(no subject)

Jun 28, 2007 10:21

Ok, Barrington. Sure I'm envious that you've been flying round the world the last few months and I haven't. But leaving home to go 'round the world with only $30 in your pocket after you've raised $1MM to make the flight? Something's fishy or stupid or both. Or the reporter got it wrong.



Posted on Thu, Jun. 28, 2007
Youthful pilot completes round-the-world flight
BY ROBERT SAMUELS
At first, Inspiration was a speck in a cloudy sky, with followers straining their eyes to see the first sign of success.

The crowd at Opa-locka Executive Airport roared and drums began to play. By 10:30 a.m., the single-engine plane that could was taxiing before them, steered by the local boy who believed. And aviation history was made.

Barrington Irving, a 23-year-old pilot from Miami Gardens, opened the airplane door, wiped the sweat from his brow. And he was praised as being the youngest -- and first black person -- to fly solo around the world.

''Victory!'' The Rev. Dennis Jackson, Irving's spiritual advisor, shouted to the crowd.

``Just like the little boy who gave Jesus his lunch and he fed 5,000, Barrington gave you his dream, and it confounded the world.''

The crowd cheered again. They knew his touching story, followed him on the Internet and came from all over South Florida to see him return home.

`HISTORICAL EVENT'

Evelyn Davis, a retired teacher from Irving's alma matter, Northwestern High, left Homestead at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday with nine of her family members.

''I brought my children and grandchildren because this is a major historical event,'' she said. ``And I hope one day they will be able to tell their grandchildren that they were here.''

Added her 7-year-old grandson, Khalil: `This is just, just really exciting.''

As Irving stood on the stage and guzzled water to rehydrate, politicians continued the acclaim. County Commissioner Barbara Jordan called him a ''superman,'' and declared the day in his name. Aloun Ndombet-Assamba, Jamaica's minister of tourism, said Irving followed in the ''deep tradition of Jamaican travelers.'' Irving moved to Miami-Dade from the island when he was 6 years old.

Then Irving addressed the crowd, who waved Jamaican flags and chanted his name. He listed his naysayers' concerns: that he didn't have enough money, that he was too inexperienced, that he wasn't strong enough.

''They told me I couldn't do it,'' Irving said. ``They told me I would never get back home, but guess what? I'm home.''

DISTANT DREAM

Four years ago, Irving's dream seemed as distant and small as the plane first did on Wednesday morning. It started to take shape after meeting United Airlines pilot Capt. Gary Robinson when he was 15.

More than 50 different companies rejected Irving's proposals for sponsorship. His peers thought he was a little crazy.

Slowly, potential donors began to admire his resolve and more than $1 million in sponsorships came in. His individual dream became a community dream when a crowd of thousands saw him off March 23 in a lavish ceremony.

That day, Irving said, he left with only $30 in his trademark brown flying suit. His hotel stays were paid for and he expected to complete the journey in less than 40 days.

But unpredictable weather throughout the trip stalled him, extending the journey and increasing his need for cash. By the time he arrived in Europe, his $30 was gone.

He called state Sen Frederica Wilson -- Irving is a part of Wilson's 5000 Rolemodels of Excellence mentoring program -- to see if she could get more support.

''I knew I had to do something,'' Wilson said. ``I had this boy's letter from 2003, saying he wanted to make this trip.''

QUEST FOR CASH

She said she lobbied during the Legislative session to get fellow senators to free up state funds, so Irving could finish the flight.

''He was in midair and they still thought he couldn't do it,'' Wilson said. ``They looked at me like I was telling a fairy tale.''

Wilson said she used $10,000 from the 5000 Role Models of Excellence program, and got sponsors to pitch in another $10,000.

When Irving stepped out of the Inspiration, Wilson carried the letter from 2003 in her handbag. One of the first to greet him, she gave him a huge bear hug.

''Can you believe it?'' she said, as tears flowed down her face. ``Can you believe you did it?''

Irving stepped back and his eyes were red. He, too, was crying.

While aviation experts do not chart records by age or ethnicity, Nathan Rohrbaugh, an assistant in record keeping at the National Aeronautic Association, said he didn't know of any younger pilots or black pilots to make a similar trip. Neither did earthrounders.com, an unofficial organization that tracks solo flights around the globe and supported Irving's trip.

Irving said his trip on Inspiration was to show younger people that they can do anything, if they believed and worked hard.

Irving said he now wants to return to his studies at Florida Memorial University. And he's ready for a difficult, but more personal challenge: learning how to swim.

© 2007 Miami Herald Media Company. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.miamiherald.com
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