content: 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): April 17, 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
  
  On April 17, 2003, Sonex Research,  Inc. (the "Company")  posted the following
  news announcement on its website (www.sonexresearch.com):
  
  SONEX RECEIVES  AUTOMOTIVE  DIESEL ENGINE FOR TESTING UNDER DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
  SUBCONTRACT
  
  ANNAPOLIS,  MARYLAND,  April 17,  2003 - SONEX  RESEARCH,  INC.  (OTC BB:  SONX)
  announced  today that it has taken delivery of an advanced  research  automotive
  diesel  engine for testing under a subcontract  from Compact  Membrane  Systems,
  Inc. (CMS), of Wilmington,  Delaware, the prime contractor for a U.S. Department
  of Energy (DOE),  Small Business  Innovation  Research (SBIR) Program,  Phase II
  award.  Sonex is evaluating the emissions  reduction  capability of its patented
  piston-based,  Sonex  Combustion  System (SCS) te chnology in combination with a
  polymer membrane technology being developed by CMS.
  
  In December 2002 Sonex announced the receipt of a $458,862 subcontract, of which
  $100,000  is  cost-shared  (funded)  by Sonex,  under  DOE's SBIR Phase II prime
  contract award to CMS, but reported at that time that arrangements to secure the
  designated engine for the testing had not been completed.  Sonex today disclosed
  the  recent  delivery  to  Sonex  of  the  test  engine,   a   state-of-the-art,
  three-cylinder,  direct injected (DI),  turbo-charged,  automotive diesel engine
  developed  by a major  international  vehicle  man  ufacturer  in the joint U.S.
  government and automotive industry funded PNGV (Partnership for a New Generation
  Vehicle) program.  Accountability for the engine has been transferred to the CMS
  Phase II contract, but it remains the property of DOE.
  
  According  to the  December  2002  announcement  by Sonex,  CMS has  developed a
  polymer membrane  technology for the addition of nitrogen  enriched air (NEA) to
  the diesel  engine  combustion  process as a means to reduce  significantly  the
  in-cylinder  production of oxides of nitrogen (NOx)  emissions as an alternative
  to the use of exhaust gas  recirculation  (EGR).  If successful,  the CMS method
  could provide the benefits of EGR with reduced risk to engine wear,  without the
  burden  of  additional   hardware  and  without  sig  nificant   impact  on  the
  turbo-charger.  In the past, however,  the introduction of high levels of EGR to
  reduce NOx emissions has been shown to substantially  increase the production of
  soot/particulate emissions
  
  The  SCS  piston-based  technology  for  in-cylinder  control  of  ignition  and
  combustion    has   produced    significant    reductions   of   diesel   engine
  soot/particulates  while keeping NOx emissions  low. One of the world's  leading
  engine engineering and powertrain consulting firms, Ricardo Consulting Engineers
  Ltd of the U.K.,  completed a study in which they  reported that in a laboratory
  test, a six cylinder DI diesel engine used in medium-duty trucks, operating with
  the SCS piston at the best injection timings,  emitted u p to 45% less soot than
  the stock engine, with equivalent fuel consumption.
  
  The SBIR Phase I feasibility  study  performed by the two companies on the Sonex
  laboratory,  single-cylinder,  normally aspirated, DI diesel engine, showed that
  the NEA  polymer  membrane  and the SCS  piston in the  single-cylinder  engine,
  supercharged  by Sonex,  have the  potential  for  significant  reduction of NOx
  without increasing soot/particulate emissions. These results led to the award by
  DOE to CMS of the Phase II contract to transfer the  single-cylinder  results to
  the PNGV advanced research, three-cylinder automotive diesel engine.
  
  Early  stages of the Phase II  project  will  focus on the  emissions  reduction
  capabilities  of  the  SCS  pistons  separately,  while  subsequent  testing  in
  combination   with  the  NEA  membrane  will   demonstrate   the  viability  for
  commercialization  of the synergy of SCS  configurations  and the CMS membranes.
  This  program  would  provide  SCS  in-cylinder  emissions  reduction  data on a
  multi-cylinder  diesel  engine as a means for  diesel  engine  manufacturers  to
  evaluate the potential for SCS designs,  alone and in combination  wit h the NEA
  membrane,  to reduce the cost and  complexity of future  exhaust  aftertreatment
  systems.
  
