Airshow and Red Bull Air Races pilot Kirby Chambliss is a little banged up and his Zivko Edge 540 is a mess after a crash landing in a ravine in El Salvador last week. Chambliss and fellow pilot Skip Stewart were rehearsing for the Ilopango Air Show near San Salvador Jan. 24 when the aircraft’s engine failed during a the low and slow high alpha maneuver. With neither altitude nor speed to work with, Chambliss put the plane down the best he could in a ravine off the end of the runway.
“The plane crashed into small trees and flipped over. The airplane was badly damaged, but Kirby extracted himself and walked to a clearing,” said Stewart, who was flying in formation with Chambliss when the accident happened. “I had immediately called for the rescue helicopter and they were there very quickly. A testament to the readiness of the El Salvadorian military. Kirby is fine with superficial scrapes and bruises.” It wasn’t immediately clear if Chambliss will be ready to perform at his next date at the Luke Air Force Base Air Show in Phoenix March 16-17.
