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Red Bull pilot Peter Besenyei was forced to make an emergency landing in a field in Windsor Ontario while preparing for the latest of the Red Bull Air race series. The race scheduled for this week end is to be held over the Detroit River between The motor city Detroit in the USA and Windsor Ontario Canada.
Peter Besenyei has flown upside down in Budapest, sliced through the air in Abu Dhabi and swirled through pylons in San Diego, but, after a crash landing Tuesday, he won’t be flying in Windsor’s Air Race.
Besenyei, an aerobatic pilot from Hungary, ended in a corn field near St. Thomas airport yesterday after his one-engine plane experienced engine problems.
Besenyei, who was supposed to fly in the Red Bull Air Race coming up this weekend, was taken to St. Thomas hospital as a precautionary measure and suffered minor bruises. His plane, which flipped over upon landing, will not be fixed in time for this weekend, but will be repaired before the next race in Budapest.
“I’m ready for the race, but I don’t have a plane,” Besenyei said at a Red Bull news conference Wednesday. “I’ve had several forced landings before. That was the first time in my life the plane was damaged.”
The damages were caused mainly by the field’s soft soil, he said.
Besenyei, 54, has been flying since he was 15. His 38 years of experience may have saved his life.
“I’m sure it helped. It could have been unlucky with an inexperienced pilot in such a situation. Who knows? anything can happen.”
Pete McLeod, the first Canadian Air Race pilot, emphasized the skill level it took to safely land the plane.
“Peter’s situation, that can happen. It’s a testament to the skill of all the pilots,” he said. “This isn’t a show, it’s a race.… You’ve got to be on the top of your game.”
Bernd Loidl, the Red Bull Air Race CEO, agreed.
“(Besenyei) is part of the elite, he’s one of the best pilots on the globe,” Loidl said.
The event, which starts with qualifying races on Saturday and ends with an awards ceremony on Sunday, will be hosted by Canada for the first time this year. The air race was conceived in 2001 and officially started in 2003 and feature some of the best stunt pilots in the world. The races require precision, skill and speed as pilots weave through 60 foot high air-pylons at speeds of more than 400 km/h.
While the races are exciting to watch, they’re also great for a city’s economy.
“It’s a global motorsport.… For the province and the city, it’s the opportunity to host an international (event),” Loidl said. “It has a strong economic impact. In addition, it’s exposure for the City of Windsor.”
Matthias Dolderer, a German pilot, loves the idea of flying between two cities and two countries.
“I’m looking forward to the race. It’s a super location between (Detroit and Windsor),” he said. “Every location is different.… The elevation is a bit higher here. We’ll be racing between two countries.”
To Besenyei, who used to race cars, the location isn’t as important as the feeling of flight.
“As a pilot, it’s amazing to fly low and fast.… (During the race) I’m not thinking, I’m just (doing) my job. You have to focus on the track … and do your best. The race is really fast, if you don’t focus for one second, you’ll lose.”
His hopes for the race in Budapest are simple.
“Like everyone, I want to win.”