"We're still a long way from reaching the boundaries"

For others, coming fifth in the Red Bull Air Race World Series is the highlight of their flying careers. Peter Besenyei, the only pilot to make it into the top three every year, is only moderately happy with this result. In an interview the Hungarian analyzes the season and the development of the Red Bull Air Race since 2005.

The Red Bull Air Race season 2008 is almost over, and the last race will take place in Perth on November 2. Can you give us a brief analysis of the season from your perspective?

I started the season with a new aircraft – an Extra 300 SR. I knew I needed a better aircraft than last year, so the change seemed to be a good solution. After Abu Dhabi it turned out that the Extra, besides its good attributes, has some disadvantages which we couldn’t solve without the factory. That’s why I changed back to last year’s Edge in Rotterdam, where we made some aerodynamic modifications. But the plane still didn’t have the speed to make it a winner. My realistic plan for this season is to come fifth.

What’s the difference between the Edge and the Extra – and what are the differences between each individual pilot’s Edge?

The Edge is getting much quicker and easier to fly, which makes negotiating the course better and faster. The difference between the Edges in the field is that each team has made its own modifications on parts of the plane like the wings, tail and body.

In your opinion, what role do technical developments play? How close do the Air Race planes come to reaching technical and physical boundaries?

In this season technical developments played an important role; this will continue in the future, too. But we’re still a long way from reaching the boundaries. For now, I think there are numerous ways of improving the aircraft, and that’s what we’ll all be working on.

At the moment Hannes Arch is leading by nine points. The Austrian is competing in his second Red Bull Air Race season. Is Hannes the first sign of a generation change?

He’s a good and courageous pilot. I don’t see him as representing a change in generation but, as the Red Bull Air Race is a very attractive race to all aerobatic pilots, I think we’ll see more and more younger pilots coming on board to give it a go.

Can Paul Bonhomme still win the title?

Paul only has a mathematical chance of winning the championship title, but it’s a technical sport, so you never know.

You took part in the development of the Red Bull Air Race and since 2003 you’ve competed in 38 races. How have they changed in the last six years?

There’s much more speed; the tracks are more technically demanding to fly and the pilots have had to change their way of negotiating the circuit. I think all of these things will continue to develop in the few next years.

Red Bull Air Races have taken place on the coast of Abu Dhabi or San Diego; in cities like Budapest, Rio de Janeiro, London or Porto. Which Air Race location was the most impressive for you?

My favorite places were Monument Valley and Longleat, UK. For me, both are special and interesting locations, and it was a pleasure to compete there.

In what ways will the Red Bull Air Race develop? How do you imagine Red Bull Air Race 2012 to look?

I’m sure that there’ll be improvements made to things like rules and track engineering – pylons, material, security and so on. The planes will undergo more technical innovations.