Barrington Irving

Captain Barrington Irving has traveled to over 70 countries, conducted more than 80 STEM+ expeditions, and successfully challenged middle school students to build a car faster than a Ferrari 430 and then high schoolers to build a plane he flew on its test flight. In 2007, he set two world records—at age 23—as the youngest person and first black pilot to fly solo around the world. He has a passion to explore, inspire, and educate others. Captain Irving is an educator, workforce development ambassador and explorer that investigates real world STEM problems across the globe. Established by Captain Irving in 2014, the Flying Classroom celebrates 10 years of bringing STEM+ curriculum into classrooms across the country, challenging students to design innovative solutions to the problems he investigates around the world. Flying Classroom has sold over 3 million licenses and is a tremendous success.

Before founding Flying Classroom, Irving created a nonprofit, Experience Aviation, which offers hands-on, STEM-based programs and career guidance to middle and high school students.

In 2023, Captain Irving launched the Barrington Irving Technical Training School (BITTS) to serve adults in need of technical skills. BITTS was established to provide adult skilled training and placement within aviation. This program helps bridge the gap between individuals seeking employment and fulfilling the great need for technicians and technical skills related job placement. Within 15 months of launch, BITTS has created over $1 million worth of job creation and hosted over 12 industry leading maintenance competitions across the country. Expanding upon this work Captain Irving has aligned with titans of industry as a proud ambassador for Bombardier Aircraft and NBAA Spirit Award recipient.

Born in Kingston, Jamaica and brought up in inner-city Miami, Irving was inspired to pursue aviation at age 15, when a Jamaican airline pilot offered to mentor him. He rejected college football scholarships to pursue a career in STEM and never looked back.

A Magna Cum Laude graduate of Florida Memorial University, Irving was the recipient of a Congressional Resolution acknowledging his pioneering work in aviation education. He received the Guinness World Record as the youngest person to fly solo around the world and was named a National Geographic Emerging Explorer.

Capt. Irving continues to Inspire and has successfully demonstrated his collaborative ability to support anyone from as young as kindergarten to adult. Anyone can achieve their highest self through STEM+.