In 2007, Barrington Irving became the first African-American to fly a plane around the world solo — and also, at 23, reportedly the youngest.

Barrington knew at age 15 that he wanted to fly.

Bypassing a sports scholarship that could have gotten him out of his inner-city neighborhood, Irving undertook odd jobs, studied extra hours (he studied aerospace engineering at Florida Memorial University), and competed for fellowships that would get him his dream: a pilot’s license.

Irving built his own plane — from donated parts — and completed his 26,800-mile flight in 95 days.

Through Irving’s nonprofit, Experience Aviation, middle and high school students tackle aviation projects after school and during summers.  

In 2008, young Captain Irving took off for another flight, this time in a single-engine plane produced entirely by his 60 Build and Soar students. In 2014, he plans to take to the skies again, this time in a “flying classroom” that – like the Magic School Bus – will get kids excited about math and science by letting them interact with him as he conducts science experiments that they have chosen.

“We want to be the best, but we’re afraid to challenge our kids to the be the best,” Irving told National Public Radio. (Listen to the Feb. 4, 2013 broadcast.)

His message? The sky’s the limit.

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Filed under: Aerospace, Trailblazers, Transportation

Tags: Aerospace, Transportation