Showmanship Hallmark of Chambliss’s Air Show Performances

Kirby Chambliss always knew what he wanted to do with his life even as a young boy: “I’ve always wanted to be a pilot. There was nothing else I ever wanted to do. I just had to figure out how to do it,” he said.

After the Saturday air show at EAA AirVenture, Chambliss was rewarded for his career as one of the top aerobatic performers in the world when he received the 2024 Bill Barber Award for Showmanship. The only surprise about the award is how long it took to be recognized. He is a five-time U.S. National Aerobatic Champion and as a member of the U.S. National Aerobatic Team he won 13 medals at World Aerobatic Championships. He also won Red Bull Air Race World Championships in 2004 and 2006.

The key to the award is showmanship, and Chambliss flies his aerobatic routines very aggressively. Even explosively. He says of his flying, ““If I can have people say they haven’t seen that before, I’ve done my job, and I always try to do my job.”

On receiving the award he said, “It’s always a surprise to receive awards like this. I had no idea I won until I got the phone call.”

In addition to aerobatics, Chambliss flies in air races and competitions, and also flies for Southwest Airlines.  

FMI:  www.eaa.org/airventure/ , airshow.fandom.com/wiki/Bill_Barber