Péter Besenyei (born 1956) is a Hungarian aerobatics pilot and world champion air racer.

Péter Besenyei
Born (1956-06-08) 8 June 1956 (age 68)
NationalityHungary Hungary
Websitebesenyeipeter.hu
Péter Besenyei piloting Extra 300S

Biography

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He was born on 8 June 1956 in Körmend, Hungary. He lived near the airport of Budapest and became interested in flying when he was a child. From watching 1962 World Aerobatic Championships he decided to become a pilot. At 15 years of age he flew a glider for the first time. In 1976 Péter entered his first flying competition[1] by piloting a glider and showed his talent, finishing in second place.

Besenyei became an aerobatics pilot and won several titles in national and international championships. He won his first gold medal in 1982 at the Austrian National Championships.[2] His specialty is free-style aerobatics. He invented a number of original snap rolls and, in 1984, the "knife-edge spin". In 1995 Péter Besenyei won 2 gold and 2 silver medals and he was named the most successful aerobatics pilot of his time.[1] In 2001 Besenyei flew upside down under the Széchenyi Chain Bridge,[3] that spans the river Danube in Budapest, a maneuver that became a standard in air races today.

Besenyei is sometimes referred to as the godfather of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship because of his work helping develop it.[3] He was asked, in 2001 by Austrian energy-drink company Red Bull, to help develop the concept of an air racing competition. With enthusiasm he helped set up the rules and regulations and carefully selected the most daring pilots, with skills and courage, to handle the extreme physical and mental challenges of the air race. The first race was held in 2003 in Zeltweg, Austria. After two years the competition became a worldwide organization of Red Bull Air Race World Series.

He is currently a test pilot[3] for the Hungarian Aviation Office and a flying instructor for aerobatic pilots on Zivko Edge 540. Péter enjoys car racing, skiing, sky diving, fishing, and photography.[3] Besenyei retired from the Red Bull Air Race at the completion of the 2015 season.

Achievements

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1982
  • Austrian National Championships – overall winner
1990
  • World Aerobatics Championships – 2nd
1993
1994
  • World Champion of the Compulsory Program
1995
  • European Champion Freestyle
  • European Champion of the Compulsory Program
1998
2000
  • World Champion Freestyle
2001
  • FAI World Grand Prix Series 1st
2003
2005

Honors

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  • 1996 - "Gold Medal of the President of the Republic of Hungary" by President Árpád Göncz[3]
  Péter Besenyei
at the Red Bull Air Race World Series
Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Points Wins Rank
2003  
1st
 
1st
6 2 1st
2004  
3rd
 
3rd
 
3rd
12 0 2nd
2005  
1st
 
2nd
 
2nd
 
1st
 
3rd
 
4th
 
4th
32 2 2nd
2006  
3rd
 
1st
 
2nd
 
CAN
 
3rd
 
DSQ
 
2nd
 
2nd
 
1st
35 2 2nd
2007  
1st
 
5th
 
1st
 
5th
 
CAN
 
3rd
 
3rd
 
4th
 
4th
 
6th
 
CAN
 
7th
31 2 3rd
2008  
4th
 
8th
 
5th
 
CAN
 
6th
 
4th
 
5th
 
7th
 
CAN
 
7th
34 0 5th
2009  
10th
 
4th
 
DNS
 
10th
 
4th
 
8th
24 0 8th
2010  
3rd
 
10th
 
11th
 
10th
 
8th
 
9th
 
CAN
 
CAN
21 0 10th
2014  
10th
 
11th
 
7th
 
7th
 
7th
 
12th
 
12th
 
12th
6 0 11th
2015  
7th
 
13th
 
12th
 
6th
 
6th
 
8th
 
12th
 
13th
9 0 12th

[3]

Legend:

  • CAN: Cancelled
  • DNP: Did not participate
  • DNS: Did not start
  • DSQ: Disqualified
  • NC: Not classified

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Peter Besenyei Aerobatics Pilot". budpocketguide.com. Archived from the original on 2010-11-04. Retrieved 2010-01-25.
  2. ^ "Besenyei Peter" (in Hungarian). rtl.hu. Archived from the original on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2010-01-25.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Peter Besenyei". redbullairrace.com. Archived from the original on 2010-02-17. Retrieved 2010-01-25.
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Sporting positions
Preceded by
none
Red Bull Air Race World Series Champion
2003
Succeeded by