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Young pilot flies around the world
We talked about him awhile back. I'm proud of the guy. He made it. Wasn't the best time of year either.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/young_pilot By MATT SEDENSKY, Associated Press Writer 25 minutes ago OPA-LOCKA, Fla. - A 23-year-old pilot landed his single-engine plane as onlookers cheered Wednesday, becoming what he says is the youngest person to fly solo around the world. Before ending his three-month trip, Barrington Irving circled the Opa-locka airport and flew low along the runway as a band played. He smiled and waved as he climbed out of the plane in his tan jumpsuit, hugging and praying with friends and family. "I am home," he said quietly when he stepped to a microphone. The long flight challenged him mentally and physically, he said, and "I am proud to have had the opportunity to live my dream." Irving, an aerospace student who built his plane from more than $300,000 in donated parts, had left the Miami-area city March 23. In all, his continent-hopping journey covered some 27,000 miles. He completed two legs Tuesday, flying the "Inspiration" from Houston to Mobile, Ala., in the morning and then from Mobile to Orlando late in the day. The short flight from Orlando on Wednesday completed his journey. He claims he is first black person as well as the youngest person to complete the journey alone, though it was unclear how the claims would be validated. The National Aeronautic Association, the aviation record-keeping authority in the U.S., does not track pilots' age, sex or ethnicity, said Nathan Rohrbaugh, who helps coordinate records at the organization. The Web site EarthRounders.com, which tracks round-the-world flights, lists 255 journeys, including 82 solo trips since 1929. The trip has been done in far less time than Irving, and even by younger pilots, though they were not flying solo. Irving believes his mission — to bring hope, primarily to inner-city minorities — made his trip unique. "I want to show them they can do more with their lives than resort to violence!" he wrote on his Web site before his journey ended. From Florida, he flew to Cleveland and New York before continuing into Canada, then flying across the Atlantic to Europe. He crossed the Middle East and Asia, then flew on to Alaska earlier this month. He stopped in Seattle and Denver before arriving in Houston last week. Irving, born in Jamaica, became interested in aviation as a teen when a Jamaican-American pilot took him to see a Boeing 777. Now a Florida Memorial University student, he has earned private and commercial pilots licenses and founded Experience Aviation, an organization to encourage other minority youths to get interested in the field. |
Oh my, I'm getting my popcorn out for this one.....flamebait.
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I honestly chuckled when I first read Bob's post, but anyways, back on topic.
What type of plane is that? I can't really tell just from looking at the door. Almost looks lancair/Cirrus to me, but says it was donated which makes me think experimental. |
That's awesome story...
According to his website http://www.experienceaviation.org/ it's a Columbia 400. Guess the story is he couldn't get anyone to let him use a plane for his trip...so he asked the aircraft company itself if they would build his plane if he could collect the parts. |
Originally Posted by planecrazyjenn
(Post 186033)
That's awesome story...
According to his website http://www.experienceaviation.org/ it's a Columbia 400. Guess the story is he couldn't get anyone to let him use a plane for his trip...so he asked the aircraft company itself if they would build his plane if he could collect the parts. |
Originally Posted by bobloblaw
(Post 185944)
Not only is he the youngest, he is the blackest pilot to fly around the world. Good for him. Now I shall congratulate him in his native tongue.
Yo Biatch check it! Dat be phat an your ride is bitchen. Sit your *** down an have a blunt! |
Originally Posted by ToiletDuck
(Post 186063)
I'd hardly put someone that's younger than me, raised the money, had the plane built, and flew solo around the world in the "crack head" crowd. You've ****ed off enough people. It's time you go.
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Originally Posted by bobloblaw
(Post 186094)
Where did I say he was a crack head. Last time I checked a blunt is filled with pot. It's time people stop putting words I don't say in my mouth. Also, I don't care how many people I pi$$ off. Since you took the job of putting words in my mouth I am delegating a task for you to do. You must count and identify all of the people I have pi$$ed off and report your findings back too me. This job is perfect for you because you seem to read a lot of my replies.
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Originally Posted by ToiletDuck
(Post 186132)
I'm just saying dude. You cross too many lines with too many people. You are way out of line on that one and I'm even from the dirty south. Everything I've read of yours has to be the most assbackward statements and don't contribute anything.