  
  ABOUT CMS
  
  Compact  Membrane  Systems,  Inc. (CMS) is a high  technology  membrane  company
  providing a family of high productivity, fluorinated polymeric membranes for gas
  separation  and the associated  production of nitrogen and oxygen  enriched air.
  CMS hollow fiber membrane modules, sized to process engine intake air, are small
  enough to fit in mobile engine  compartments.  Their chemical nature allows them
  to maintain performance over extended periods of time while located in the harsh
  engine  environment.  CMS  working i n  conjunction  with major  industrial  gas
  companies is positioned to customize  prototype  membrane systems for engine use
  and subsequently  supply commercial  modules.  More information about CMS can be
  found on the Internet at www.compactmembrane.com.
  
  Contact:  Compact Membrane Systems,  Inc., Stuart Nemser,  302-999-7996,  email:
  snemser@compactmembrane.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 SCS Stratified Charge Radical
  Ignition  (SCRI)  combustion  process to the automotive  industry in response to
  forthcoming  increases in national  vehicle fuel mileage  standards.  Presently,
  high mileage, roomy and safe five-passenger  automobiles using gasoline,  direct
  injected (GDI) engines are sold only in Japan and Europe due to high  emissions.
  Sonex intends to conclusively  demonstrate that SCS-SCRI will enable GDI engined
  vehicles to achieve 50 mpg (highway) while meeting emissions standards to permit
  sale in the U.S. as a viable,  near-term  alternative to  longer-term  solutions
  such as  improvements  in hybrid  propulsion  systems  or years of  further  R&D
  required for fuel cell technology to become practical.
  
  Additionally, independent third-party testing has confirmed the potential of the
  SCS application for DI diesel engines to reduce harmful soot in-cylinder without
  increasing   fuel   consumption.   Sonex  is  pursuing   joint   marketing   and
  commercialization  programs  for the  SCS low  soot  technology  with  committed
  industrial partners.
  
  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.
  Examples include UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) and ATVs (all-terrain vehicles)
  such as those used by U.S.  defense forces in  Afghanistan,  as well as outboard
  engines, small watercraft used as targets, and generator sets.
  
  
  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.
  
  
                                   ###
  
  
  
  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.
  
  
  April 17, 2003
  
  SONEX RESEARCH, INC.
  Registrant
  
  /s/ George E. Ponticas
  ----------------------
  George E. Ponticas
  Chief Financial Officer
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metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "SONEX RESEARCH INC", "cik": "0000723312", "assigned-sic": "8731", "irs-number": "521188993", "state-of-incorporation": "MD", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-14465", "film-number": "03654613"}, "business-address": {"street1": "23 HUDSON ST", "city": "ANNAPOLIS", "state": "MD", "zip": "21401", "phone": "4102665556"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "23 HUDSON STREET", "city": "ANNAPOLIS", "state": "MD", "zip": "21401"}}
text: 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): April 17, 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
  
  On April 17, 2003, Sonex Research,  Inc. (the "Company")  posted the following
  news announcement on its website (www.sonexresearch.com):
  
  SONEX RECEIVES  AUTOMOTIVE  DIESEL ENGINE FOR TESTING UNDER DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
  SUBCONTRACT
  
  ANNAPOLIS,  MARYLAND,  April 17,  2003 - SONEX  RESEARCH,  INC.  (OTC BB:  SONX)
  announced  today that it has taken delivery of an advanced  research  automotive
  diesel  engine for testing under a subcontract  from Compact  Membrane  Systems,
  Inc. (CMS), of Wilmington,  Delaware, the prime contractor for a U.S. Department
  of Energy (DOE),  Small Business  Innovation  Research (SBIR) Program,  Phase II
  award.  Sonex is evaluating the emissions  reduction  capability of its patented
  piston-based,  Sonex  Combustion  System (SCS) te chnology in combination with a
  polymer membrane technology being developed by CMS.
  
  In December 2002 Sonex announced the receipt of a $458,862 subcontract, of which
  $100,000  is  cost-shared  (funded)  by Sonex,  under  DOE's SBIR Phase II prime
  contract award to CMS, but reported at that time that arrangements to secure the
  designated engine for the testing had not been completed.  Sonex today disclosed
  the  recent  delivery  to  Sonex  of  the  test  engine,   a   state-of-the-art,
  three-cylinder,  direct injected (DI),  turbo-charged,  automotive diesel engine
  developed  by a major  international  vehicle  man  ufacturer  in the joint U.S.
  government and automotive industry funded PNGV (Partnership for a New Generation
  Vehicle) program.  Accountability for the engine has been transferred to the CMS
  Phase II contract, but it remains the property of DOE.
  
