Kirby Chambliss (born October 18, 1959, in Corpus Christi, Texas) is an American world champion aerobatic and air race pilot who raced in the Red Bull Air Race World Series under the Red Bull brand.
Biography
Chambliss was born at Corpus Christi, Texas, United States. As a boy, he wanted to be a pilot. Chambliss became inspired by watching his father professionally skydive growing up, and was fascinated with the aerial stunts the plane would undergo while chasing the divers as they fell.Cunningham, Ross. "Flight Fest to feature national aerobatic champion". Matagorda County Advocate, June 30, 2005, p. 3E. Retrieved on May 25, 2013. During his high school years, he fueled aircraft to earn money. By December 1975, at the age of 16, Chambliss debuted in solo flying after formal flight training, and earned his private license the following March. In the beginning, he earned his living as a certified flight instructor and then as a night freight pilot.
His later job as a business jet pilot enabled him in 1985 to take aerobatic flight training and to buy his own aerobatic plane. Winning top honors in his first contest, Chambliss worked his way up to the elite "unlimited" level. In 1997, he became member and then captainMain, Tyler L. "Born with wings - Red Bull flyer Kirby Chambliss shares experience, life, career before base air show" . Marine Corps Base Hawaii, August 6, 2010. Retrieved on May 25, 2013. of the US Aerobatic Team. He won five U.S. national championships and 13 medals at the world championships. He holds the title 2000 Men's Freestyle World Champion, and has logged over 27,000 flying hours. In 2013, Chambliss lost power performing a high Alpha pass at the Illopango El Salvador Airshow. Chambliss exited his aircraft with minor injuries after a forced landing on a rocky embankment.
Chambliss enjoys performing in traditional airshows throughout the year when he is not training or competing. Since 2003, he takes part at the international aerobatic competition Red Bull Air Race World Series as a member of the Red Bull team along with his teammate Hungarian Péter Besenyei. He was the champion of 2004, and finished the 2006 Series as the champion again with four wins of eight rounds in his Zivko Edge 540 aircraft. To stay in shape for enormous g-forces and exact timing, he runs four miles five days a week.
He lives with his wife and fellow pilot, Kellie, and their daughter, Karly Nicole, at Stellar Airpark in Arizona, United States.
On January 24, 2020, one of Kirby's planes was involved in a fatal aircraft crash at Iztapa Airport in Escuintla while under control of his friend Steve Andelin. Steve and two ground spectators were killed in the crash.https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/232428. Aviation Safety Database. Last updated 25 January 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2020
Racing record Complete Red Bull Air Race World Championship results Kirby Chamblissat the Red Bull Air Race World SeriesYear 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12PointsWinsRank 2003 DNP3rd 4 03rd 20041st1st2nd 17 21st 20059th4th4th DNS2nd2nd2nd 21 03rd 20061st3rd1st CAN1st 5th 3rd1st3rd 38 41st 20074th6th4th 3rd CAN5th5th2nd5th2nd CAN6th 28 04th 20085th3rd1st CAN4th1st12th2nd CAN8th 46 24th 20099th12th3rd3rd8th5th 34 04th 20106th8th5th3rd3rd6th CAN CAN 41 04th Series not held between 2011 and 2013 201411th10th9th4th10th10th11th7th 7 010th 2015 DNS7th11th10th12th3rd11th12th 9 011th 20164th6th3rd4th9th8th14th CAN 30.25 08th 201711th4th8th1st 1st4th6th10th 53 24th 20183rd12th13th10th3rd7th8th3rd 34 06th20198th1108th Total 229 8
Legend: CAN: Cancelled DNP: Did not participate DNS: Did not show DQ: Disqualified NC: Not classified
References
External links
Team Chambliss official website Pilot Profile on Flightglobal.com