Paul Bonhomme

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Paul Bonhomme
Red Bull Air Race World Series Record
Date of Birth September 22, 1964
Team Bonhomme
Year of Début 2003
Country Flag of United Kingdom United Kingdom
Best Position 4th (2006)
2006 Position 4th (26 points)
Plane Zivko Edge 540
Website [1]

Paul Bonhomme (born 1964) is an English aerobatics and commercial airliner pilot.

Bonhomme was born on September 22, 1964 into an aviator family. His father was an airline pilot and his mother worked as a flight attendant. His brother is a commercial pilot.

Bonhomme's flying career started in 1980 at White Waltham Airfield as a general dogsbody by cleaning hangars, polishing aircraft and refuelling aircraft.

At age 18 he gained his Private Pilot License and subsequently became a flight instructor. In 1985 he became an air taxi pilot and in 1987 joined Air Cymrua, a Welsh charter airline, flying the Boeing 737.

His aerobatics career started in 1986, flying an Ultimate Pitts. He went on to fly the Yak-50, Extra 300 and then the Sukhoi Su-26 in 1991. He has flown over 500 public displays and also flies vintage fighters for "The Fighter Collection" at Duxford Aerodrome.

Aircraft types Bonhomee has flown include the Supermarine Spitfire (MkV, MkIX, MkIXT and Mk14), Hawker Hurricane, P-40 Kittyhawk, F4F Wildcat, F6F Hellcat, F8F Bearcat, P-47 Thunderbolt, P-63 Kingcobra, P-51 Mustang and AD-4 Skyraider.

Since 1994 he has been flying formation displays around the world with his colleague Steve Jones in "The Matadors" team. The team won three gold medals and one silver medal in the FAI series. He has competed in the Red Bull Air Race World Series since 2003.

Bonhomme enjoys also on-road and off-road motorcycling, mountain biking and playing golf.

Paul Bonhomme
at the Red Bull Air Race World Series
Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Points Wins Rank
2003 Flag of Austria
3rd
Flag of Hungary
DNS
0 0 NC
2004 Flag of United Kingdom
6th
Flag of Hungary
7th
Flag of United States
6th
2 0 8th
2005 Flag of United Arab Emirates
6th
Flag of Netherlands
7th
Flag of Austria
3rd
Flag of Republic of Ireland
3rd
Flag of United Kingdom
5th
Flag of Hungary
3rd
Flag of United States
5th
17 0 5th
2006 Flag of United Arab Emirates
7th
Flag of Spain
8th
Flag of Germany
6th
Flag of Russia
CAN
Flag of Turkey
2nd
Flag of Hungary
2nd
Flag of United Kingdom
1st
Flag of United States
3rd
Flag of Australia
2nd
26 1 4th
Total 45 1 4th

Legend:

  • CAN: Cancelled
  • DNP: Did not participate
  • DNS: Did not show
  • DQ: Disqualified
  • NC: Not classified

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