It definitely exists or existed, it'a a rocket fuel.  It was used successly by several noted speed flyers in the 60s.  Incidentally I heard of some bad stories about accidents, cars burned up when transporting the stuff and such.  It was added to the fuel immediately before flying.  The engines needed to be "flushed" with normal fuel immediatley after flying since the stuff is very corrosive.  It was also very hard on engines, maybe a new piston every flight for instance.

http://www.roguesci.org/chemlab/energetics/tetranitromethane.html

According to this web site, it isn't all that tough to make.

Just follow the cook book.

It was used by the National Socialist regeme as a diesel fuel booser and as a fuel for the V-2 rocket.

According to the OSHA site, it can best be detected by the litter of bodies on the ground.   Which is to say:  There isn't much chance of it being sneeked into a contest.

Wiz did use it, at a world champs. He had a few collapsed piston crowns. The pen bladder was enclosed in a balloon, just in case the bladder burst. Breathing in led to internal bleeding of the lungs.

Never worried about signing off on the tetra check IF: Brass needle hardware is used, or, the contestant is using an ABC engine, and he will let me have the engine after the flight with no flushing etc. Tetra will hurt brass real good. In the old days, stainless needle hardware was in order. Don't think anyone died from using it but a few folks did spend some hospital time because of the fumes.

Glad to see someone is interesting in complying with the rules as written. This does not seem to be the norm anymore concerning the requirements of the record application form in regards to rounding of watch times. A review of the listed records and some figuring will show that some of these speeds cannot be turned if the watches are not rounded to the nearest hundredth. Sad to say, the contest board has approved these records?

Seems to be a problem here.

Double Deuce

If the stuff is so dangerous, why worry?  Just look for bodies laying on the ground after the person who set the record is trying to fill out the form.  Later,  DOC Holliday

Many years ago I was told (perhaps by Frank Garzon, if memory serves) that putting the fuel used or even the residue  from the engine or airplane just after the flight in contact with copper would cause the coppor to corrode quickly to a green shade. So I've always done that as a test for tetra for record form purposes. I agree that it might not be likely to discover any tetra (I never have) since the stuff is not likely to be used, but all it does is get a penny greasy, so there's not much harm.
Pete

  The ban on usage of tetra nitromethane is STILL a requiremint, so listed in the AMA Competition Regulations for 2007 and 2008  General section  page 16, paragraph 7.
 Back when the ban was initially instated, the test involved placing a few drops of the fuel to be tested on a flat sheet of brass,  waiting a specified amount time, and observing the brass for discoloration (turning a darkish brown).  I do not remember the amount of time  nor  when and how to obtain the specimen of fuel.  I only remember that it only required a few drops and not many minutes.
  I suggest you get the page(s) and paragraph(s) of the rule book, and application for record and get on the phone to the  competition rules section of AMA  and pose the questions--- is it still required?  when is the sample of fuel to be taken?  Before or after the flight and is it required for BOTH the record and backup (if required)  and last a detailed instruction as to HOW the test is to be performed.

  Bet you don't get a rational answer.

  Bigiron

contest fuel is supplied by nass, that way everyone is running the same brew.

  Joey is ALL fuel mix provided for ALL speed contests ??  Even local contests ?  Or is it supposed to be supplied by the "comtest management?  I was looking for something like that, but could not find it for anything but Proto speed.

  Bigiron  ---- used up all the 4-40 helicoils yet?