Captain Barrington Irving Jr. (born November 11, 1983) is a Jamaican-born American pilot who previously held the record for the youngest person to pilot a plane
around the world solo
Solo or SOLO may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Comics
* ''Solo'' (DC Comics), a DC comics series
* Solo, a 1996 mini-series from Dark Horse Comics
Characters
* Han Solo, a ''Star Wars'' character
* Jacen Solo, a Jedi in the non-canonical ''S ...
, a feat he accomplished in 2007. He is also the first
black person
Black is a racialized classification of people, usually a political and skin color-based category for specific populations with a mid to dark brown complexion. Not all people considered "black" have dark skin; in certain countries, often in s ...
and first Jamaican to accomplish this feat. His airplane, a Columbia 400 (
Cessna Corvalis 400), is named the "Inspiration", and was manufactured and assembled by the Columbia Aircraft Mfg. Co. in 2005, classified as a standard aircraft in the utility category using over $300,000 in donated parts.
Early life and education
Irving was born in
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley Inter ...
, where he lived until age the age of six. He grew up in
Miami
Miami ( ), officially the City of Miami, known as "the 305", "The Magic City", and "Gateway to the Americas", is a East Coast of the United States, coastal metropolis and the County seat, county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade C ...
Florida
Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
, with parents Barrington Irving and Clovalyn Irving. Barrington grew up believing college football was his only avenue to higher education. At age 15, Irving met United Airlines Pilot
Captain Gary Robsinson who took the time to talk to Barrington about his career. Once Barrington discovered aviation as a career possibility, especially the potential income of airline pilots, he had his sight set towards the sky.
As a student at
Miami Northwestern Senior High School
Miami Northwestern Senior High School is a public four-year high school located in Miami, Florida, United States
History
Academics
Northwestern has long been known for its academic challenges; however, the school has shown an unprecedented ...
, Irving turned down multiple Division 1 football scholarship offers to pursue his passion for flight. Irving graduated from
Broward Community College
Broward College is a public college in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It is part of the Florida College System. It was established in 1959 as part of a move to broaden Florida's two-year colleges. In 2008 it adopted its current name, reflecting that ...
and
Florida Memorial University
Florida Memorial University is a private historically black university in Miami Gardens, Florida. It is a member of the United Negro College Fund and historically related to Baptists although it claims a focus on broader Christianity.
History
...
, where he graduated with a Bachelors in Aeronautical Science, Magna Cum Laude. At Florida Memorial University, Irving earned his Private, Commerical and Certified Flight Instructor licenses with an Instrument Rating.
Career
On 23 March 2007, while still an undergrad student at Florida Memorial University
Irving flew a Columbia 400, a single-engine aircraft named "Inspiration", solo around the world. He arrived back on 27 June 2007, having completed the 24,600-mile circumnavigate Upon completing the trip, Irving, who was 23-years old at the time, became the first black person to circumnavigate the globe and at the time, the youngest person to do so
The completion of the flight earned Barrington a title in the Guinness Book of Records
Through his platform, Captain Irving founde
The Flying Classrooman
Experience Aviationto invest, inspire and empower young professionals in STEM+ and aviation careers. The Flying Classroom, LLC, launched in 2013, is a K 12 integrative STEM+ supplemental curriculum to educate and connect young professionals to STEM+ and aviation careers. Through a proprietary platform, students can explore over 55 STEM-focused global expeditions and have access to 165 interactive and virtual lessons.
In fall of 2022
Irving announced his plans of partnering with industry stakeholders to build an aviation workforce training center in Miami The training center will aim to increase the number of young professionals in the business aviation industry, with an initial focus on maintenance-related careers.
Experience Aviation, founded in 2005, is a 501-C3 non-profit organization based at Opa-Locka Executive Airport that utilizes Aviation to build STEM skills in students to address th
shortage of STEM professionals by engaging in STEM-related industry challenges.It brings hands-on, project-based, and interactive STEM experiences to the youth, such as building hovercrafts, aircraft, and supercars across the nation.
Irving's record was broken in 2012 by the 22-year-old Swiss pilot
Carlo Schmid, in 2014 by 19-year-old American pilot
Matt Guthmiller
Matthew Lee Guthmiller (born November 29, 1994) is an American aviator, YouTuber, entrepreneur, professional speaker, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology alumnus. In 2007, aged 12, he founded an early iPhone unlocking company, AnySIMiPhones ...
and in 2022 by 17-year old British-Belgian pilot Mack Rutherford.
In the Media
On October 2022, Titans of Business Aviation, Capt. Barrington Irving and Community Partner
announced the Launch of a Business Aviation Professional and Technical Aviation Training Center.
In 2019, Flying Classroom partnered with
Bombardier, Inc. to launc
The Flying Classroom Bombardier Academyto familiarize college students, military veterans, and technical school students with business aviation careers in maintenance.
August 2018
Captain Barrington Irving will oversee vocational programming and training for area youth and college students.
Publications
Documenting Irving’s historical global flight and achievements, Scholastic published Captain Barrington’s riveting autobiography
Touch the Sky which aims to inspire underrepresented kids to pursue their dreams.
Awards and recognition
In 2007, Irving became the first black person to fly solo around the world, a feat which enlisted him in the Guinness Book of World Records. As a celebrated aviator
Barrington has been recognized by leaders like President Barak Obamaand has received a Congressional Resolution for his pioneering work in education in technology
In 2012, Irving was recognized as an Emerging Explorer by National Geographic. Among other honors, Irving holds the NASA Trailblazer Award an
the NBAA 2019 American Spirit Award
Personal Life
Irving currently resides in Miami, Florida with his wife and four children.
Mentorship
Barrington Irving served as a mentor to
Shaesta Waiz
Shaesta Waiz (born 1987) is an American aviator. She is the first female certified civilian pilot born in Afghanistan, and in 2017, became the youngest woman to fly solo around the world in a single-engine aircraft - a record she held until Zar ...
, the first civilian female commercial pilot from Afghanistan and the record-holder of the 8th woman to fly solo around the world in a single-engine aircraft.
References
External links
Experience Aviation- includes GPS-enabled flight tracker
uVu- exclusive video highlights of historic trip; keyword search: Barrington
* Flying Classroo
1983 births
Living people
Aviators from Florida
Jamaican emigrants to the United States
Jamaican people of American descent
People from Miami
Commanders of the Order of Distinction
American aviation record holders
Broward College alumni
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