Pete McLeod

Pete McLeod (born February 23, 1984, in Kapuskasing, Ontario) is a Canadian professional aerobatic pilot whose first competitive flight was in the Red Bull Air Race World Championship in 2009.

Biography

Raised in Red Lake, a small town in Northwestern Ontario, McLeod grew up hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, boating, flying, and playing hockey. He took his first flight in the family plane when he was 6 weeks old. McLeod's mother, Margaret, recalls that when he was six McLeod would sit on his father Dave's lap during flights, hands on the control column. He learned to fly float and ski planes, undergoing flight training at Harv's Air Service in Steinbach, Manitoba and qualifying for his private pilot's licence at 16. He built up his flying hours over the next couple of years, earning his commercial licence and float endorsement when he was 18. McLeod spent the summers flying fishermen to remote outpost camps. "The setup is not going to be 100% for at least a year because it's not just the pilot but the team that's also learning. You don't need the fastest airplane in the track in your first year because there's so much to learn", he said.

Achievements

2003 1st place, Ontario Open Aerobatic Championship (first competitive event) Completion of Emergency Maneuver Training course

2004 North American Collegiate Aerobatic Champion Mid-America Series Champion Undefeated in 2004 with five 1st Place finishes Four time winner of the Highest Scoring Pitts Award Posted highest percentage point average in North America – 90.67%

2006 2nd place Advanced Category, U.S. National Aerobatic Championships B.F. Goodrich Award recipient at the U.S. National Championships Youngest Canadian air show performer Seven 1st place and two 2nd place career finishes (9 career competition events to date)

2007 Unrestricted Surface Level (0 ft) Aerobatic Display Waiver

2008 12th Place – European Aerobatic Championship Announced: 2009 Red Bull Air Race World Championship Rookie Red Bull Air Race Super License Holder

2009 15th place overall, Red Bull Air Race World Championship 15th Place – Red Bull Air Race – Abu Dhabi (UEA) – 0 points 15th Place – Red Bull Air Race – San Diego (USA) – 0 points 11th Place – Red Bull Air Race – Windsor, ON (Canada) – 1 point 13th Place – Red Bull Air Race – Budapest (HUN) – 0 points 14th Place – Red Bull Air Race – Porto (POR) – 0 points 12th Place – Red Bull Air Race – Barcelona (Spain) – 0 points

2010 5th place overall, Red Bull Air Race World Championship 5th Place – Red Bull Air Race – Abu Dhabi (UEA) – 7 points 5th Place – Red Bull Air Race – Perth (Australia) – 7 points 7th Place – Red Bull Air Race – Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) – 5 Points 9th Place – Red Bull Air Race – Windsor (Canada) – 3 Points 5th Place – Red Bull Air Race – New York City (USA) – 7 Points 8th Place – Red Bull Air Race – Lausitz (Germany) – 4 points

2011 McLeod performed air shows across Canada in his Edge 540 aircraft during the summer of 2011.

2012 McLeod performed at 15 air shows across Canada in his Edge 540 aircraft during the summer of 2012.

2014 5th place overall, Red Bull Air Race World Championship 3rd Place – Red Bull Air Race – Abu Dhabi (UEA) – 7 Points 4th Place – Red Bull Air Race – Rovinj (Croatia) – 5 Points 4th Place – Red Bull Air Race – Putrajaya (Malaysia) – 5 Points 8th Place – Red Bull Air Race – Gdynia (Poland) – 1 Point 11th Place – Red Bull Air Race – Ascot (UK) – 0 Points 3rd Place – Red Bull Air Race – Dallas / Fort Worth (USA) – 7 Points 1st Place – Red Bull Air Race – Las Vegas (USA) – 12 Points 8th Place – Red Bull Air Race – Spielberg (Austria) – 1 Point

Red Bull Air Race World Championship 2009-2010

2014-

Legend: CAN: Cancelled DNP: Did not participate DNS: Did not show DQ: Disqualified NC: Not classified