 2009. ;IO-390-A1B6 :Certified version: four-cylinder, fuel-injected, horizontally opposed, air-cooled direct drive, 390 cuin, 210 hp at 2700 rpm. Same as the A1A6, except that the propeller governor is located on left front of crankcase. Certified 21 January 2010. ;IO-390-A3A6 :Certified version: four-cylinder, fuel-injected, horizontally opposed, air-cooled direct drive, 390 cuin, 210 hp at 2700 rpm. This model includes provisions for a single-action controllable-pitch propeller. This model is similar to the A1A6 but has its propeller flange bushings reindexed. Certified 27 August 2009. ;IO-390-A3B6 :Certified version: four-cylinder, fuel-injected, horizontally opposed, air-cooled direct drive, 390 cuin, 210 hp at 2700 rpm. Same as the A3A6 except that the propeller governor is located on left front of the crankcase. Certified 5 April 2012. ;IO-390-C1A6 :Certified version: four-cylinder, fuel-injected, horizontally opposed, air-cooled direct drive, 390 cuin, 215 hp at 2700 rpm. This model is similar to the IO-390-A1A6, except with a lightweight oil sump, cold air induction housing, tuned intake pipes and an RSA-10 fuel injector. Certified 25 January 2016. ;IO-390-C1B6 :Certified version: four-cylinder, fuel-injected, horizontally opposed, air-cooled direct drive, 390 cuin, 215 hp at 2700 rpm. This model is the same as the C1A6, except that the propeller governor is located on left front of the crankcase. Certified 25 January 2016. ;IO-390-C3A6 :Certified version: four-cylinder, fuel-injected, horizontally opposed, air-cooled direct drive, 390 cuin, 215 hp at 2700 rpm. This model is the same as the C1A6, except that the propeller flange bushings are reindexed. Certified 25 January 2016. ;IO-390-C3B6 :Certified four-cylinder, fuel-injected, horizontally opposed, air-cooled direct drive, 390 cuin, 215 hp at 2,700 rpm, dry weight 296 lb (134 kg). This model is the same as the C3A6, except that the propeller governor is located on left front of the crankcase. Used on Cirrus SR20 G6.

AEIO-390 models

;AEIO-390-A1A6 :Certified version: aerobatic, four-cylinder, fuel-injected, horizontally opposed, air-cooled direct drive, 390 cuin, 210 hp at 2700 rpm. This model is the same as IO-390-A1A6, except that it is equipped with an inverted oil system kit for aerobatic flight. Certified 5 April 2012. ;AEIO-390-A1B6 :Certified version: aerobatic, four-cylinder, fuel-injected, horizontally opposed, air-cooled direct drive, 390 cuin, 210 hp at 2700 rpm. This model is the same as IO-390-A1B6, except that it is equipped with an inverted oil system kit for aerobatic flight. Certified 5 April 2012. ;AEIO-390-A3A6 :Certified version: aerobatic, four-cylinder, fuel-injected, horizontally opposed, air-cooled direct drive, 390 cuin, 210 hp at 2700 rpm. This model is the same as IO-390-A3A6, except that it is equipped with an inverted oil system kit for aerobatic flight. Certified 5 April 2012. ;AEIO-390-A3B6 :Certified version: aerobatic, four-cylinder, fuel-injected, horizontally opposed, air-cooled direct drive, 390 cuin, 210 hp at 2700 rpm. This model is the same as IO-390-A3B6, except that it is equipped with an inverted oil system kit for aerobatic flight. Certified 5 April 2012.

Applications

;Amateur-built aircraft

• Bearhawk Companion
• Glasair Sportsman
• Ibis GS-750 Grand Magic
• Lancair Barracuda
• Lancair ES
• MSW Votec 221
• Pipistrel Panthera
• Van's Aircraft RV-7
• Van's Aircraft RV-8
• Van's Aircraft RV-14
• Van's Aircraft RV-15
• Whisper X350 Generation II

;Certified aircraft

• Aura Aero Integral R - aerobatic 210 hp - certified in 2024
• Cessna 177RG - available in July 2009 under an STC
• Cirrus SR20 - factory installed IO-390-C3B6 215 hp version on the SR20 G6 version
• Mooney M20 E, F & J - available in November 2009 under an STC
• Piper PA-28R Arrow - proposed under STC
• Symphony SA-160 - proposed as a factory installed 200 hp version, but aircraft no longer in production
• Tecnam P2010

;Military Aircraft

• Lancair Synergy T-90 Colombian Air Force

Specifications (IO-390-A1A6)

and start a new, fully formatted line with -- |power/weight=0.68 hp/lb

References

References

1. [[Lycoming Engines]]. (n.d.). "Lycoming IO-390-X".
2. [[Lycoming Engines]]. (2004). "Specialty datasheet".
3. [[Lycoming Engines]]. (2008). "Lycoming's Certified IO-390 Series Engine".
4. "IO-390-A Series Engine Illustrated Parts Catalog". Lycoming.
5. "IO-580-B1A Parts Catalog". Lycoming.
6. [[Federal Aviation Administration]]. (25 January 2017). "TYPE CERTIFICATE DATA SHEET NO. E00006NY Revision No. 6".
7. [[Lycoming Engines]]. (January 2009). "Thunderbolt Engine Configurator".
8. Grady, Mary. (November 2009). "Lycoming Gets IO-390 STC For Legacy Mooneys".
9. [[Federal Aviation Administration]]. (12 November 2009). "Supplemental Type Certificate, STC Number: SA00291BO".
10. (22 March 2012). "How to Buy: For Experimental Pilots - Lycoming".
11. Aircraft, Cirrus. "Cirrus Aircraft {{!}} SR20".
12. Dye, Paul. (25 July 2022). "Van's on Top". KitPlanes.
13. Ben Sampson. (2024-12-20). "Auro-Aero Achieves Certification of Integral R aircraft".
14. Grady, Mary. (July 2009). "Cessna News Update: ASTM Compliance For SkyCatcher".
15. Burnside, Joseph E. (Jeb). (July 2009). "Lycoming: Bringing More Technology To An Airplane Near You".
16. (January 2017). "Cirrus G6 announcement".
17. Grady, Mary. (4 January 2017). "Cirrus Updates SR22 And SR20". AVweb.
18. AVweb Editorial Staff. (August 2008). "AVwebFlash Complete Issue: Volume 14, Number 31e".
19. "P2010 P Twenty-Ten - Tecnam".
20. Aero-News Network. (February 2009). "Lancair To Provide Colombian Air Force With Training Aircraft".