SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 2, 2003
SONEX RESEARCH, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in Charter)
Maryland 0-14465 52-1188993
(State or other (Commision file (IRS employer
jurisdiction of number) identification no.)
incorporation)
23 Hudson Street, Annapolis, MD 21401
(Address of principal executive offices)
(410) 266-5556
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
N/A
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
ITEM 5. - OTHER EVENTS AND REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE
On October 2, 2003, the Registrant posted the following news announcement on
its website (www.sonexresearch.com):
SONEX RECEIVES $165,000 MILITARY CONTRACT FOR UAV HEAVY FUEL ENGINE CONVERSION
Filed with the SEC as a Current Report on Form 8-K and
posted to the Sonex website www.sonexresearch.com
ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND, October 2, 2003 - SONEX RESEARCH, INC. (OTC BB: SONX)
announced that it has been awarded a military contract for approximately
$165,000 to develop a combustion system to convert two small gasoline engines to
start and operate on standard military kerosene-based fuels (also referred to as
"heavy fuels") for potential use in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The name of
the military customer and other contract details were not disclosed.
The Department of Defense (DoD) now requires engines used in UAVs and other
military applications for which gasoline storage and use are undesirable, to
operate on less volatile, kerosene-based heavy fuels to reduce the hazard
associated with gasoline. Sonex will design and develop a heavy fuel engine
(HFE) conversion process for the two lightweight, two-stroke, spark-ignited (SI)
gasoline engines based on the patented Sonex Combustion System (SCS) modified
combustion chamber design and proprietary starting system for two-stroke SI
engines.
At its 2003 Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on September 16, 2003, Sonex
revealed strategic initiatives now taking shape, particularly with respect to
plans for increasing the Company's profile within the DoD for SCS engine
technology. Sonex is promoting the SCS process as an enabling factor for heavy
fuel conversions, thereby creating a U.S.-based core defense systems capability.
In addition to this new contract award, Sonex has been working under a prime
contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) on an SCS
piston design using the Sonex Controlled Auto Ignition (SCAI) combustion
process. The SCAI is applicable to low compression ratio, direct injected
engines to enable auto-ignition and combustion with high rates of heat release
for a variety of fuels to achieve reduced emissions and increased fuel economy
in un-throttled, lightweight engines.
The DARPA effort calls for the conversion of an existing six-cylinder, SI,
four-stroke, automotive engine from gasoline operation to heavy fuel operation
through a custom common rail fuel injection system and an SCAI piston design.
DARPA may consider this route to achieve an HFE for potential use in a
developmental UAV or other engine applications. The SCAI process for four-stroke
engines achieves sparkless ignition-combustion of the heavy fuel without raising
the compression ratio to the levels found in diesel engines. As a result, the
inherent light weight of the gasoline engine is preserved and peak combustion
pressures are limited to those of gasoline operation.
Sonex, in other ongoing programs, has been applying SCS piston designs to
achieve in-cylinder control of ignition and combustion for increased fuel
mileage and reduced emissions in vehicular engines. Under funding from the
Department of Energy (DOE) Sonex is now developing a piston design for an
automotive diesel engine application. Outcomes from the current programs with
DOE on diesel fuel and DARPA on heavy fuel could validate SCS technology for
application to gasoline powered automotive engines. With the SCAI combustion
process, Sonex hopes to enable gasoline direct injected (GDI) automobile
engines, currently manufactured and sold only in markets outside the U.S. due to
high emissions, to become emissions compliant in the U.S. while providing fuel
consumption benefits.
Contact: George E. Ponticas, CFO. Tel: 410-266-5556; email: sonex@erols.com;
website www.sonexresearch.com
About Sonex
Sonex Research, Inc., a leader in the field of combustion technology, is
developing its patented Sonex Combustion System (SCS) piston-based technology
for in-cylinder control of ignition and combustion, designed to increase fuel
mileage and reduce emissions of internal combustion engines. Sonex plans to
complete development, commercialize and market its Sonex Controlled Auto
Ignition (SCAI) combustion process to the automotive industry to improve fuel
efficiency of gasoline powered vehicles in response to forthcoming increases in
national vehicle fuel mileage standards. Additionally, independent third-party
testing has confirmed the potential of the SCS application for direct-injected
diesel engines to reduce harmful soot in-cylinder without increasing fuel
consumption. Other SCS designs are being used to convert gasoline engines of
various sizes to operate on safer, diesel-type "heavy fuels" for use in military
and commercial applications requiring light weight and safe handling and storage
of fuel, such as in UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles).
Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
"Forward-looking" statements contained in this announcement, as well as all
publicly disseminated material about the Company, are made pursuant to the "safe
harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Act. Such statements are
based on current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions by
management with respect to matters such as commercial acceptance of the SCS
technology, the impact of competition, and the Company's financial condition or
results of operations. Readers are cautioned that such statements are not
guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any such
forward-looking statements. Additional information regarding the risks faced by
Sonex is provided in the Company's periodic filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission under the heading "Risk Factors". Such filings are available
upon request from the Company or online in the EDGAR database at www.sec.gov.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
October 2, 2003
SONEX RESEARCH, INC.
Registrant
/s/ George E. Ponticas
----------------------
George E. Ponticas
Chief Financial Officer