Paul Bonhomme
| Paul Bonhomme | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Born | 22 September 1964 |
| Nationality |  United Kingdom |
| Racing career | |
| First race | 2003 |
| Best position | 1st (2009 and 2010) |
| Aircraft | Zivko Edge 540 |
| Website | |
| teambonhomme.com | |
Paul Bonhomme (born 22 September 1964) is an English aerobatics and commercial airliner pilot and owner / race pilot of TEAM BONHOMME, the current World Champions of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship.
Contents |
[edit] Racing career
Bonhomme was born into a family of aviators. His father was an airline pilot and his mother worked as a flight attendant. His brother is also a commercial pilot.
Bonhomme's flying career started in 1980 at White Waltham Airfield as a general dogsbody by cleaning hangars, polishing aircraft and refuelling aircraft.
At age 18 he gained his Private Pilot License and subsequently became a flight instructor. In 1985 he became an air taxi pilot and in 1987 joined Air Cymru, a Welsh charter airline, flying the Boeing 737. He now flies as a captain of Boeing 747s for British Airways.
His aerobatics career started in 1986, flying an Ultimate Pitts. He went on to fly the Yak-50, Extra 300 and then the Sukhoi Su-26 in 1991 for Richard Goode Aerobatics. He has flown over 650 public displays and also flies vintage fighters for "The Old Flying Machine Company" at Duxford Aerodrome.
Aircraft types Bonhomme has flown include the Supermarine Spitfire (MkV, MkIX, MkIXT and MkXIV), Hawker Hurricane, P-40 Kittyhawk, F4F Wildcat, F6F Hellcat, F8F Bearcat, P-47 Thunderbolt, P-63 Kingcobra, P-51 Mustang and AD-4 Skyraider.
Since 1994 he has been flying formation displays around the world with his colleague former Air Race pilot and Television commentator Steve Jones as "The Matadors". They won three gold medals and one silver medal in the FAI series. He has competed in the Red Bull Air Race World Championship since its inception in 2003 achieving an unsurpassed record of 30 podium finishes out of 44 races that includes 11 race wins.
[edit] Awards
In 2010 Paul was awarded the Guild Sword of Honour by the prestigious Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators.
Bonhomme was the 2009 recipient of the Segrave Trophy.[1]
[edit] Personal life
Bonhomme's main hobbies include flying Robinson 44s. He recently gained his helicopter licence, after being instructed by 'Q'. He is married with a stepson and two daughters, living in South Cambridgeshire, England.
| Paul Bonhomme at the Red Bull Air Race World Series |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Points | Wins | Rank |
| 2003 |  3rd |
 NC |
0 | 0 | NC | ||||||||||
| 2004 | 6th |
7th |
 6th |
2 | 0 | 8th | |||||||||
| 2005 |  6th |
 7th |
3rd |
 3rd |
5th |
3rd |
5th |
17 | 0 | 5th | |||||
| 2006 | 7th |
 8th |
 6th |
 CAN |
 2nd |
2nd |
1st |
3rd |
 2nd |
26 | 1 | 4th | |||
| 2007 | 3rd |
 1st |
2nd |
2nd |
CAN |
 1st |
2nd |
3rd |
 3rd |
1st |
 CAN |
5th |
47 | 3 | 2nd |
| 2008 | 1st |
1st |
2nd |
 CAN |
1st |
7th |
3rd |
10th |
CAN |
1st |
54 | 4 | 2nd | ||
| 2009 | 2nd |
2nd |
 1st |
2nd |
1st |
1st |
67 | 3 | 1st | ||||||
| 2010 | 1st |
3rd |
3rd |
2nd |
1st |
2nd |
CAN |
POR |
64 | 2 | 1st | ||||
Legend:
- CAN: Cancelled
- DNP: Did not participate
- DNS: Did not show
- DQ: Disqualified
- NC: Not classified
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Paul Bonhomme Receives Segrave Trophy". Life magazine. 28 June 2010. http://www.life.com/image/102487383. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
[edit] External links
- Home Page of Paul Bonhomme
- Channel 4
- Aerobatic displays
- Aerobatics website
- Red Bull Air Race World Series official website
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Hannes Arch |
Red Bull Air Race World Series Champion 2009 2010 |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
| Preceded by Allan McNish |
Segrave Trophy 2009 |
Succeeded by Adrian Newey |
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