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Paul Bonhomme retires from Red Bull racing

Three world titles, 19 victories and a total of 66 races make Paul Bonhomme the most successful competitor in the Red Bull Air Race Series… and now, having won the 2015 championship, he’s announced his retirement from the sport.

Bonhomme says he is retiring to spend more time with his family – “swings, trampolines and general giggles is much needed after several years of probably too much flying”. He will also concentrate on flying aerobatic displays at air shows with his Red Bull Matadors teammate, Steve Jones, as well as his career as a Captain flying Boeing 747s for British Airways.

“I reckon now is a good time to stop,” said Paul. “The team were (still are) fantastic and I have been very lucky to enjoy the fruits of great teamwork. The flying and the opportunity to race has been utterly superb. Those moments in the track, in a well prepared raceplane, is the ultimate flying experience. If you can fly it inch perfect at 200kt whilst 50ft from the ground, pulling 10G and then discover that you’ve set the fastest time, it is a buzz, a massive buzz.”

Bonhomme began flying at an early age. His father was a pilot, his mother was a flight attendant and his brother is a commercial pilot. He got his start as a 16-year-old cleaning hangars, polishing aircraft and refuelling aircraft in England before getting his private pilot’s licence at 18. He was soon working as a flight instructor and later became an air taxi pilot before flying charter flights. His aerobatics career began in 1986 and he has been flying at air shows ever since.

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