Mystery Target Drone engines?

While I've seen photos of these before, I have nothing of value to offer vice the provenance, sorry.

Meanwhile, have you a clue regarding displacement? Is the carb mounted on the back of the engine? With known displacement, figuring out a suitable carburetor becomes easier (if you intend to run it). Value? Honestly, this is a squishy kind of thing, in my opinion. Why? It's because absent ignition and carb, box, packing, and manual, it's not considered original to collectors - but - based on my experience with engines that are sought after, e.g. Morton M-5, and others, we're still not talking sell-it-and-retire kind of money. More like pocket change for most folks.

Anyway, it's certainly a nice conversation piece and there's every reason to believe you can make it run if it has compression. Noting the fact it's sand cast, I'd expect there are a fair number of them in the world. Last thing, while displacement can be calculated to a fair-thee-well with disassembly, merely sticking something through the exhaust port and getting an approximate diameter is going to get you in the ballpark in terms of selecting a carburetor because most 2-cycle engines are reasonably close to square (bore and stroke). Close enough, that is, for it to run and throttle reasonably well - just compare the cylinder diameter to available engines and easy peasy, you're there!

Regarding the ignition, it's likely any two-cylinder module will work, e.g. something for a DLE, DA, etc. Especially as it looks like the pickup can be replaced easily enough and positioned for where whatever module you use wants it (in the vicinity of 20-25° BTDC usually). Is it alternate firing or simultaneous? This will matter.

Craigslist? I've seen them pop up occasionally here (Orlando) but haven't been sufficiently motivated to obtain one. Anyway, it looks like fun . . . good find!

 

I totally understand where you're coming from because I'm also queer for engines (meaning it would have a similar valuation to me). Anyway, with a 1:1 bore to stroke ratio, that's a pretty good size engine, ~200cc/cylinder, call it 400cc. Useful props would range around 36" diameter, maybe larger depending on the bore to stroke ratio, which could be as much as 1.6:1 plus how the engine is ported (RPM ranging from 3500-6000 would be a guess for a Vietnam era drone). Sounds like fun and when I retire from the servo business this would be the kind of thing I'd enjoy taking on for myself, also. Anyway, good luck and be sure to report back how things go.

 

Very cool. Good job of sleuthing!

 

Found this article through a bit of surfing this morning...interesting read.

https://easyreadernews.com/drone-on/

 

One more interesting read from EAA’s Sport Aviation archive.