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Old 14th November 2002 | 18:05
  #11 (permalink)  
distaff_beancounter
 
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 619
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From: Dorset, UK
Red Diesel

As I understand it, red diesel, can only be used legally in vehicles that are classified as agrcultural vehicles, eg tractors & combine-harvesters. Many farmers keep tanks of red diesel on thier farms, for this purpose. However, it is illegal for such farmers to use the red diesel in any other non-agrcultural vehicles they own, such as a car or lorry, or even for the farm house central heating boiler.

The red dye in the duty-free diesel, is designed to stain the engine on a fairly permenant basis. I understand that the usual method that C & E use on spot checks of suspect vehicles, is to remove the fuel injectors, as these will be red.

So, I would imagine that it would be illegal to run an aircraft on red diesel, even if this was a suitable fuel. All the so-called "diesel" aircraft piston engines that I have heard about, are designed to run on Jet A1.
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