UND THE WORLD WHEN THE 23 YR. OLD LANDED IN MIAMI ON JUNE 27,07. THE FORMER HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL STAR HAD BEEN STUDYING AVAITION FOR ONLY A YEAR WHEN HE WENT AFTER SPONSORS TO HELP HIM ASSEMBLE A SINGLE-ENGINE PLANE FOR THE 27,000 MILE JOURNEY. IRVING SAYS HE TOOK ON THE TRIP TO INSPIRE YOUNG PEOPLE TO GROW STRONGER BY TESTING THE LIMITS OF THEIR CAPABILITIES. TODAY HE IS BOTH A PILOT AND A TEACHER, USING HIS EXPERIECNE TO ENCOURAGE KIDS IN FLORIDA TO EXPLORE THE SKIES.
WHY DO YOU FLY?
WHAT FIRES ME UP ABOUT FLYING IS THE YOU'RE BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH. YOUR LIFE IS SUSPENDED IN MIDAIR. SOMUCH PRECISION IS REQUIRED. THERE IS NOTHING ELSE I CAN THINK OF THAT CREATS SUCH ADRENALINE RUSH AND AT THE SAME TIME BRINGS SO MUCH PEACE.
TELL ME ABOUT A TIME YOU HAD MIXED FEELINGS.
EVERY TIME I TELLTHIS STORY I GET GOOSE BUMPS. I LEFT NORTHERN JAPAN AND HAD TO FLY TO A TINY ISLAND CALLED SHEMYA, ALASKA (ON TH EPACIFIC LEG OF THE WORLD FLIGHT). IT WAS A VERY TURBULENT FLIGHT, WINDS FROM 70-SOMETHINGS KNOTS TO 110, BLOWING EVERY WHERE FROM ALL DIRECTIONS. THE LAST THREE HOURS, A MAJOR ICE STORM WAS BORN. I REMEMBER AIRLINE PILOTS RADIOING ME, ASKING WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING DOWN THERE.AND THEY WERE LIKE, YOU HAVE TO TURN BACK. AND HERE I AM FLYING A SINGLE-ENGINE AIRPLANE. i SAID, " I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FUEL TO TURN BACK." SO THESE GUYS ASKED FOR MY PARENTS' NAME AND PHONE NUMBER. THEY SAID THERE IS NO WAY TO MAKE IT. WHEN I LANDED ON SHEMYA ISLAND, I HAD 12 MINUTES OF FUEL LEFT IN MY TANK. THAT WAS WHEN I KNEW I WAS CALLED TO DO THIS STUFF.
YOU RUN A SCHOOL WHERE KIDS CAN PURSUE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING.
WE HAD STUDENTS BUILD AN AIRPLANE FROM SCRATCH. I SIAD, I'D FLY IT. YOUR HEAR THEM WHILE THEY'RE BUILDING IT: "OH, THINK I DID TIS WRONG." OR I NEED HELP WITH THIS!" AFTER I TOOK OFF, IT REALLY HIT ME THAT I'M FLYING SOMETHING THE KIDS MADE. i'M THINKING, WHAT HAPPENS IF THE ENGINE QUITS? ...
(SMILE)
Posted By: ROBINSON IRMA
Saturday, March 30th 2013 at 12:46AM
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