12 Facts About Pete McLeod

Pete McLeod took his first flight in the family plane when he was 6 weeks old.

Pete McLeod 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.

Pete McLeod built up his flying hours over the next couple of years, earning his commercial licence and float endorsement when he was 18.

Pete McLeod spent the summers flying fishermen to remote outpost camps.

Pete McLeod earned his aerobatic flight instructor rating when he was 18, and began flying competition aerobatics in a Pitts Special in 2003.

Pete McLeod was undefeated in his first full competitive season in 2004, winning multiple awards in his class, a United States Regional Series Championship, and the 2004 North American Collegiate Aerobatic Championship.

Pete McLeod finished the season with a second place advanced category finish at the United States National Aerobatic Championships.

Pete McLeod joined the Red Bull Air Race World Championship in 2009, the youngest rookie ever to qualify for the Red Bull Air Race and the first Canadian.

Pete McLeod modified his new Zivko Edge 540 350 horsepower aerobatic airplane into a high performance racer.

Pete McLeod's goal was to become a strong presence in the top 5 pilots in his second and third seasons.

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

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