Barrington Irving Back In Air After Snowy Setback

In his quest to be the youngest person to fly around the world -- as well as the first African-American man to make the trip solo -- Barrington Irving has made it to Europe after a snowy snag in Canada delayed his mission.

As Aero-News reported, Irving started his journey March 23 from Opa-locka Executive Airport in Miami, FL... and at first, the trip went according to plan. He made stops in Cleveland and New York. There was a little rain in New York, but nothing major.

But then, it was on to the snowy north. In Newfoundland, Irving wrote in his weblog, he faced snow storms and sub-freezing temperatures. It snowed almost every day for 10 days.

Irving decided it would be best to fly when the sky cleared up. "Although I'm a week and a half behind my original pace I am certainly well rested," Irving wrote on April 3. "Patience is a virtue and I am taking this opportunity to learn about a different culture that has great citizens."

Pictures on his site show a snow-capped city, with two to three inches on the ground.
The Columbia 400 aircraft named Inspiration flew again on Easter weekend. On Tuesday, he was in Madrid; on Wednesday, Rome.

He calls his parents every time he lands, his mother, Clovalyn Irving, said.

According to the Miami Herald, Irving originally planned to become a college football player, when he met commercial pilot and fellow Capt. Gary Robinson. He then became fascinated with flying and his dream of making history. Irving earned his pilot license at the age of 19.

"I want to show the children that you can achieve all your dreams," Irving said the day before he left. "I've gone from the kid who started out washing planes to a kid about to do something major."

Next up for Irving are stops in Greece, Egypt, Thailand and Colorado, before returning to Miami.

When he gets back, his plan is to finish his aerospace degree at Florida Memorial University.

FMI: www.experienceaviation.org