Dukes Mixture

The use of nitro in model engines was pioneered by the Dooling brothers and Ray Arden about the same time the glow head came around, late 40s.
Even before full size racers started using nitro, this was uncharted territory for modelers at the time.

I don't doubt the time that nitromethane was used in model, or any engines, in the public eye.  The oldest source I find for nitromethane is about 1911.

https://www.google.com/patents/US1015691?pg=PA1&dq=nitromethane&hl=en&sa=X&ei=vKzRUbSNEIOyyAH

I believe the compound was first isolated long before this.

The use as a fuel in racing cars (drag racing) started in the 1930's.  It sounds like the development of engines paralleled in both auto racing and modeling.

Phil

For reference nitroglycerin was synthesized in 1847,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitroglycerin

For our purposes there are several things we can adjust for the "perfect" run. Prop size, for the particular airframe it is pulling, at the velocity we want to pull it. We can adjust nitro content...which affects power AND affects how long we can run on a given amount of fuel...for those timed events. We can adjust venturi size (on some) which affects power and fuel draw. We can adjust glow plug heat ranges...to coincide with nitro changes. and finally we can adjust head shims... to fine tune the firing timing to coincide with all the other stuff. These things are adjusted to coincide with altitude, temperature and humidity changes.

For most of us in a non-competition environment, ballpark ranges are good enough.

Some "expert" flyers know just what to adjust for a flight and need to be consistent to get maximum performance. I guess that's why they are experts. :-)

George