Kirby Chambliss

Kirby Chambliss (born October 18, 1959 in Corpus Christi, Texas) is an American commercial pilot and a renowned world champion in aerobatics.
Chambliss was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, United States. As a youngster, he wanted to be a pilot. His father was a skydiver, and he loved the steep spiral in the sky the pilot put the plane into when racing the skydivers back to the ground. 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 very first contest, Chambliss worked the way up to the elite "unlimited" level. In 1997, he became member and then captain 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 27000 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 team mate Hungarian Péter Besenyei. The champion of 2004, Chambliss finished the 2006 Series as the champion again with four wins of eight rounds on 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 the Flying Crown Ranch, Arizona, USA.
Legend:
CAN: Cancelled
DNP: Did not participate
DNS: Did not show
DQ: Disqualified
NC: Not classified

^ 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.
^ a b c Main, 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.
^ "Chambliss Reportedly OK After Crash in El Salvador". Retrieved 30 December 2013.