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Kirby Chambliss

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Kirby Chambliss
Chambliss in 2010
Born (1959-10-18) October 18, 1959 (age 64)
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

[edit]
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 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

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Complete Red Bull Air Race World Championship results

[edit]
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

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  1. ^ a b c d Cunningham, Ross. "Flight Fest to feature national aerobatic champion". Matagorda County Advocate, June 30, 2005, p. 3E. Retrieved on May 25, 2013.
  2. ^ a b c 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
[edit]
Sporting positions
Preceded by Red Bull Air Race World Series Champion
2004
Succeeded by
Preceded by Red Bull Air Race World Series Champion
2006
Succeeded by