On June 27, 2007, 23-year-old Barrington Irving became the first black pilot and youngest person ever to fly solo around the globe. Born in Kingston, Jamaica and raised in inner-city Miami, Irving’s purpose in making the 25,600-mile flight was to inspire inner-city and minority youth, and other youth throughout the nation, to consider pursuing careers in aviation and aerospace. He named his plane “Inspiration,” he said, “…because that’s what I wanted my historic venture to be for young people. They can look at me and realize that if I could achieve my dream, they can too.”

What was your favorite stop along the route?
Each of my destinations was unique and fascinating in its own right. The differences in the way people live is amazing--I saw wealth and poverty side by side in the same country. I also saw ancient history one day and news in the making the next. My favorite destinations were Athens—a stunning city rich with ancient history—and Anchorage, a city surrounded by natural beauty and snowcapped mountains. I also enjoyed Dubai, the world’s richest place. But it was not the wealth there that impressed me---it was the vision and creativity of their government. It was amazing to see a desert transformed into a tourist and business center that may become the model for future nations. Dubai felt like another world. It was in Dubai I developed my next great idea. I also felt at home because of the welcoming Jamaicans who hosted me there and because the country is as modern as the U.S.

Did you meet any memorable people along the way?
I met memorable people throughout my journey. I recall the kindness of the residents of St. John’s, Canada, who know how to enjoy life and appreciate nature in their seaside city. In Rome, Italy, I was grateful to my cab driver Gabrielle, who gave me a historic tour in the city and even took me to a barber shop there. I’m also thankful for the flight handlers from Universal Weather in Calcutta who persuaded the government to let me stay in the country when I faced weather delays, and another Universal flight handler who drove seven hours to deliver fuel to me at an airport in northern Japan. I will always be indebted to Chevron personnel for providing me with fuel when I landed on a remote island in Alaska—without their help I could not have flown home! The Jamaicans who greeted me in Dubai and Japan were also terrific and even made me a traditional Jamaican meal. And the list goes on . . .

How did you adapt to the different foods they serve in the different countries?
I kept an open mind and tried the food in each country as I learned about their different cultures. Of course I had to be cautious of what I ate in certain areas, but overall, it was fun to try dishes I’d never heard of before. In my travels I sampled Chinese steak, North Atlantic Salmon, Italian pizza, Greece kabobs, and Japanese wheat soup.

What weather presented you with challenges on the trip?
You name it—I encountered snowstorms, sandstorms, monsoons, and thunderstorms. I learned quickly that weather would be the determining factor in the scheduling of each of my flights; I needed to respect both the limits of the aircraft and the pilot in relation to weather conditions. For example, my plane can’t fly as high as the big airliners—most of the time, I flew through the weather and not above it! To add to the challenge, I didn’t have the benefit of de-icing or radar. I needed to be reasonable and practical about my experience as a pilot—I had only 640 hours when I left, so I was aware of my limitations. Safety was my top priority and I learned to recognize the hazards that could threaten my safety. I made decisions that saved my life, though it was difficult, given the pressure to keep moving from the media and my fans.

Did you fly through any storms?
I flew through a light sandstorm and some moderate thunderstorms—it was a tremendous challenge at times just controlling the aircraft. In a sandstorm, which I encountered while flying over Saudi Arabia, visibility was low and I saw every color of sand imaginable: red, brown, white, and light brown. It was unfamiliar territory for me but I felt I was in control of the situation.

Was it boring to spend so many hours alone in the plane?
Not really--I had plenty of time to think about the past, present and future. There were so many things I unknowingly took for granted before I left for this adventure--and so much that I’ve learned about myself and the world—that I feel the trip has remarkably changed my life. For me the cockpit was refuge. It was a time when I could shut out the world for a few hours, speak with God and focus on the challenging task at hand. I made it through the long hours by pacing myself and taking it one hour at a time.

What was the most dangerous flight on the trip and how did you handle it?
Probably the most dangerous was the flight from Japan to Shemya, Alaska. I was dodging icing all the way (without de-icing equipment!)—winds close to 100 miles per hour were coming from all directions. The freezing level was 2000 feet with intense fog. Another dangerous flight, from the standpoint of endurance and weather challenge, was from Santa Maria, Azores to Madrid, Spain. I encountered thunderstorms that rapidly built up over the high mountains in Spain and had to endure almost three hours of strong rain and turbulence over high terrain. This was very dangerous because I did not have much room for error and had to navigate through restricted airspace. At times it was also hard to understand the air traffic controllers.

Thousands of people were following your trip on your website. How did that make you feel?
Knowing people were following me made me feel that no matter the outcome, it was worth risking everything, including my life. From this one flight, I see that I’ve inspired young and old to pursue their DREAMS whether this means becoming an aviator or a doctor. There were times when I felt lonely and reading the encouraging emails from fans gave me the strength to continue. I felt as if I were flying with thousands of people.

What is your message to young people now who see you as their hero?
I want young people to realize that the same person who made me made them. Each one of them has a gift that no one can limit or deny; they just need to put their minds toward achieving their own dreams and goals, as I did. I hope they can follow the advice I carried with me: don’t be afraid to shoot for the moon; the worst that can happen is that you land on the stars

Do you feel you’re the outcome of your trip was worth the extraordinary effort you put into it?
Absolutely. This trip and the media attention it attracted has enabled me to impact thousands of students and ignite a spark in the minds of many impressionable youth. My philosophy is Dream, Live, Fly!