Page 12 - WorldAirshow-Q2-for-flip

...Airshow News.

2024 Bill Barber Award for Showmanship:

Kirby Chambliss

Kirby Chambliss is the 2024 recipient of the Bill Barber
Award for Showmanship. One of the most prestigious
awards in the airshow industry, the list of Barber honorees
reads like an airshow hall of fame.
Long regarded as one of the top competition aerobatic
pilots in the world, Chambliss won the very first aerobatic
contest in which he competed, eventually working his
way up to the top Unlimited level of competition. He was
crowned United States National Aerobatic Champion five
times between 1998 and 2005, and as a member of the
U.S. National Aerobatic Team, won 13 medals at multiple
world aerobatic championships. Thanks to his creative and
aggressive flying style, Chambliss was the 2000 Freestyle
World Aerobatic Champion.
In 2003, Chambliss began competing against top
aerobatic pilots from around the world in the Red Bull Air
Race World Championship, flying in every Red Bull air
race until that competition ended after the 2019 season.
Chambliss was the Red Bull Air Race World Champion for pAST BILL BARBER AWARD WINNERS
both the 2004 and 2006 seasons.
Throughout his aerobatic competition and air racing 2023 Nathan Hammond, 2022 Gary Ward, 2019 Twin Tigers Aerobatic Team,
careers, Chambliss has also flown airshows all across North 2018 Greg Shelton, 2017 Kyle Franklin, 2016 Manfred Radius, 2015 Bob
America in his now famous Red Bull Edge 540. He is known Carlton, 2014 Greg Koontz, 2013 Skip Stewart, 2012 Matt Younkin, 2011 Rich
for his high-energy aerobatics as well as his signature and Dee Gibson, 2010 Steve Oliver and Suzanne Asbury-Oliver, 2009 Michael
“Cobra” takeoff. In recent years, he has thrilled airshow
crowds as a member of the Red Bull Air Force alongside Goulian, 2008 Bud Granley, 2007 Dacy Family Airshow Team, 2006 Danny
the Red Bull Skydivers and the Red Bull helicopter. Clisham, 2005 Pietsch Airshows, 2004 Bobby Younkin, 2003 Jim LeRoy, 2002
The Bill Barber Award for Showmanship began in 1986 AeroShell Aerobatic Team, 2001 Northern Lights Aerobatic Team, 2000 John
and is awarded to airshow performers or teams that have Mohr, 1999 Dan Buchanan, 1998 Patty Wagstaff, 1997 Gene Soucy & Teresa
demonstrated great skill and showmanship. World Airshow
News magazine and the friends and family of the late Bill Stokes, 1996 Wayne Handley, 1995 Bob Hoover, 1994 Bob & Annette Hosking,
Barber present the award annually. 1993 Red Baron Stearman Squadron, 1992 Sean D. Tucker, 1991 Julie Clark,
The 2024 Bill Barber Award for Showmanship presenta- 1990 Leo Loudenslager, 1989 Jimmy Franklin, 1987 The French Connection,
tion is planned for late July during EAA AirVenture in Os-
hkosh, Wisconsin. 1986 Eagles Aerobatic Flight Team.

Announcing...

Kyle and Liz Franklin are excited to announce
that their daughter, Athena Alyssia Franklin,
was born on May 9, 2024. She weighed in at
seven pounds thirteen ounces and was twenty
inches long. Welcome to the airshow family,
Athena!