View source for Kirby Chambliss

{{Short description|American air race pilot}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2012}}
{{Infobox aviator
|name=Kirby Chambliss
|image=Kirby Chambliss.jpg
|image_size=200px
|caption=Chambliss in 2010
|full_name=
|birth_date=  {{Birth date and age|1959|10|18}}
|birth_place=
|resting_place=
|resting_place_coordinates= <!-- {{Coord|LATITUDE|LONGITUDE|type:landmark}} -->
|monuments=
|nationality= {{flagicon|USA}} [[United States]]
|spouse=Kellie Chambliss
|relatives=
|first_race = 2003
|racing_best = 1st ([[2004 Red Bull Air Race World Series season|2004]], [[2006 Red Bull Air Race World Series season|2006]])
|racing_aircraft = [[Zivko Edge 540]]
|website= [http://www.teamchambliss.com/ teamchambliss.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==
[[Image:Kirby Chambliss racing in Perth.jpg|thumb|right|Chambliss racing in [[Perth, Western Australia]] in 2006]]
[[File:2017RedBullAirRaceChibaN14KN.jpg|thumb|Chambliss competing at the [[2017 Red Bull Air Race of Chiba]]]]

Chambliss was born at [[Corpus Christi, Texas|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.<ref name="Cunningham 05">Cunningham, Ross. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1771&dat=20050630&id=AvMsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=plgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6849,2015318 "Flight Fest to feature national aerobatic champion"]. ''Matagorda County Advocate'', June 30, 2005, p. 3E. Retrieved on May 25, 2013.</ref> 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]],<ref name="Cunningham 05" /> and earned his private license the following March. In the beginning, he earned his living as a [[Pilot certification in the United States|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.<ref name="Cunningham 05" /> In 1997, he became member and then captain<ref name="Marines 10">Main, Tyler L. [http://www.mcbhawaii.marines.mil/News/NewsArticleDisplay/tabid/6999/Article/103930/born-with-wings-red-bull-flyer-kirby-chambliss-shares-experience-life-career-be.aspx "Born with wings - Red Bull flyer Kirby Chambliss shares experience, life, career before base air show"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130224144357/http://www.mcbhawaii.marines.mil/News/NewsArticleDisplay/tabid/6999/Article/103930/born-with-wings-red-bull-flyer-kirby-chambliss-shares-experience-life-career-be.aspx |date=February 24, 2013 }}. [[Marine Corps Base Hawaii]], August 6, 2010. Retrieved on May 25, 2013.</ref> 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,<ref name="Cunningham 05" /> 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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chambliss Reportedly OK After Crash in El Salvador|url=http://www.eaa.org/news/2013/2013-01-23_chambliss-reportedly-ok-after-crash.asp|access-date=30 December 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230234110/http://www.eaa.org/news/2013/2013-01-23_chambliss-reportedly-ok-after-crash.asp|archive-date=December 30, 2013|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

Chambliss enjoys performing in traditional [[airshow]]s 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 people|Hungarian]] [[Péter Besenyei]]. He was the champion of 2004,<ref name="Marines 10" /> and finished the 2006 Series as the champion again with four wins of eight rounds in his [[Zivko Edge 540]] aircraft.<ref name="Marines 10" /> To stay in shape for enormous [[g-force]]s 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.<ref>https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/232428. Aviation Safety Database. Last updated 25 January 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2020</ref>

