Detroit’s Continental Motors, which was once one of the largest independent manufacturers of automotive engines, built the Continental A-40 opposed engine. An advantage of horizontally-opposed engines is better forward visibility than radial or V-type engines. The A-40 was the predecessor of a long line of successful horizontally-opposed Continental engines built for general aviation and military aircraft and powered the Piper Cub and other aircraft such as the Taylor Cub E-2 and Taylorcraft Model A. Today opposed engines have replaced all other types of piston engines for various reasons, including fewer cylinders for equal power and smooth running.
