Sweet Inspiration

By Frances Fiorino    (Part 1 of 2)

Every now and then someone like Barrington Antonio Irving comes along, someone who inspires children of all ages to recognize their self-worth and believe that dreams really can come true.

      Irving started living a very special dream Mar. 23, when he departed Miami piloting a Columbia 400 single-engine piston aircraft, named “Inspiration.”  The flight plan may have declared only one soul on board, but he insists he is “carrying all the hearts of children with me on the aircraft” on an around-the-world-solo flight.

The adventure isn’t a stunt. Nor is it a recreation of an historic route or an attempt to break an aviation record and win big prize money. The Kingston, Jamaica-born 23-year old­--who from age six grew up in inner city Miami—had more bone-deep reasons. He wanted to become the first African-American to fly solo around the world to inspire youth of similar circumstances to believe they could overcome limitations and pursue aviation careers.

Since 2002, the senior majoring in aerospace at Florida Memorial University has been talking to church, school and community groups in South Florida. He’s even set up a Learning Center in Florida, a place where young people can learn about aerospace career opportunities.

“This is what fuels me, having youth believe in what I can do, so they can also begin to believe in themselves.”

Irving proceeded from Miami on his dream route to New York, St. John’s, Newfoundland, and across the Atlantic Ocean to the Azores, and Madrid.  On Apr. 13, he was in Rome doing things that Romans do, such as exploring the Catacombs. His arrival in Greece on Apr. 16 was a "challenge" due to weather; he intended to catch up on sleep as he would be delayed by a massive storm moving across Libya to northern Egypt. Dubai, Luxor, Nagoya, and Anchorage are stops on the itinerary and—weather systems permitting—Barrington will return to Miami in May.   

To find out more about Barrington Irving, track his flight path, and  read his flight blog http://www.experienceaviation.org

Beginning of the Dream Sequence

The concept was born about 2.5 years ago when Irving told his mentor, United Airlines Captain Gary Robinson, “I want to fly around the world.” 

“That’s great,” Robinson replied, believing Irving wanted to explore the wonders of the world as a commercial passenger. “Just let me know when you’re ready.”

“No. I want to fly myself. I want to be the youngest person and the first African-American to fly solo around the world!”

“My eyes bugged out,” says Robinson. Circumnavigating the globe is a monumental task – but he also knew that “Antonio” as he calls him, is the sort of determined person who would accomplish whatever he set out to do. “We have some work to do.”

Robinson provided guidance on logistics of a flight that would be fraught with risks and advised him to set up a non-profit organization to raise money for food, clothing, lodging and fuel—and, oh yes, an airplane.

Irving in 2005 founded “Experience Aviation: Taking Youth to a Higher Plane” and proceeded to knock on doors, made phone calls and give presentations, seeking support for his project. But for two years Irving “dealt with rejection after rejection” from airplane manufacturers and lessors in the quest to acquire an aircraft at a discount price, says Robinson.

The airplane he wanted to fly, the Columbia 400, cost $600,000+ list http://www.flycolumbia.com The manufacturer went as low as it could go, says Robinson. But the answer was still no-go.

Robinson says that at that point he and lesser mortals might have thought, “I’m dead in the water now.”  But having no money or an airplane to fly didn’t stop Irving.

The extraordinary person offered an extraordinary solution to Columbia. “If you give me the frame, the body, the tail and wings, and I get the tires, engine, avionics--all the pieces--and you build it -- can we get the price down?” Columbia Aircraft said yes.

Irving signed on sponsors such as Avidyne, Chevron, Microsoft Flight Simulator X, Hartzell, Jeppesen, NASA and collected about $300,000 worth of components. And Colombia built the airplane which Irving christened, what else? – “Inspiration.” 

Prior to taking off on Mar. 23 he noted in his blog: "I also encourage professionals to take or make the time for today’s youth.  If it wasn’t for a United Airlines captain making the time to get me involved in aviation I’m not sure I would be living this moment.”

ALL PHOTOS in Parts 1 and 2 Courtesy of Juan Rivera

Readers are invited to post messages of encouragement to Barrington Irving under Comments.

Comments

[Lex]

Well done Barrington, you've certainly inspired me to remember my resposibility to youth, to share what I know to make their path easier. Thank you.

[annon]

I flew the Liberty XL2 last week...That bird was fun to fly!