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Thanks for the heads up on bobloblaw's racial tirade, guys. He's now banned.
John forum co-administrator |
Originally Posted by bobloblaw
(Post 186094)
Also, I don't care how many people I pi$$ off.
bobloblaw is banned. Thanks to the forum members for flagging this thread. |
Lets take a look.
Not only is he the youngest, he is the blackest pilot to fly around the world. Good for him. Now I shall congratulate him in his native tongue. Yo Biatch check it! Dat be phat an your ride is... You don't have to worry if you are a hero or honorable, because if you are someone will tell you. I just realized that you have me on your ignore list. You still post and reference me in your posts, but chose to not be able to see any of my retorts. And I am the child!!! Include me with rapist and mass murderers. And you hold yourself on a high horse. With comments like yours there is no way you are an officer. What does being in Iraq have anything to do with him dying for his country? Once again...checkmate! I see by your last sentence you have to resort to name calling to compensate for your lack of knowledge. Thats too bad! Its almost too easy, kind of like hunting rabbit with grenades. Slice, I did make a comment about Arthur Ash's wife. I said she was nice up until she died of AIDS. Your reply was " would cancer have been better." I waited for an opportunity to do the same to you... That's the second time you have addressed me as dude. Are you a surfer *** or what DUDE? Respect is something you earn, not demand. Actually, the only dripping from you is my splooge on your face. Same reply too you. You throw gas on the fire by calling me an idiot. You are a world class hypocrit. Slice has no argument. He has been weighed, measured, and found wanting. Awwww, you call me an ass and then want to place me on the magic "ignore list." That is the action of a person owned. I met WWF wrestler Mick Foley aka Mankind at LGA last night. This guy is the coolest person I have met yet. Next time this happens just walk into the doorway so she can see you and grab your junk. Tell her that the loud keyboard typing makes you horny. This should get you either laid, or laid out. You want me to slow down and think about what I am saying! I highlighted the text in your reply. These are a pile of the most immature and stupid statements I've ever heard especially from a 32 year old. Worst thing is these are just form the first two pages of your posts. God forbid I did more and no I didn't waste much time doing it. Your dumb comments are all over the place I'd have to be blind to miss them. |
I don't know how he got those messages off, the forum software should have prevented that.
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Well, maybe he learned some supersecret way to get around the software when he got banned at JC.
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Originally Posted by de727ups
(Post 186225)
Well, maybe he learned some supersecret way to get around the software when he got banned at JC.
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Banned at two forums? He needs to get a life.
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I'm more worried about a person that immature at that age flying for Eagle. I fly eagle sometimes.
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Back to the topic....
(I don't care about his age or race) I applaud anyone who can sit in a plane that long, but why the flight suit and captain's bars? |
Originally Posted by Ottopilot
(Post 187106)
Back to the topic....
(I don't care about his age or race) I applaud anyone who can sit in a plane that long, but why the flight suit and captain's bars? |
Aviation, particularly GA, needs all of the goodwill ambassadors it can get. When you see a young, African-american that is doing something positive, to serve as an inspiration for black youth, and he is using GA to do it, it is a huge win. I imaine, if his sponsors had wanted him to wear a cape and tights, he would have done it. I do think this is a good thing - like Eric Lindbergs flight to recreate his grandpa...but to also bring advocacy and hope to people that suffer from Rheumatoid Arthritis. I am completely deaf, but have a Cochlear Implant. I am going to resume flying now (after a multi year lay off, and hopefully pursue advanced ratings. I am very active with Cochlear Implantation and advocacy on my free time. If it would serve to help a kid of five years old and deaf who is an airplane nut (like most of us were i am sure) have hope and a good attitude seeing a deaf pilot, with a cochlear implant, it would be a great thing. This is what this young man has accomplished for minority youth who happen to be in love with flight...may motivate and steer them. I applaud him.
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Good for Barrington, no matter how positive a story is, someone will always try to tear it apart. Good for Barrington, and general av. FLY SAFE T.C.
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And good for us too. No more annoying, retarded, and otherwise ignorant posts from the ever-angry bob....whatever-came-next. Way to pull a Don Imus.
It definitely takes a lot of guts and planning for a trip like that. Certainly a cool story to tell the kids one day. |
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