Péter Besenyei

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The native form of this personal name is Besenyei Péter. This article uses the Western name order.
Péter Besenyei
Red Bull Air Race World Series Record
Date of Birth June 8, 1956 (1956-06-08) (age 52)
Team Red Bull
Year of Début 2003
Country Flag of Hungary Hungary
Best Position 1st (2003)
2006 Position 2nd (35 points)
Plane Zivko Edge 540
Website www.besenyeipeter.hu
Péter Besenyei piloting Extra 300S
Péter Besenyei piloting Extra 300S

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

He was born on June 8, 1956 in Körmend, Hungary. He lived near the airport of Budapest and became interested in flying as 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 Peter entered his first flying competition by piloting a glider and showed his talent, finishing at second place.

Peter 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. His specialty is free-style aerobatics. He invented a number of original snap rolls and, in 1984, the "knife-edge spin". In 1995 Peter Besenyei won 2 gold and 2 silver medals and he was named the most successful aerobatics pilot of his time. In 2001 Besenyei flew upside down under the Széchenyi Chain Bridge, that spans the river Danube in Budapest, a maneuver that became a standard in air races today.

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 for the Hungarian Aviation Office and a flying instructor for aerobatic pilots on Zivko Edge 540. Enjoying car racing, skiing, sky diving, fishing, and photography. Peter is divorced from his first wife, but now married to Tünde and they have two daughters Dóra and Nicolette.

Contents

[edit] Achievements

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

[edit] Honors

  • 1996 - "Gold Medal of the President of the Republic of Hungary" by President Árpád Göncz
Flag of Hungary 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 Flag of Austria
1st
Flag of Hungary
1st
6 2 1st
2004 Flag of the United Kingdom
3rd
Flag of Hungary
3rd
Flag of the United States
3rd
12 0 2nd
2005 Flag of the United Arab Emirates
1st
Flag of the Netherlands
2nd
Flag of Austria
2nd
Flag of Ireland
1st
Flag of the United Kingdom
3rd
Flag of Hungary
4th
Flag of the United States
4th
32 2 2nd
2006 Flag of the United Arab Emirates
3rd
Flag of Spain
1st
Flag of Germany
2nd
Flag of Russia
CAN
Flag of Turkey
3rd
Flag of Hungary
DQ
Flag of the United Kingdom
2nd
Flag of the United States
2nd
Flag of Australia
1st
35 2 2nd
2007 Flag of the United Arab Emirates
1st
Flag of Brazil
5th
Flag of the United States
1st
Flag of Turkey
5th
Flag of Spain
CAN
Flag of Switzerland
3rd
Flag of the United Kingdom
3rd
Flag of Hungary
4th
Flag of Portugal
4th
Flag of the United States
6th
Flag of Mexico
CAN
Flag of Australia
7th
31 2 3rd
2008 Flag of the United Arab Emirates
4th
Flag of the United States
8th
Flag of the United States
5th
Flag of Sweden
Flag of the Netherlands
Flag of the United Kingdom
Flag of Hungary
Flag of Portugal
Flag of Spain
Flag of Australia
8 0 5th
Total 124 8 2nd

Legend:

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

[edit] See also

[edit] References

Sporting positions
Preceded by
none
Red Bull Air Race World Series Champion
2003
Succeeded by
Kirby Chambliss