Gustavus A. McLeod (born September 9, 1954) is an American pilot and author whose exploits have been featured in reality television appearances. He was the first person to fly over the North Pole in an open-cockpit biplane.
Biography McLeod grew up in Corinth, Mississippi, the son of a Methodist minister. McLeod is a 1976 graduate of The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
On April 17, 2000, McLeod became the first person to fly over the North Pole in an open-cockpit biplane.
McLeod is an entrepreneur who, in 2004, lived in Laytonsville, Maryland. However, he was also reported to live in Gaithersburg, Maryland that same year.
McLeod and his wife, Mary, have three children.
McLeod was featured in a four-column article in the Smithsonian in April 2003, because he planned to fly his "...Beech 18 solo from the South Pole to the North Pole, a 32,000 mile trip, in about two months".Smithsonian magazine, April 2003, pg 42 Flight of Fancy
The UK aeronautic company Cobham plc reports in an employee newsletter dated June 2005 that McLeod is a former CIA chemist, and is currently a businessman based in Maryland.
Works Solo to the Top of the World: Gus McLeod's Daring Record Flight, 2003, 245 pages
Appearances Television — Inside Base Camp: Tori Murden and Gus McLeod, 2002 Television — The Amazing Race 6, 2005
The Amazing Race
The Amazing Race 6
In August 2004, McLeod competed on the sixth season of the CBS adventure reality show The Amazing Race with his daughter Hera. They were eliminated at the end of the sixth leg, finishing in seventh place.
The Amazing Race 6 finishes
An italicized placement means it is a Gus and Hera's placement at the midpoint of a double leg. A placement with a dagger () indicates that Gus and Hera were eliminated.
Roadblocks performed by Gus are bolded
Episode Leg Destination(s) Detour choice (underlined) Roadblock performance Placement Notes 11United States → IcelandIce climb/Ice searchNo roadblock10th of 11 22Iceland → NorwayEndurance/AccuracyHera3rd of 10 33Norway → SwedenCount it/Build itGus3rd of 9 44Sweden → SenegalStack 'em up/Pull 'em upGus7th of 8 55Senegal → GermanyBeers/BratsHera5th of 866Germany → HungaryCatapault crash/Cannonball runHera2nd of 78Swim/PaddleGus Notes
References
Bibliography Smithsonian magazine, April 2003, pg 42 Flight of Fancy
External links
Update 19 January 2004 PR newswire update November 2005