==Racing record==
===Complete Red Bull Air Race World Championship results===
{|class="wikitable"
|- 
! colspan=16 align=center|{{flagicon|USA}} Kirby Chambliss<br>at the [[Red Bull Air Race World Series]]
|-
!width="2%"|Year
!width="2%"| 1
!width="2%"| 2
!width="2%"| 3
!width="2%"| 4
!width="2%"| 5
!width="2%"| 6
!width="2%"| 7
!width="2%"| 8
!width="2%"| 9
!width="2%"| 10
!width="2%"| 11
!width="2%"| 12
!width="2%"|Points
!width="2%"|Wins
!width="2%"|Rank
|- align=center
! [[2003 Red Bull Air Race World Series season|2003]]
| {{flagicon|Austria}}<br>DNP
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"|{{flagicon|Hungary}}<br>3rd
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
! 4
! 0
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"|'''3rd'''
|- align=center
! [[2004 Red Bull Air Race World Series season|2004]]
| style="background:#ffffbf;"|{{flagicon|United Kingdom}}<br>1st
| style="background:#ffffbf;"|{{flagicon|Hungary}}<br>1st
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"|{{flagicon|United States}}<br>2nd
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
! 17
! 2
| style="background:#ffffbf;"|'''1st'''
|- align=center
! [[2005 Red Bull Air Race World Series season|2005]]
| style="background:#cfcfff;"|{{flagicon|United Arab Emirates}}<br>9th
| style="background:#dfffdf;"|{{flagicon|Netherlands}}<br>4th
| style="background:#dfffdf;"|{{flagicon|Austria}}<br>4th
| {{flagicon|Ireland}}<br>DNS
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"|{{flagicon|United Kingdom}}<br>2nd
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"|{{flagicon|Hungary}}<br>2nd
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"|{{flagicon|United States}}<br>2nd
|
|
|
|
|
! 21
! 0
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"|'''3rd'''
|- align=center
! [[2006 Red Bull Air Race World Series season|2006]]
| style="background:#ffffbf;"|{{flagicon|United Arab Emirates}}<br>1st
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"|{{flagicon|Spain}}<br>3rd
| style="background:#ffffbf;"|{{flagicon|Germany}}<br>1st
| {{flagicon|Russia}}<br>CAN
| style="background:#ffffbf;"|{{flagicon|Turkey}}<br>1st  
| style="background:#dfffdf;"|{{flagicon|Hungary}}<br>5th  
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"|{{flagicon|United Kingdom}}<br>3rd
| style="background:#ffffbf;"|{{flagicon|United States}}<br>1st
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"|{{flagicon|Australia}}<br>3rd
|
|
|
! 38
! 4
| style="background:#ffffbf;"|'''1st'''
|- align=center
! [[2007 Red Bull Air Race World Series season|2007]]
| style="background:#dfffdf;"|{{flagicon|United Arab Emirates}}<br>4th
| style="background:#dfffdf;"|{{flagicon|Brazil}}<br>6th
| style="background:#dfffdf;"|{{flagicon|United States}}<br>4th 
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"|{{flagicon|Turkey}}<br>3rd
| {{flagicon|Spain}}<br>CAN
| style="background:#dfffdf;"|{{flagicon|Switzerland}}<br>5th
| style="background:#dfffdf;"|{{flagicon|United Kingdom}}<br>5th
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"|{{flagicon|Hungary}}<br>2nd
| style="background:#dfffdf;"|{{flagicon|Portugal}}<br>5th
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"|{{flagicon|United States}}<br>2nd
| {{flagicon|Mexico}}<br>CAN
| style="background:#dfffdf;"|{{flagicon|Australia}}<br>6th
! 28
! 0
| style="background:#dfffdf;"|'''4th'''
|- align=center
! [[2008 Red Bull Air Race World Series season|2008]]
| style="background:#dfffdf;"|{{flagicon|United Arab Emirates}}<br>5th
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"|{{flagicon|United States}}<br>3rd
| style="background:#ffffbf;"|{{flagicon|United States}}<br>1st
| {{flagicon|Sweden}}<br>CAN
