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Compact, light and powerful with a torque band that lies just where an aviator needs it. The Orbital engine in our test vehicle did not seem to have to 'Hunt' for revs like a conventional four stroke piston engine whilst every stage of operation was both smooth and torquey. (Jim Thorn)
Orbital Engines for Aviation?
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There is at long last a faint glimmer of hope on the horizon for a resurgence in the manufacture of light aircraft.
As the US has, in part, resolved its aviation corporate liability problem the public could well now see some exciting new aircraft to fill a very sore need in general aviation. Companies with smart technology stand to benefit when the resurgence occurs, and one such company is the Orbital Engine Corporation of Western Australia. Orbital has not actually publicly expressed an intent to produce or licence aircraft engine production at any stage but there is definite interest within the corporation to look at aviation possibilities after fulfilling current automotive, motorcycle, outboard marine and factory applications. Orbital is poised to begin reaping the benefits of an arduous, 22 year effort to convince the world that a clean burning, lightweight, two stroke engine is the way of the future. It all began when a Perth inventor, Ralph Sarich, produced an orbital engine with superior performance compared to conventional engines over 20 years ago. However after the adulation and general lip service had been paid no manufacturer was courageous enough to produce it – it would mean whole new factories, new tooling, new infrastructure and so on.
There Is At Long Last A Faint Glimmer Of Hope On The Horizon For A Resurgence In The Manufacture Of Light Aircraft.
In short, Ralph Sarich and the engineers of the newly formed Sarich Technologies Ltd returned to a conventional block engine and applied the combustion expertise gained in developing the original orbital engine to a revolutionary two stroke powerplant. The proof of concept engine was a three cylinder two stroke, using standard auto pistons and a modified, inline block with a displacement of 1.2 litres. It soon became apparent that the engine had a number of superior characteristics in its class, namely, that it was light for its impressive power output, it was compact, it consumed comparatively less fuel; and, auguring well for the future, it burnt it cleanly. The engine delivered the highly desirable flat torque curve – that is a high, consistent torque through most of the rpm range. Two stroke engines in motorcycles and small cars had always been renowned for their high rpm, narrow (near useless) torque band, and lots of blue smoke out of the back. The company expanded and listed on the stock exchange in order to achieve funds necessary for research and development and to produce variant engines to suit other power ranges. In 1989 the company name was changed to the present Orbital.
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