Kirby Chambliss (born October 18, 1959 in Corpus Christi, Texas) is an American world champion aerobatic and

air race Air racing is a type of motorsport that involves airplanes or other types of aircraft that compete over a fixed course, with the winner either returning the shortest time, the one to complete it with the most points, or to come closest to a prev ...

pilot who raced in the

Red Bull Air Race World Series The World Championship Air Race is a series of air races sanctioned by the World Air Sports Federation (FAI). Originally established in 2003 as the Red Bull Air Race, and created by Red Bull GmbH, the event involves competitors navigating a c ...

under the Red Bull brand.

Biography

Chambliss was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, United States. As a boy, he wanted to be a pilot. Chambliss became inspired by watching his father professionally

skydive Parachuting, including also skydiving, is a method of transiting from a high point in the atmosphere to the surface of Earth with the aid of gravity, involving the control of speed during the descent using a parachute or parachutes. For ...

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 A flight instructor is a person who teaches others to operate aircraft. Specific privileges granted to holders of a flight instructor qualification vary from country to country, but very generally, a flight instructor serves to enhance or evaluate ...

and then as a night freight pilot. His later job as a

business jet A business jet, private jet, or bizjet is a jet aircraft designed for transporting small groups of people. Business jets may be adapted for other roles, such as the evacuation of casualties or express parcel deliveries, and some are used by pu ...

pilot enabled him in 1985 to take aerobatic flight training and to buy his own aerobatic plane. Winning top honors in his very 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

airshow An air show (or airshow, air fair, air tattoo) is a public event where aircraft are exhibited. They often include aerobatics demonstrations, without they are called "static air shows" with aircraft parked on the ground. The largest air show ...

s throughout the year when he is not training or competing. Since 2003, he takes part at the international aerobatic competition

as a member of the Red Bull team along with his teammate Hungarian

Péter Besenyei Péter Besenyei (born 1956) is a Hungarian aerobatics pilot and world champion air racer. Biography He was born on 8 June 1956 in Körmend, Hungary. He lived near the airport of Budapest and became interested in flying when he was a child. F ...

. 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 The Zivko Edge 540 manufactured by Zivko Aeronautics is a highly aerobatic aircraft. Capable of a 420 degree per second roll rate and a 3,700 foot per minute climb rate, it has been flown to victory on the international Unlimited aerobatics ci ...

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 the Flying Crown Ranch in

Arizona Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...

, United States. On January 24, 2020, one of Kirby’s planes was involved in a fatal aircraft crash at Iztapa Airport in

Escuintla Escuintla () is an industrial city in Guatemala, its land extension is 4384 km², and it is nationally known for its sugar agribusiness. Its capital is a minicipality with the same name. Citizens celebrate from December 6 to 9 with a small fair ...

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

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
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chambliss, Kirby 1959 births Living people People from Corpus Christi, Texas American air racers Aviators from Texas Red Bull Air Race World Championship pilots Red Bull Air Race World Championship winners Aerobatic pilots Commercial aviators