| style="background:#dfffdf;"|{{flagicon|Netherlands}}<br>4th
| style="background:#ffffbf;"|{{flagicon|United Kingdom}}<br>1st
| style="background:#cfcfff;"|{{flagicon|Hungary}}<br>12th
| style="background:#dfdfdf;"|{{flagicon|Portugal}}<br>2nd
| {{flagicon|Spain}}<br>CAN
| style="background:#dfffdf;"|{{flagicon|Australia}}<br>8th
| 
| 
! 46
! 2
| style="background:#dfffdf;"|'''4th'''
|- align=center
! [[2009 Red Bull Air Race World Championship|2009]]
| style="background:#cfcfff;"|{{flagicon|United Arab Emirates}}<br>9th
| style="background:#cfcfff;"|{{flagicon|United States}}<br>12th
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"|{{flagicon|Canada}}<br>3rd
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"|{{flagicon|Hungary}}<br>3rd
| style="background:#dfffdf;"|{{flagicon|Portugal}}<br>8th
| style="background:#dfffdf;"|{{flagicon|Spain}}<br>5th
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
! 34
! 0
| style="background:#dfffdf;"|'''4th'''
|- align=center
! [[2010 Red Bull Air Race World Championship|2010]]
| style="background:#dfffdf;"|{{flagicon|United Arab Emirates}}<br>6th
| style="background:#dfffdf;"|{{flagicon|Australia}}<br>8th
| style="background:#dfffdf;"|{{flagicon|Brazil}}<br>5th
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"|{{flagicon|Canada}}<br>3rd
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"|{{flagicon|United States}}<br>3rd
| style="background:#dfffdf;"|{{flagicon|Germany}}<br>6th
| {{flagicon|Hungary}}<br>CAN
| {{flagicon|Portugal}}<br>CAN
| 
| 
| 
| 
! 41
! 0
| style="background:#dfffdf;"|'''4th'''
|- align=center
|colspan=16| '''Series not held between 2011 and 2013'''
|- align=center
! [[2014 Red Bull Air Race World Championship season|2014]]
| style="background:#cfcfff;"|{{flagicon|United Arab Emirates}}<br>11th
| style="background:#cfcfff;"|{{flagicon|Croatia}}<br>10th
| style="background:#cfcfff;"|{{flagicon|Malaysia}}<br>9th
| style="background:#dfffdf;"|{{flagicon|Poland}}<br>4th
| style="background:#cfcfff;"|{{flagicon|United Kingdom}}<br>10th
| style="background:#cfcfff;"|{{flagicon|United States}}<br>10th
| style="background:#cfcfff;"|{{flagicon|USA}}<br />11th
| style="background:#dfffdf;"|{{flagicon|AUT}}<br />7th
|
|
|
|
! 7
! 0
| style="background:#cfcfff;"|'''10th'''
|- align=center
! [[2015 Red Bull Air Race World Championship|2015]]
| {{flagicon|UAE}}<br />[[2015 Red Bull Air Race of Abu Dhabi|DNS]]
| style="background:#dfffdf;"|{{Flagicon|JPN}}<br />[[2015 Red Bull Air Race of Chiba|7th]]
| style="background:#cfcfff;"|{{Flagicon|CRO}}<br />[[2015 Red Bull Air Race of Rovinj|11th]]
| style="background:#cfcfff;"|{{Flagicon|HUN}}<br />[[2015 Red Bull Air Race of Budapest|10th]]
| style="background:#cfcfff;"|{{Flagicon|GBR}}<br />[[2015 Red Bull Air Race of Ascot|12th]]
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"|{{Flagicon|AUT}}<br />[[2015 Red Bull Air Race of Spielberg|3rd]]
| style="background:#cfcfff;"|{{Flagicon|USA}}<br />[[2015 Red Bull Air Race of Fort Worth|11th]]
| style="background:#cfcfff;"|{{Flagicon|USA}}<br />[[2015 Red Bull Air Race of Las Vegas|12th]]
| 
| 
| 
| 
! 9
! 0
| style="background:#cfcfff;"|'''11th'''
|- align=center
! [[2016 Red Bull Air Race World Championship|2016]]
| style="background:#dfffdf;"|{{flagicon|UAE}}<br />[[2016 Red Bull Air Race of Abu Dhabi|4th]]
| style="background:#dfffdf;"|{{flagicon|AUT}}<br />[[2016 Red Bull Air Race of Spielberg|6th]]
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"|{{flagicon|JPN}}<br />[[2016 Red Bull Air Race of Chiba|3rd]]
| style="background:#dfffdf;"|{{flagicon|HUN}}<br />[[2016 Red Bull Air Race of Budapest|4th]]
| style="background:#dfffdf;"|{{flagicon|GBR}}<br />[[2016 Red Bull Air Race of Ascot|9th]]
