Barrington Irving, the youngest person and the first African American pilot to fly solo around the world, presented his “Mitsubishi Dream & Soar: Youth in Aviation” program on January 14 to students at I.S. 10 in Astoria. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries of America, Inc. (M.H.I.A) is sponsoring the program, which is being coordinated by the local chapters of Goodwill Industries and the Federal Aviation Administration.  

This FAA partnership was introduced to Goodwill by LI Works Coalition - a division of Goodwill Industries of Greater New York & Northern New Jersey

Mentored by a commercial airline pilot, Irving is the founder of the Miami-based Experience Aviation program designed to help young people build math, science, reading and problem solving skills. 

Irving spoke at a special morning assembly that included the entire student body and staff.   Irving delivered a dramatic retelling of his historic solo flight. The young audience hung onto every word as they thrilled to stories of Irving piloting his Colorado 400 single engine plane through monsoons in Vietnam, battling sandstorms over Saudi Arabia and flying over glaciers floating in the North Atlantic. On the ground, he told of encounters with sand spiders, touring bizarre buildings in Dubai, and riding on the bullet train to Tokyo. The journey took Irving through New York, St. Johns, Newfoundland, Canada, the Azores, Spain, Italy, Athens, Egypt, Calcutta, Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Alaska, Seattle, Denver, Houston, Orlando and Miami. He broke seven aviation speed records during his flight. He also spoke of perseverance and courage. “I was born in Jamaica and grew up in a tough neighborhood in Miami called Liberty City,” Irving said. “Then one day, by chance, I met this commercial airline pilot who asked me ‘Hey son, have you ever given any thought about becoming a pilot?’ For me, that’s where it all started.” For more information about Barrington Irving’s journey, visit www.experienceaviation.com