Péter Besenyei

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

The native form of this personal name is Besenyei Péter. This article uses Western name order when mentioning individuals.
Péter Besenyei
Born (1956-06-08) 8 June 1956
Nationality Hungary
Websitebesenyeipeter.hu
Péter Besenyei piloting Extra 300S

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
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
  • 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

References
  1. "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. "Peter Besenyei". redbullairrace.com. Archived from the original on 2010-02-17. Retrieved 2010-01-25.
Sporting positions
Preceded by
none		 Red Bull Air Race World Series Champion
2003		 Succeeded by
Kirby Chambliss
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