| style="background:#dfffdf;"|{{flagicon|GER}}<br />[[2016 Red Bull Air Race of Lausitz|8th]]
| style="background:#cfcfff;"|{{flagicon|USA}}<br />[[2016 Red Bull Air Race of Indianapolis|14th]]
| {{flagicon|USA}}<br />[[2016 Red Bull Air Race of Las Vegas|CAN]]
| 
| 
| 
| 
! 30.25
! 0
| style="background:#dfffdf;"|'''8th'''
|- align=center
! [[2017 Red Bull Air Race World Championship|2017]]
| style="background:#cfcfff;"|{{flagicon|UAE}}<br />[[2017 Red Bull Air Race of Abu Dhabi|11th]]
| style="background:#dfffdf;"|{{flagicon|USA}}<br />[[2017 Red Bull Air Race of San Diego|4th]]
| style="background:#dfffdf;"|{{flagicon|JPN}}<br />[[2017 Red Bull Air Race of Chiba|8th]]
| style="background:#ffffbf;"|{{flagicon|HUN}}<br />[[2017 Red Bull Air Race of Budapest|1st]]
| style="background:#ffffbf;"| {{flagicon|RUS}}<br />[[2017 Red Bull Air Race of Kazan|1st]]
| style="background:#dfffdf;"|{{flagicon|POR}}<br />[[2017 Red Bull Air Race of Porto|4th]]
| style="background:#dfffdf;"|{{flagicon|GER}}<br />[[2017 Red Bull Air Race of Lausitz|6th]]
| style="background:#dfffdf;"|{{flagicon|USA}}<br />[[2017 Red Bull Air Race of Indianapolis|10th]]
| 
| 
| 
| 
! 53
! 2
| style="background:#dfffdf;"|'''4th'''
|- align=center
! [[2018 Red Bull Air Race World Championship|2018]]
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"|{{flagicon|UAE}}<br />[[2018 Red Bull Air Race of Abu Dhabi|3rd]]
| style="background:#cfcfff;"|{{flagicon|FRA}}<br />[[2018 Red Bull Air Race of Cannes|12th]]
| style="background:#cfcfff;"|{{flagicon|JPN}}<br />[[2018 Red Bull Air Race of Chiba|13th]]
| style="background:#dfffdf;"|{{flagicon|HUN}}<br />[[2018 Red Bull Air Race of Budapest|10th]]
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"|{{flagicon|RUS}}<br />[[2018 Red Bull Air Race of Kazan|3rd]]
| style="background:#dfffdf;"|{{flagicon|AUT}}<br />[[2018 Red Bull Air Race of Wiener Neustadt|7th]]
| style="background:#dfffdf;"|{{flagicon|USA}}<br />[[2018 Red Bull Air Race of Indianapolis|8th]]
| style="background:#ffdf9f;"|{{flagicon|USA}}<br />[[2018 Red Bull Air Race of Fort Worth|3rd]]
| 
| 
| 
| 
! 34
! 0
| style="background:#dfffdf;"|'''6th'''
|- align=center
![[2019 Red Bull Air Race World Championship|2019]]
| style="background:#dfffdf;"|{{flagicon|UAE}}<br />[[2019 Red Bull Air Race of Abu Dhabi|8th]]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
!11
!0
| style="background:#dfffdf;"|'''8th'''
|-
! Total
| colspan=12|
! 229
! 8
| 
|}

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

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Kirby Chambliss}}
* [http://www.teamchambliss.com/ Team Chambliss official website]
* [https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/pilot-profile-kirby-chambliss-215874/ Pilot Profile on Flightglobal.com]

{{s-start}}
{{s-sports}}
{{succession box
  |title=[[Red Bull Air Race World Series|Red Bull Air Race World Series Champion]]
  |before=[[Péter Besenyei]]
  |after=[[Mike Mangold]]
  |years=2004}}
{{succession box
  |title=[[Red Bull Air Race World Series|Red Bull Air Race World Series Champion]]
  |before=[[Mike Mangold]]
  |after=[[Mike Mangold]]
  |years=2006}}
{{s-end}}

{{Red Bull Air Race World Series Champions}}
{{Red Bull Air Race World Series Pilots}}
{{Aerobatics}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chambliss, Kirby}}
[[Category:1959 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Corpus Christi, Texas]]
[[Category:American air racers]]
[[Category:Aviators from Texas]]
[[Category:Red Bull Air Race World Championship pilots]]
[[Category:Red Bull Air Race World Championship winners]]
[[Category:Aerobatic pilots]]
[[Category:American commercial aviators]]