Hundreds Of Thousands Kept Their Fingers Crossed For Péter Besenyei

Even though Red Bull Air Race started around 3 o’clock in the afternoon, the lower quays on the Pest and the Buda side were practically full by 1 pm – moreover, by this time the good spots on Margaret Bridge were also packed. As the visitors were heading towards the building of the Parliament, they had to find their way through an even greater crowd. In the square in front of the Office Building of the Members of Parliament, the most resourceful ones erected a mobile camping. Even the policemen assigned to protect the office building were astonished by the preparations, for they were stading at the corner of the building, watching the sky, mesmerized (or the vendors, who also turned up at the event in large numbers).

Beyond the beer-pretzel-mineral water combo, which may even be called a classic, the vendors tried to cater for specific needs as well – even though the range of gumdrops offered to those having a sweet tooth has melted into a shapeless mush in the heat – the temperature almost reached 40 degrees -, and only the names reminded of gumdrop sharks, -bears, -frogs, and who knows how many other types of gumdrop sweets. In spite of all this, there was a demand for them since in the crowd that has gathered for the event there were a lot of children, and also girlfriends and wives. It is quite obvious that kids are attracted to such a spectacular event, but the teenager sex icons parading in dresses which are so tiny that hardly can they be called clothes, probably came down to the banks of the Danube because their partners are extremely attracted to flying, and also to safeguard their relationship. But besides the vendors, there were lifesavers, too, to take care of the audience. Near Margaret Bridge, Kossuth Square, and on the Buda quay there were fire brigades and ambulances every 150 metres to secure the event.

At the race, 150 soldiers played a role as well – they were on duty on the Danube. Their task was to remove the pylons quickly and without any disturbance in case they were damaged, but it has turned up that there is no need for that since the pilots had a beautiful weather. Therefore – contrary to the London air race – none of the pilots have ’knocked down’ the obstacles. Even though it has to be added that this year, for the first time, the course was a bit easier compared to previous years, since the planes did not have to fly under the Chain Bridge this time. Although the competent authority has issued a permit for the competitors and the organizers to demonstrate the maneuvre, but in the end, the lives of the pilots is worth more than anything else. The great stunt depended on 20 centimetres, for the bridge should have been 9.5 m from the surface of the water, but since the water level of the Danube had risen, the bridge was ’only’ 9.2 m above the river.

Even though the quay was jam-packed by 1 o’clock, the race began at 3. Until then, various air shows entertained the huge crowd that has gathered irrespectively of age and gender. First a powered hang glider appeared, but it moved the youngest generation only. "Daddy, what is it dragging?" – asked the kids, sitting on the neck of the fathers. The turtle of the air was dragging a 50 m long tricolour, which wasn’t suprising.

The first ’wows’ – which were the only true sounds of amazement before the race – were uttered when the six L-39 Albatroses appeared. In the beginning, the planes performed various stunts in a closed, star-shaped formation, which seemed easy only for the beholder. The planes were flying at a speed of 650 km/h at a distance of 1.5-2 metres from one another, until one of them split the formation and started maneuvering on its own. The stunts – by and large – outlined flower petals. The aircraft named Sheriff even set an example for the competitors of the race, for it has approached the height of Chain Bridge – which was closed down for motorized traffic and passengers -, flying only one or two metres above it. The roaring sound of the engines has filled the sky above Budapest. It has attracted visitors from a great distance: getting off the few public transport vehicles that were still operating, they were running up to the site of the event. By the way, transport: it has practically died in the area. Trams No. 47-49 were put out of service because of the VIP box erected for the event; tram No. 2 was not working either, and bus No. 15 ran with a more relaxed timetable as well, but only the most pessimistic ones were discontented with it.

Though as regards the race results, the fans of Péter Besenyei could have raised objections as well, for the pilot wearing the unique helmet of the Herend Porcelain Manufactory only came in fifth. As an excuse, it has to be added here that after the London race he received a new, more powerful engine, but he couldn’t run it in so far. At the same time, the most famous Hungarian aerobatics pilot wasn’t dissatisfied, although he admitted that in the race series, which are titled world championship for the first time this year, he won’t be among the first three in the summary of the nine races. In the Budapest competition, Paul Bonhomme came in third, Steve Jones was second, and the Austrian Hannes Arch, the youngest pilot in the Red Bull Air Race won for the first time. Following this achievement, the pilot is now leading the summary of the race series in a tie.