Péter
Besenyei
Hungary
·
Air Racing
Date of birth | June 8, 1956 |
|---|---|
Birthplace | Körmend, Hungary |
Age | 69 |
Nationality | Hungary |
Career start | 1981 |
Disciplines | Aerobatic airshows / Air Racing |
Having obtained his pilot’s licence aged 19 and been an aerobatic pilot since 1981, Besenyei is nothing short of a legend of the skies. His unparalleled experience and expertise were put to good use when he was called in to help develop the Red Bull Air Race in 2001. He was the test pilot responsible for proving the Air Gate technology and an integral member of the group that developed the race format.
The Red Bull Air Race began in 2003 in Austria, and two years later, Péter had helped bring the competition to a worldwide audience, as the Red Bull Air Race World Championship. A top title contender in the first five years of the sport, the Hungarian ace came first overall in the inaugural 2003 season, second three years running from 2004-06 and third in 2007.
Besenyei is probably best known for demonstrating his awe-inspiring skill when he flew upside down under the Chain Bridge that spans the Danube River in Budapest. Not only is Péter an innovator in the air, but he's also a pioneer on the ground. He was closely involved in developing a special new raceplane called the Corvus Racer 540, which debuted amid the 2010 season. However, with the series taking a three-year hiatus, Péter could never benefit from the plane's full potential on the track.
Besenyei returned to race action in 2014 when the Red Bull Air Race World Championship returned to the skies, remaining competitive throughout that season and the one that followed. However, at the close of the 2015 season, he announced his decision to retire from the competition to spend more time with his family.