Kirby Chambliss is the 2024 recipient of the Bill Barber Award for Showmanship.
One of the most prestigious awards in the air show industry, the list of Barber honorees reads like an air show hall of fame, according to officials with World Airshow News.
The Bill Barber Award for Showmanship began in 1986 and is awarded to air show 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.
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. Chambliss also 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 air shows all across North America in Red Bull Edge 540. He is known for his high-energy aerobatics as well as his signature “Cobra” takeoff.
In recent years, he performed at air shows as a member of the Red Bull Air Force alongside the Red Bull Skydivers and the Red Bull helicopter.
The 2024 Bill Barber Award for Showmanship presentation is planned for late July during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh.
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
For more information: AirShowMag.com