Kirby Chambliss
Chambliss in 2010
Born (1959-10-18) October 18, 1959
NationalityUnited States United States
SpouseKellie Chambliss
Websiteteamchambliss.com

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 racing in Perth, Western Australia in 2006
Chambliss competing at the 2017 Red Bull Air Race of Chiba

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.[1] 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,[1] 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 very first contest, Chambliss worked his way up to the elite "unlimited" level.[1] In 1997, he became member and then captain[2] 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,[1] 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.[3]

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,[2] and finished the 2006 Series as the champion again with four wins of eight rounds in his Zivko Edge 540 aircraft.[2] 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, 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.[4]

Racing record

Complete Red Bull Air Race World Championship results

United States Kirby Chambliss
at the Red Bull Air Race World Series
Year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Points Wins Rank
2003 Austria
DNP		 Hungary
3rd		 4 0 3rd
2004 United Kingdom
1st		 Hungary
1st		 United States
2nd		 17 2 1st
2005 United Arab Emirates
9th		 Netherlands
4th		 Austria
4th		 Republic of Ireland
DNS		 United Kingdom
2nd		 Hungary
2nd		 United States
2nd		 21 0 3rd
2006 United Arab Emirates
1st		 Spain
3rd		 Germany
1st		 Russia
CAN		 Turkey
1st		 Hungary
5th		 United Kingdom
3rd		 United States
1st		 Australia
3rd		 38 4 1st
2007 United Arab Emirates
4th		 Brazil
6th		 United States
4th		 Turkey
3rd		 Spain
CAN		 Switzerland
5th		 United Kingdom
5th		 Hungary
2nd		 Portugal
5th		 United States
2nd		 Mexico
CAN		 Australia
6th		 28 0 4th
2008 United Arab Emirates
5th		 United States
3rd		 United States
1st		 Sweden
CAN		 Netherlands
4th		 United Kingdom
1st		 Hungary
12th		 Portugal
2nd		 Spain
CAN		 Australia
8th		 46 2 4th
2009 United Arab Emirates
9th		 United States
12th		 Canada
3rd		 Hungary
3rd		 Portugal
8th		 Spain
5th		 34 0 4th
2010 United Arab Emirates
6th		 Australia
8th		 Brazil
5th		 Canada
3rd		 United States
3rd		 Germany
6th		 Hungary
CAN		 Portugal
CAN		 41 0 4th
Series not held between 2011 and 2013
2014 United Arab Emirates
11th		 Croatia
10th		 Malaysia
9th		 Poland
4th		 United Kingdom
10th		 United States
10th		 United States
11th		 Austria
7th		 7 0 10th
2015 United Arab Emirates
DNS		 Japan
7th		 Croatia
11th		 Hungary
10th		 United Kingdom
12th		 Austria
3rd		 United States
11th		 United States
12th		 9 0 11th
2016 United Arab Emirates
4th		 Austria
6th		 Japan
3rd		 Hungary
4th		 United Kingdom
9th		 Germany
8th		 United States
14th		 United States
CAN		 30.25 0 8th
2017 United Arab Emirates
11th		 United States
4th		 Japan
8th		 Hungary
1st		 Russia
1st		 Portugal
4th		 Germany
6th		 United States
10th		 53 2 4th
2018 United Arab Emirates
3rd		 France
12th		 Japan
13th		 Hungary
10th		 Russia
3rd		 Austria
7th		 United States
8th		 United States
3rd		 34 0 6th
2019 United Arab Emirates
8th		 11 0 8th
Total 229 8

Legend:

  • CAN: Cancelled
  • DNP: Did not participate
  • DNS: Did not show
  • DQ: Disqualified
  • NC: Not classified

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Cunningham, Ross. "Flight Fest to feature national aerobatic champion". Matagorda County Advocate, June 30, 2005, p. 3E. Retrieved on May 25, 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 Main, Tyler L. "Born with wings - Red Bull flyer Kirby Chambliss shares experience, life, career before base air show" Archived February 24, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Marine Corps Base Hawaii, August 6, 2010. Retrieved on May 25, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Chambliss Reportedly OK After Crash in El Salvador". Archived from the original on December 30, 2013. Retrieved December 30, 2013.
  4. ↑ https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/232428. Aviation Safety Database. Last updated 25 January 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2020
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