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Article: Polar aviator put on hold: Tachometer's failure moors him for week.(Metropolitan Times)(Maryland News)
- Article from:
- The Washington Times (Washington, DC)
- Article date:
- April 30, 1999
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1999 News World Communications, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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A Gaithersburg entrepreneur determined to break one of the only remaining flight records is stuck in Manitoba.
Gustavus McLeod, 44, left Montgomery County Airpark April 17 on an Arctic scouting mission. Next spring, he hopes to become the first pilot to land an open-cockpit biplane on the geographic North Pole.
But while testing the durability of his 1938 Boeing Stearman - and his ability to endure boredom and frigid temperatures - Mr. McLeod ran into technical and weather trouble.
First, his plane's tachometer - similar to a speedometer - malfunctioned. Expedition partner Bruce Kendall had to order new parts from Oklahoma and have them ...