In the United States, June 5 is National Hot Air Balloon Day. On this day in 1909, Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) held its first ever event – a hot air balloon race. To commemorate this past milestone, and in anticipation of the upcoming round of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship at IMS on October 6 and 7, pilot Kirby Chambliss decided to incorporate hot air balloons into his training regimen.
He took to the skies at dawn above his Phoenix, AZ, home, chicaning through the balloons on the ground, similar to the chicanes he races through in the Red Bull Air Race. Once the balloons were released into the air, Kirby got a bit more creative, performing aerobatics above, around and through the balloons.
Chambliss will head to Indianapolis Motor Speedway for round 7 of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship on October 6 and 7. Tickets are available now at IMS.com.
