IV 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 661 

Honoring the accomplishments of Barrington Antonio Irving, the youngest 

pilot and first person of African descent ever to fly solo around the world. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 18, 2007 

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida (for himself, Mr. MEEK of Florida, Ms. KILPATRICK, Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida, Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of 

Florida, Ms. NORTON, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. 

CUMMINGS, Mr. COHEN, Ms. MATSUI, and Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ) 

submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 

on Transportation and Infrastructure 

RESOLUTION 

Honoring the accomplishments of Barrington Antonio Irving, 

the youngest pilot and first person of African descent 

ever to fly solo around the world. 

Whereas Barrington Irving was born in 1983 in Kingston, 

Jamaica, and raised in inner-city Miami, Florida; 

Whereas Irving discovered his passion for aviation at the age 

of 15 when Captain Gary Robinson, a Jamaican airline 

pilot who has since served as his mentor, took him to 

tour the cockpit of a Boeing 777; 

Whereas Irving overcame financial hardship to pursue his 

dream to become a pilot by working miscellaneous jobs 


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and working for private aircraft owners in exchange for 

flying lessons; 

Whereas Irving was the recipient of a joint Air Force/Florida 

Memorial University Flight Awareness Scholarship to 

cover college tuition and flying lessons for his tireless volunteer efforts and commitment to community service; 

Whereas in 2003, Irving contacted companies including aircraft manufacturer Columbia, which agreed to provide 

him with a plane to fly around the world if he could secure donations and components; 

Whereas over several years, Irving visited aviation trade 

shows throughout the country and secured more than 

$300,000 of cash and donated components including the 

engine, tires, cockpit systems, and seats for a Columbia 

400, one of the world’s fastest single-engine piston airplanes; 

Whereas in the process of pursuing his dream of an around 

the world flight, Irving founded Experience Aviation, 

Inc., a nonprofit organization, in 2005 to address the significant shortage of youth pursuing careers in aviation 

and aerospace; 

Whereas Irving’s efforts through Experience Aviation, Inc., 

have garnered widespread community support and sponsorship as an effective model to expose young people and 

underrepresented groups to opportunities in aviation; 

Whereas on March 23, 2007, Irving embarked from Miami, 

Florida, on a 24,600-mile flight around the world in an 

airplane named ‘‘Inspiration’’ at 23-years of age while 

still a senior majoring in aerospace at Florida Memorial 

University; 


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Whereas on June 27, 2007, Irving concluded his flight in 

Miami, Florida, after stopping in 27 cities throughout the 

world; and 

Whereas Irving continues to inspire youth and adults alike 

with his achievements and work to increase the accessibility of opportunities in aviation and aerospace: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) honors the accomplishments of Barrington 

3 Irving, the youngest pilot and first person of African 

4 descent ever to fly solo around the world and found5 er of Experience Aviation, Inc., a nonprofit organi6 zation that inspires youth to pursue careers in avia7 tion and aerospace; 

8 (2) encourages young people and minorities to 

9 pursue educational opportunities in preparation for 

10 careers in aviation and related industries; and 

11 (3) encourages museums throughout the Nation 

12 related to aviation, including the Smithsonian Insti13 tution National Air and Space Museum, to com14 memorate the historic achievements of Captain Bar15 rington Irving. 

Æ 


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