A hybrid-electric aerial vehicle comprising: an airframe; a passively charged internal combustion engine operatively coupled with a fuel tank, the passively charged internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder comprising a combustion chamber, an intake engine valve, and an exhaust engine valve, wherein the intake engine valve and the exhaust engine valve are in fluid communication with the combustion chamber and configured, respectively, to selectively allow air in and out of the combustion chamber during operation, wherein the intake engine valve is controlled to provide an expansion ratio in the combustion chamber that is greater than a compression ratio in the combustion chamber; a generator operatively coupled with the passively charged internal combustion engine, wherein the generator is configured to generate AC power via a rotational engine force received from the passively charged internal combustion; a rectifier electrically coupled with the generator, wherein the rectifier converts AC power from the generator to DC power; a battery bank electrically coupled with the rectifier, the battery bank configured to store DC power via said rectifier; and a plurality of motors, each of said plurality of motors being operatively coupled with a propeller, wherein each of the plurality of motors is electrically coupled with the battery bank and the generator via an electronic speed controller, wherein the plurality of motors is configured to provide both lift and propulsion, and further wherein the timing of the intake engine valve is delayed to allow the expansion ratio to be greater than the compression ratio to allow greater engine cycle quench in the combustion chamber. an airframe; a passively charged internal combustion engine operatively coupled with a fuel tank, the passively charged internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder comprising a combustion chamber, an intake engine valve, and an exhaust engine valve, wherein the intake engine valve and the exhaust engine valve are in fluid communication with the combustion chamber and configured, respectively, to selectively allow air in and out of the combustion chamber during operation, wherein the intake engine valve is controlled to provide an expansion ratio in the combustion chamber that is greater than a compression ratio in the combustion chamber; wherein the intake engine valve and the exhaust engine valve are in fluid communication with the combustion chamber and configured, respectively, to selectively allow air in and out of the combustion chamber during operation, wherein the intake engine valve is controlled to provide an expansion ratio in the combustion chamber that is greater than a compression ratio in the combustion chamber; a generator operatively coupled with the passively charged internal combustion engine, wherein the generator is configured to generate AC power via a rotational engine force received from the passively charged internal combustion; a rectifier electrically coupled with the generator, wherein the rectifier converts AC power from the generator to DC power; a battery bank electrically coupled with the rectifier, the battery bank configured to store DC power via said rectifier; and a plurality of motors, each of said plurality of motors being operatively coupled with a propeller, wherein each of the plurality of motors is electrically coupled with the battery bank and the generator via an electronic speed controller, wherein the plurality of motors is configured to provide both lift and propulsion, and further wherein the timing of the intake engine valve is delayed to allow the expansion ratio to be greater than the compression ratio to allow greater engine cycle quench in the combustion chamber.