Pilot Aims for Record Global Solo Flight

[njgtr82]

At the end it says he will be stopping at FRG

OPA-LOCKA, Fla. (March 23) - A 23-year-old aerospace student who built his plane from more than $300,000 in donated parts took off Friday hoping to become the youngest person and first black pilot to fly around the globe alone.
Barrington Irving plans to arrive back at Opa-locka Executive Airport on April 30 in his single-engine Lancair Columbia 400.

He had planned to fly last year, but a lack of funding delayed his $1 million project. He still needs about $20,000, but that didn't stop him from setting out.

"I want this completed before the year is over so kids can see that someone who started off with nothing set a goal and completed it," he said just before takeoff. "Even with the challenges, everything is starting to fall in place. It's just my time."
Irving was born in Jamaica and grew up in Miami. He said he saw little chance for success until he met a Jamaican-American pilot at his parents' Christian bookstore.

The pilot, Gary Robinson, took Irving to see a Boeing 777. The 15-year-old was mesmerized. He turned down college football scholarships to become a pilot.

Irving is now studying at Florida Memorial University; he has private and commercial pilot licenses. He also founded Experience Aviation, a Miami-based organization that encourages minority youths to pursue aviation careers.

He will make stops in Cleveland and Farmingdale, N.Y., before passing into Canada, then crossing the Atlantic, through Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

[stuart schechter]

Anyone gonna go to FRG for this? Go talk to the guy?....

[mmedford]

when would he arrive?

[moose135]

when would he arrive?

He is here right now...from today's Newsday (Monday, 3/26):

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longi ... 3097.story

Barrington Irving, a Jamaican-born pilot, traveled from Cleveland to Long Island yesterday, the second stop of a journey that would make him the youngest pilot and the first black to fly solo around the world.

Irving, 23, a college senior, touched down in a single-engine airplane at Republic Airport in East Farmingdale in high spirits and was greeted by some flight students. The Miami-bred pilot started his six-week, 23-stop trip five days ago in Florida.

"I'm just glad that this flight is attracting kids who might not have considered a career in aviation or are a little bit discouraged," Irving said.

Irving is to continue his trip tomorrow, heading off to Canada, the Azores, Spain, Italy, Greece and Egypt. Packing energy drinks, water and nutrition bars, Irving said he tries to relax and plan ahead while he's in the sky. He puts the plane on automatic pilot when things are calm and prefers to read books, such as the Bible, to pass the time. He said he rarely listens to music, because he wants to "tough it out."

<snip>

Irving will meet today with students at the CUNY Aviation Institute at York College in Jamaica, Queens. His trip can be tracked online at experienceaviation.org.

[SengaB]

Aircraft reg: N731EA
You can track him.