Neils, this is me Ken Seeber, more commonly known as Kensational.
It is over 22 years since I last worked at Orbital. As you are probably aware, the key feature of the technology is the use of a 2 fluid fuel injection system. A small compressor, around 1/20 th of the engine displacement is used to both propel and atomise the metered fuel into the cylinder. This atomisation is also adequate to allow the engine to run on heavy fuels such as Jet Fuel A, pretty much the same as kerosene. From what I understand, this is a logistical requirement, allowing the military to use the same fuel in all mobility applications, eg jeeps, tanks, planes boats, personnel carriers etc.
In Orbital’s case for UAV applications, the engine is of 50cc but I think they might also do more powerful and multi cylinder versions, but only guessing here. Being a developed DI system, this would offer a light weight powerplant with a relatively good fuel consumption. And possibly better emissions, but that would not be a factor with today’s wartime troubles.
https://orbitaluav.com/
Had a look at the details of the range extender engine. Not too sure on your level of interest in this. For me however, it looks complex, heavy, expensive and undeveloped. If I was looking at a range extender system, it’d be hard to go beyond something like a Chinese copy of something like a 6 hp Honda GX200. In Awestralia, one can buy one of these (commonly referred to a Chonda) retail for <$200 retail. Hard for me to say, given my passion for 2 strokes, in my case, ported and crankcase, or DCI inducted.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.”
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