UNIVERSITY NEWS - JANUARY 2004

MEDIA CONTACT: Josh Brooks
301-662-4121
Kristine M. McGrath
561-297-1168, kmcgrath@fau.edu

FAU to Track Aviation History in the Making

BOCA RATON, FL (January 20, 2004) - In celebration of the 100th anniversary of powered flight, Dr. Gustavus McLeod - first person to fly in an open cockpit airplane to the North Pole and recipient of an honorary doctoral degree from Florida Atlantic University in 2002 - will fly a hybrid Velocity aircraft solo around the world via the North and South Poles. His flight, which will be tracked by professors at FAU as well as middle-school children around the globe, is scheduled to depart from Sebastian, Florida on Tuesday, January 20, 2004 at 9 a.m.

McLeod had an official send-off from College Park Airport in Maryland, the oldest continuously operating airport in the world, on December 29, 2003. He then flew to the Velocity manufacturing headquarters in Sebastian from which he will embark on this historic solo, Pole-to-Pole expedition.

The flight will take McLeod from Florida to Panama and on to Lima, Peru; Santiago, Chile; Ushuaia, Argentina; over the South Pole and back, through Buenos Aries to Rio de Janeiro; and on to Senegal, Madrid, Paris, Glasgow, Norway. to the North Pole and back through Canada to College Park and his final landing in Sebastian, Florida. The world-record setting flight is expected to take just under two months.

A partnership comprised of McLeod, FAU, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Three Roads Communications and others are developing a multi-media educational program on the history of aviation -- aimed at middle-school children -- as well as a three-part documentary series to air on public broadcasting. The documentary is being produced by Emmy-Award winning producer Russ Hodge, President of Three Roads Communications in Frederick, Maryland. McLeod's plane will be equipped with cameras for the documentary, which will highlight the contributions of pioneer aviators from countries visited on the trip.

FAU history associate professor Dr. Barbara Ganson, the flight's curriculum project director, is developing material on aviation history and is working in conjunction with geologist Dr. Kevin Horstman, who will analyze photographs and images taking along McLeod's flight route to develop an educational unit on the rain forest. This information will be posted on the FAU web site: www.fau.edu/solopoletopole, which will in turn be promoted on the NAA national educational web site, allowing children around the country to track McLeod as he makes his way around the planet.

McLeod already holds two world aviation records: the first on May 19, 2000, when he flew the first open-cockpit aircraft over the magnetic North Pole, and the second on April 17, 2000, when he flew over the geographic North Pole in an open-pit 1939 Boeing Stearman bi-plane. This trip was the subject of an award-winning National Geographic documentary. McLeod is the author of a new book, "Solo to the Top of the World: Gus McLeod's Daring Record Flight," published by Smithsonian Institution Press in 2003. McLeod's numerous awards include a Distinguished Achievement Award from the Tuskegee Airman, Inc.; the Medal of Distinction from the Air Force Association; an Aviation Pioneer Award from the Black Pilots of America; Conqueror of The Pole designation from the Smithsonian Institution and a Living Legend Award from the University of the District of Columbia. He is president of the East Coast Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen in Washington, D.C. and is a member of the Civil Air Patrol, the Aero Club of Washington, and the National Press Club. He earned his bachelor's degree from the Catholic University of America, and his master's degree in chemical engineering from the University of Maryland.

Most recently, McLeod was nominated by the Distinguished Flying Cross Society to receive a Distinguished Flying Cross, to be considered before the U.S. Congress in 2004. He is the first civilian to be considered for this medal since Amelia Earhart.

Dr. Larry Lemanski, FAU Vice President for Research, plans to be in Sebastian to see McLeod off on his historic expedition. "Gus' extraordinary bravery and achievements in aviation pose as an inspiration to students of all ages, which is why FAU presented him with a much-deserved honorary doctorate in 2002," said Lemanski. "He continues to serve as an excellent role model, and we are proud of his affiliation to FAU and his on-going efforts to inspire and educate the public."

For more information about McLeod's Pole-to-Pole flight, phone Dr. Barbara Ganson at 954-298-0376 or go to www.fau.edu/solopoletopole.
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