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."