PEACHTREE CITY, USA – For Black History Month, Aventure recognizes Barrington Irving. He was the first Black pilot to fly solo around the world, and the youngest person to do so at the time.
Born in Kingston, Jamaica, on November 11, 1983, Irving moved to Miami, Florida at six. At 15, he met Captain Gary Robinson, a Jamaican United Airlines Pilot that sparked his passion for flight.
Irving turned down multiple football scholarships to pursue aviation. He graduated from Florida Memorial University with a Bachelor’s in Aeronautical Science. He earned his Private, Commercial, and Certified Flight Instructor licenses at Florida Memorial University.
On March 23, 2007, Irving embarked from Miami on his historic flight in a single-engine Columbia 400 named Inspiration. Throughout his flight, he dealt with tumultuous conditions such as flying through storm clouds, a sand storm in Saudi Arabia, and nearly running out of fuel while crossing from Japan to Alaska. Despite the challenges, he arrived back in Miami on June 27, competing the 24,600-mile circumnavigation in 97 days and 145 flight hours.
After the flight, Irving was given multiple opportunities to fly as a pilot for airlines and celebrities, but decided to start his own platform instead called The Flying Classroom and Experience Aviation, program(s) that invest in and aid young professionals in STEM+ and aviation careers.
Today, Irving still inspires many with his work, and assisted with Hurricane Melissa relief efforts in November 2025 by delivering 50,000 pounds of essential supplies to affected areas across Jamaica.
Barrington Irving’s journey is a testament to perseverance, purpose, and the power of believing beyond perceived limits. His legacy continues to encourage the next generation to pursue careers in aviation and STEM.
