Piper Aircraft Inc. and Red Bull Team Chambliss are combining forces at 2013 EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, July 29 to Aug. 4 in Oshkosh, Wisc. Piper will display Team Chambliss’ company transport support airplane, a Piper Meridian, along with Kirby Chambliss’ aerobatic Edge 540, one of the flight attractions at Oshkosh.

Kirby Chambliss uses the Piper Meridian for business transportation as he travels to and from Red Bull exhibitions in his aerobatic aircraft. The chief pilot and team owner flies the Meridian about 200 to 250 hours annually, and he says he appreciates the pressurization, fuel economy, speed and altitude capabilities of the M-Class Piper turboprop.

“My Team and I are looking forward to joining forces with Piper at AirVenture 2013,” Chambliss said. “Piper is delighted to be allied with Team Chambliss for 2013 AirVenture,” said Piper President and CEO Simon Caldecott. “The Piper Meridian is essential to the success of Kirby Chambliss’ business, and attendees will get to see his flying skills in action.”

Signing Autographs 

He will fly the Meridian from the Oregon Air Show in Hillsboro, Ore., to the large Oshkosh aviation venue. Chambliss will be at the Piper exhibit to sign autographs and talk to fans from 10:15 to 11:00 a.m. Wednesday and from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. Friday. He is a two-time Red Bull Air Race World Champion.

About the M-Class Meridian 

The Piper Meridian is a single-engine turboprop that seats six with club-seating. It is powered by the P&WC PT6A-42A 500 shp engine and has a 260 KTAS / 482 km/h max cruise speed and a range of 1,000 nm / 1,885 km. The Meridian is equipped with the Garmin G1000 avionics suite.

About Kirby Chambliss 

The former Red Bull Air Race World Champion was raised racing motocross but always knew he’d be a pilot. He began flying at age 13 and by 24 became the youngest commercial pilot at Southwest Airlines. By the time he made captain at 28, he was already polishing his aerobatic skills, an interest acquired during aerobatic training for his job flying a business jet. After his first aerobatic flight, Kirby was hooked. The idea of turning a plane upside down opened up a whole new world of opportunities for the young pilot. To date, Kirby is five-time United States National Aerobatic Champion, two-time Red Bull Air Race World Champion and has accumulated 13 medals in World Competition. Named one of the top 15 aerobatic pilots in the country, Kirby was invited to compete in the first Red Bull Air Race events held in the early 2000s.

About Piper Aircraft
Piper Aircraft Inc. is headquartered in Vero Beach, Fla. The company offers aviators throughout the world efficient and reliable single-engine and twin-engine aircraft. The single-engine M-Class series – the Meridian, Mirage and Matrix – offer businesses and individuals elegant performance and value. The Twin Class Seminole and Seminole balance proven performance, efficiency and simplicity in twin-engine aircraft. The Trainer Class Archer TX, Arrow, Seneca V and Seminole aircraft form the most complete technically-advanced line of pilot training aircraft in the world. All Piper airplanes feature advanced Garmin avionics in the cockpit. Piper is a member of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association.

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Piper Aircraft For further information, contact: Jackie Carlon
Phone: (772) 299-2900
Fax: (772) 978-6585
Mail to: Jackie.Carlon@piper.com piper.com