Péter Besenyei
Aerobatics Pilot

Péter Besenyei was born in June 1956. At the age of 20 he entered his first flying competition piloting a glider and immediately showed how talented he was by winning a silver medal. In 1982 he was the overall winner at the Austrian National Championships but this time he piloted a motor-driven plane and performed aerobatics. The run of success continued in 1990 when Besenyei, piloting a plane that most people in the sport considered to be obselete, finished in second place in the World Aerobatics Championships. In 1993 the world-famous watch manufacturer Breitling attracted by the spectacle offered by the sport of aerobatics and by its increasing popularity organised a series of competitions that were known as the Breitling Aerobatics World Cup. The world?s top twelve aerobatics pilots were invited to compete and despite his having to fly in various aeroplanes borrowed from other people Besenyei finished in the first three. In 1996 the World Cup was succeeded by the FAI Aerobatics Grand Prix series, of wich 1996-98 Péter Besenyei was the owerall winner. In 1994, flying his own plane, Besenyei won a gold and a bronze medal at the World Championships, and in 1995 at the European Championships he won 2 gold and 2 silver medals and was the most successful pilot. In addition to participating in competitions the Hungarian ace also works as a professional pilot, flying instructor and test-pilot passing on to others and making use of the vast experience that he has acquired over the years. He is the most successful Hungarian pilot of our time and experts consider him to be among the world?s top 3 aerobatics pilots. In addition to his international successes Péter Besenyei has been Hungarian national champion 10 times and has won the "Sportsman of the Year" award 14 times. For the last 16 years he has been a member of the Hungarian national aerobatics squad. In 1996 Péter Besenyei was presented with the "President of the Republic's Gold Medal" by Árpád Göncz the President of Hungary. The secret of Besenyei's success is a lot of hard work and dedication but the Kent Aerochampion Team's sponsorship is also important. The more than 4,000 hours flown and the 8-10 competitions and 10-15 air shows that he takes part in each year help to enhance the reputation of both Péter Besenyei and the company Kent that sponsors him. His Extra 330L aeroplane is painted sky-blue and in the colours of Kent and has the word "Kenter" written on it - the pun on the word "canter" signifying that Péter and his sponsors will beat the world "at a canter". The Budapest Pocket Guide and Aero Magazine organised a special event in May at the Budaörs airfield, at which Péter Besenyei gave a demonstration of his aerobatic skills. In a perfectly choreographed routine seeming to defy the laws of physics and displaying almost superhuman skill the Hungarian ace didn't allow the spectators a moment's respite from the tension and excitement that gripped them as they watched Besenyei perform his loopings, spin, rolls and towers. The eyes of the spectators were riveted on the Hungarian Maestro's breathtaking feats and as they broke into applause they expressed both their admiration and relief.

Péter Besenyei World and European Champion of Aerobatics Indispensable star of domestic and international Air Shows