Younger Generation Looks To Future Of Flight

by ANN Correspondent Aleta Vinas

At AirVenture, young and old mingle... the people, and the aircraft. Last Thursday night at Theater in the Woods, retired General Chuck Yeager and retired Colonel Gail Halvorsen spoke on their adventures... and then it was then time for the younger generation. They were represented by Erik Lindbergh, grandson of Charles Lindbergh; Barrington Irving, who recently completed a solo flight around the world; and Jamail Larkins, Aerospace educator, Young Eagles and Careers in Aviation spokesman.

Lindbergh, 42, spoke first... and joked "I’ve never been the old guy."

It was not pre-ordained that a Lindbergh would fly, in fact almost the opposite, with all the hoopla around the Spirit of St. Louis flight, the family tended to shy away from media and aviation. "It wasn't until a buddy of mine kept bugging me about flying," he told the audience. Lindbergh acquiesced to a demo flight and the bug bit him. "Oh, this is cool."

Lindbergh (above) went flying and obtained his flight instructor certificate. He admits to not being a great student in school... but flying was different.

"I don’t know how I figured out those NDB Approaches and rules and regs of the FAA, holy moley, those things are intense but I wanted it SO bad that it gave me the "juice" to go get it," Lindbergh says. He acknowledges aviation to be "utilitarian but in the end it’s inspiration. It’s "juice". We must pass the "juice" along and inspire others and revitalize aviation."

To this end, Lindbergh is working with Aviation High School in Seattle, as well as Young Eagles, AOPA Project Pilot and Angel Flight. "We have to do everything we can to "juice" the next generation or we’re going to lose the greatest freedom we have in this country." Lindbergh is passionate in his plea.

Next up was Barrington Irving, age 23, and fresh from his round the world solo flight. Irving is unofficially the first person of African descent and youngest to circle the globe solo. During an earlier forum in the Honda Pavilion, Irving said "I stayed within my limits and my plane’s limits."

Over the course of the trip he got to know Mother nature very well. Of the over water portions of his flight, Irving (above) added "My hats off to Charles Lindbergh. I don’t know how he did it but I know why his windows were so small, when you’re flying over that much water, you don’t want to see it."

Born in Jamaica and then raised in Miami inner-city, Irving and his friends didn’t have many routes "out." Good grades and athletic prowess in football promised Irving a future in sports and a way to shed Miami’s influence.

One day when he was 15, his life turned to aviation. A customer in his parent’s Christian bookstore was Jamaican Airlines Captain Gary Robinson. Robinson invited Irving to see the Boeing 777 he flew. The aviation bug snagged Irving, who became the airport kid -- washing planes for money for lessons or rides. The football team lost a star as Irving turned down all the scholarships and turned his dreams skyward. Few people understood his choice, inlcuding parents, friends and coaches... but Irving knew his path.

Irving attended Florida Memorial University and earned through his instructor rating. Throughout his training Irving started speaking at schools, churches and community groups about aviation careers. In 2005 Irving founded Experience Aviation, Inc. on Opa Locka Airport (FL). The program is designed to offer information and guidance to young people in the South Florida area about aviation careers.

His message echoes Lindbergh’s. "It doesn’t matter where you’re coming from, what you have or what you don’t have all that matters is your passion." Irving never thought he was smart enough to be a pilot so one of his goals is to make sure young people realize their dreams in aviation are attainable. In the future, Irving will be working with NASA to encourage students into engineering.

Jamail Larkins (below) has been in aviation for about two-thirds of his 23 years. From his first Young Eagles flight at age 12 to graduating from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Larkins is committed to sharing aviation and aerospace with young people and encouraging their participation.

Larkins is a spokesperson for the EAA Young Eagles program and Careers in Aviation. In between his speaking engagements Larkins performs an aerobatic routine at various air shows. He is scheduled to resume his popular Dream Launch Tour. Cirrus Design graciously lends an aircraft to Larkins, who flies to various cities speaking at schools.

Larkins knows the statistics; one of four aerospace workers will be eligible to retire in 2008. The Dream Launch Tour is his hope "to excite others into aviation."

The trio later fielded questions from the audience. The new sport pilot rule was mentioned. Larkins sees sport pilot and LSA as a positive thing, a  way to make flying more affordable to more people. Larkins believes the major manufacturers entry into LSA as a validation.

Lindbergh has been into wood crafting for many years, using driftwood to create furniture. He compares the inspiration from creating his pieces and the intensity involved with its creation to his flying and aviation in general. "If aviation does not give people inspiration. If we don’t really find ways to reach people, we’re going to lose them and we’re going to lose aviation slowly but surely."

Irving sees his young age as an asset. Organizations like EAA have almost limitless sources of information for new pilots but youngsters may not be aware of. With Experience Aviation and his youth, Irving hopes to reach young people. "I’m utilizing my age to bridge that gap." More mentors are needed to support the students, to boost their confidence in themselves and know they can do it. Irving had a shortage of confidence at first, aviation seemed intimidating. He is seeking to "Make it come off as something friendly, something doable."

The trio had some ideas for what we all can do to try to pass the "juice" on to young people. Larkins says "Educate and share." Irving hopes we will "Take the time." Lindbergh’s message was simple "Inspire."

FMI: www.experienceaviation.org, http://careersinaviation.org/, www.lindberghgallery.com, www.erau.edu/dreamlaunch/