Adventurer Is One Step Closer To South Pole

If all goes well, Dr. Gus McLeod will have crossed the South Pole by the time you've finish reading this issue of Propwash. The Maryland-based pilot is trying to make history by becoming the first person ever to fly around the world (over both poles) in a single engine.

According to spokesman Josh Brooks, Gus McLeod crossed Drake Passage and safely touched down Saturday afternoon at Argentina's Mirambio base.  Brooks says he has not had voice contact with McLeod, but believes the pilot is probably checking for the kind of ice build-up which forced him to fly back to South America after arriving in Antarctica last week. If all went well, McLeod flew over the South Pole and is returning to Argentina to continue his trek north within the next fe days. He left College Park Airfield January 21st.

After being forced to return back to Argentina in his first attempt to reach the South Pole, McLeod consulted with his team of engineers, meteorologists, mechanics, and educators before deciding to make one more polar attempt. On Sunday, the support team felt Mother Nature would provide McLeod a reasonably good window of opportunity (possibly the final one of the season).

Icing problems out of the way, McLeod feels he can successfully complete the 28 hour round-trip flight from Ushuaia, Argentina at the tip of South America to the South Pole and back. When he returns to Ushuaia, the tired aviator plans to rest up for a couple of days before heading out across the Pacific Ocean.

ANN will keep you abreast of McLeod's progress as we gather the information

FMI: www.gusmcleod.com