  According  to the  December  2002  announcement  by Sonex,  CMS has  developed a
  polymer membrane  technology for the addition of nitrogen  enriched air (NEA) to
  the diesel  engine  combustion  process as a means to reduce  significantly  the
  in-cylinder  production of oxides of nitrogen (NOx)  emissions as an alternative
  to the use of exhaust gas  recirculation  (EGR).  If successful,  the CMS method
  could provide the benefits of EGR with reduced risk to engine wear,  without the
  burden  of  additional   hardware  and  without  sig  nificant   impact  on  the
  turbo-charger.  In the past, however,  the introduction of high levels of EGR to
  reduce NOx emissions has been shown to substantially  increase the production of
  soot/particulate emissions
  
  The  SCS  piston-based  technology  for  in-cylinder  control  of  ignition  and
  combustion    has   produced    significant    reductions   of   diesel   engine
  soot/particulates  while keeping NOx emissions  low. One of the world's  leading
  engine engineering and powertrain consulting firms, Ricardo Consulting Engineers
  Ltd of the U.K.,  completed a study in which they  reported that in a laboratory
  test, a six cylinder DI diesel engine used in medium-duty trucks, operating with
  the SCS piston at the best injection timings,  emitted u p to 45% less soot than
  the stock engine, with equivalent fuel consumption.
  
  The SBIR Phase I feasibility  study  performed by the two companies on the Sonex
  laboratory,  single-cylinder,  normally aspirated, DI diesel engine, showed that
  the NEA  polymer  membrane  and the SCS  piston in the  single-cylinder  engine,
  supercharged  by Sonex,  have the  potential  for  significant  reduction of NOx
  without increasing soot/particulate emissions. These results led to the award by
  DOE to CMS of the Phase II contract to transfer the  single-cylinder  results to
  the PNGV advanced research, three-cylinder automotive diesel engine.
  
  Early  stages of the Phase II  project  will  focus on the  emissions  reduction
  capabilities  of  the  SCS  pistons  separately,  while  subsequent  testing  in
  combination   with  the  NEA  membrane  will   demonstrate   the  viability  for
  commercialization  of the synergy of SCS  configurations  and the CMS membranes.
  This  program  would  provide  SCS  in-cylinder  emissions  reduction  data on a
  multi-cylinder  diesel  engine as a means for  diesel  engine  manufacturers  to
  evaluate the potential for SCS designs,  alone and in combination  wit h the NEA
  membrane,  to reduce the cost and  complexity of future  exhaust  aftertreatment
  systems.
  
  ABOUT CMS
  
  Compact  Membrane  Systems,  Inc. (CMS) is a high  technology  membrane  company
  providing a family of high productivity, fluorinated polymeric membranes for gas
  separation  and the associated  production of nitrogen and oxygen  enriched air.
  CMS hollow fiber membrane modules, sized to process engine intake air, are small
  enough to fit in mobile engine  compartments.  Their chemical nature allows them
  to maintain performance over extended periods of time while located in the harsh
  engine  environment.  CMS  working i n  conjunction  with major  industrial  gas
  companies is positioned to customize  prototype  membrane systems for engine use
  and subsequently  supply commercial  modules.  More information about CMS can be
  found on the Internet at www.compactmembrane.com.
  
  Contact:  Compact Membrane Systems,  Inc., Stuart Nemser,  302-999-7996,  email:
  snemser@compactmembrane.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 SCS Stratified Charge Radical
  Ignition  (SCRI)  combustion  process to the automotive  industry in response to
  forthcoming  increases in national  vehicle fuel mileage  standards.  Presently,
  high mileage, roomy and safe five-passenger  automobiles using gasoline,  direct
  injected (GDI) engines are sold only in Japan and Europe due to high  emissions.
  Sonex intends to conclusively  demonstrate that SCS-SCRI will enable GDI engined
  vehicles to achieve 50 mpg (highway) while meeting emissions standards to permit
  sale in the U.S. as a viable,  near-term  alternative to  longer-term  solutions
  such as  improvements  in hybrid  propulsion  systems  or years of  further  R&D
  required for fuel cell technology to become practical.
  
  Additionally, independent third-party testing has confirmed the potential of the
  SCS application for DI diesel engines to reduce harmful soot in-cylinder without
  increasing   fuel   consumption.   Sonex  is  pursuing   joint   marketing   and
  commercialization  programs  for the  SCS low  soot  technology  with  committed
  industrial partners.
  
  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.
  Examples include UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) and ATVs (all-terrain vehicles)
  such as those used by U.S.  defense forces in  Afghanistan,  as well as outboard
  engines, small watercraft used as targets, and generator sets.
  
  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.
  
                                   ###
  
  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.
  
  April 17, 2003
  
  SONEX RESEARCH, INC.
  Registrant
  
  /s/ George E. Ponticas
  ----------------------
  George E. Ponticas
  Chief Financial Officer