EAST TROY, WISCONSIN, June 6, 2024 -- World Airshow News has announced that 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 both the 2004 and 2006 seasons.
Throughout his aerobatic competition and air racing careers, Chambliss has also flown airshows all across North America in his now famous Red Bull Edge 540. He is known for his high-energy aerobatics as well as his signature “Cobra” takeoff. In recent years, he has thrilled airshow crowds as a member of the Red Bull Air Force alongside the Red Bull Skydivers and the Red Bull helicopter.
The Bill Barber Award for Showmanship began in 1986 and is awarded to airshow performers or teams that have demonstrated great skill and showmanship. World Airshow News magazine and the friends and family of the late Bill Barber present the award annually.
The 2024 Bill Barber Award for Showmanship presentation is planned for late July during EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
Past Bill Barber
Award winners include:
2023 Nathan Hammond
2022
Gary Ward
2021
No Award
2020
No Award
2019
Twin Tigers Aerobatic Team
2018
Greg Shelton
2017
Kyle Franklin
2016
Manfred Radius
2015
Bob Carlton
2014
Greg Koontz
2013
Skip Stewart
2012
Matt Younkin
2011
Rich and Dee Gibson
2010
Steve Oliver and Suzanne Asbury-Oliver
2009
Michael Goulian
2008
Bud Granley
2007
Dacy Family Airshow Team
2006
Danny Clisham
2005
Pietsch Airshows
2004
Bobby Younkin
2003
Jim LeRoy
2002
AeroShell Aerobatic Team
2001
Northern Lights Aerobatic Team
2000
John Mohr
1999
Dan Buchanan
1998
Patty Wagstaff
1997
Gene Soucy & Teresa Stokes
1996
Wayne Handley
1995
Bob Hoover
1994
Bob & Annette Hosking
1993
Red Baron Stearman Squadron
1992
Sean D. Tucker
1991
Julie Clark
1990
Leo Loudenslager
1989
Jimmy Franklin
1988
No Award
1987
The French Connection
1986 Eagles Aerobatic Flight Team
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| The 2024 Bill Barber Award for Showmanship recipient, Kirby Chambliss (Team Chambliss photo) |
The 2024 Bill Barber Award for Showmanship recipient, Kirby Chambliss,
performs his signature Cobra takeoff (photo by Jim Froneberger)
The 2024 recipient of the Bill Barber Award for Showmanship, Kirby Chambliss,
performs a low and slow photo pass in his Edge 540 (photo by Jim Froneberger)
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