Kirby Chambliss

Kirby Chambliss was born on October 18, 1959 in Corpus Christi, Texas, USA. He has an extensive career as both a commercial pilot and aerobatic racing pilot.

An adventurous athlete in his youth, Chambliss participated in motocross and his father taught him to skydive. It was the thrill of the long spiral descent the plane makes when returning skydivers to the ground that hooked Chambliss on flight.

Kirby Chambliss – Learning To Fly

Chambliss started taking flying lessons at the age of 13. By 20 he had a solo license and by age 24 became Southwest Airline’s youngest commercial pilot where he made captain at 28. Part of his training as a business jet pilot was to practice aerobatic maneuvers such as turning a plane upside down.

After that experience, there was no going back. Chambliss came to see commercial flying as a means of paying for aerobatic flying lessons and his own plane.

In 1997, Chambliss was accepted to the U.S. National Aerobatic Team where he went on to become its captain. Chambliss has earned some impressive victories in his aircraft of choice: a Zivko Edge 540. To date, he is a five-time U.S. National Aerobatic Champion (FAI World Aerobatic Championships, bronze & team bronze in 2005, silver & bronze in 2003, bronze & team silver in 1998) and a two time Red Bull Air Race World Champion (2004, 2006). He has been named one of the top 15 aerobatic pilots in the USA and holds the title 2000 Men’s Freestyle World Champion.

In order to stay competitive and in shape for the rigors of aerobatic flying, Chambliss trains in the air three times a day, four days a week. When not training or competing, he enjoys flying in traditional airshows. He has logged over 24,000 flight miles during his career.