Pete McLeod facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pete McLeod
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Pete McLeod
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| Born | 23 February 1984 Kapuskasing, Ontario, Canada
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| Nationality | Ontario, Canada |
Pete McLeod (born February 23, 1984) is a Canadian pilot who is amazing at flying planes in tricky ways. He is known as an aerobatic pilot. This means he performs cool stunts and maneuvers in the air. He first competed in the famous Red Bull Air Race World Championship in 2009.
Contents
Early Life and Flying Dreams
Pete McLeod grew up in a small town called Red Lake in Canada. He loved outdoor activities like hunting, fishing, and snowmobiling. Flying was a big part of his life from a very young age. He took his first flight when he was just six weeks old!
His mom, Margaret, remembers Pete sitting on his dad Dave's lap. He would have his hands on the controls of the family plane when he was only six years old. Pete learned to fly special planes that can land on water (float planes) and snow (ski planes).
Becoming a Licensed Pilot
Pete started his flight training when he was young. He earned his private pilot's license at 16. This allowed him to fly planes for fun. He kept practicing and building up his flying hours. By the time he was 18, he earned his commercial pilot license. This meant he could fly planes for work.
During the summers, Pete used his new skills. He flew fishermen to remote camps in the wilderness. This helped him gain a lot of experience in different flying conditions.
Aerobatic Training and Competitions
When Pete was 18, he also became an aerobatic flight instructor. This meant he could teach others how to do amazing stunts in the air. He started competing in aerobatics in 2003, flying a special plane called a Pitts Special.
In 2004, Pete had an incredible year. He won every competition he entered. He became the North American Collegiate Aerobatic Champion. This showed everyone how talented he was.
After finishing his university degree, Pete decided to focus completely on professional aerobatics. He joined the air show circuit in 2006. This meant he would perform his amazing flying skills for crowds at air shows. In 2007, he earned a special waiver. This allowed him to perform high-performance aerobatics very close to the ground. He was one of the youngest pilots in the world to achieve this.
Joining the Red Bull Air Race
In 2008, Pete's skills caught the eye of the Red Bull Air Race organizers. He was invited to a special training camp in Spain. Out of six pilots, Pete was one of four new pilots chosen to join the Red Bull Air Race World Championship.
He joined the race series in 2009. At that time, he was the youngest rookie (newcomer) ever to qualify. He was also the first Canadian pilot to join the Red Bull Air Race. Before his first race, Pete built a team of experts. They helped him get his Zivko Edge 540 plane ready for the intense races.
Pete had big goals for his racing career. He wanted to be one of the top five pilots. He even hoped to become a world champion by the time he was 30 years old. He knew it would take time for him and his team to learn everything.
Key Achievements
Pete McLeod has achieved many great things in his flying career. Here are some of his highlights:
- 2003: Won his very first competitive event, the Ontario Open Aerobatic Championship.
- 2004: Became the North American Collegiate Aerobatic Champion. He was undefeated this year, winning five first-place awards.
- 2006: Finished second in the Advanced Category at the U.S. National Aerobatic Championships. He was also the youngest Canadian air show performer.
- 2007: Earned his special waiver to perform aerobatics at very low altitudes.
- 2008: Qualified for the Red Bull Air Race World Championship.
- 2010: Finished 5th overall in the Red Bull Air Race World Championship.
- 2011-2012: Performed many air shows across Canada, showcasing his amazing flying skills.
- 2014: Had a fantastic year in the Red Bull Air Race. He finished 5th overall and won his first race in Las Vegas, USA!
- 2017: Achieved his best overall rank in the Red Bull Air Race, finishing 3rd in the world. He had three second-place finishes this year.
Pete McLeod continues to be a respected and exciting pilot in the world of aerobatics and air racing.
See also
- Competition aerobatics
- FAI
