Story ID: 
Universal Weather keeps Irving aloft
By: Matt Thurber
Caption: When 23-year-old Barrington Irving needed flight handling and fuel sourcing for his 26,800-mile flight around the world, Universal Weather & Aviation c
Word Count: 144
When 23-year-old Barrington Irving needed flight handling and fuel sourcing for his 26,800-mile flight around the world, Universal Weather & Aviation chairman Greg Evans offered to donate his company’s services. Irving, who founded nonprofit Experience Aviation to promote aviation careers, flew a modified Columbia 400 with 160 gallons of usable fuel, departing from Miami on March 23 and returning on June 27. He is the youngest person to fly solo around the world. Universal Weather master trip support specialist Keith Foreman spent almost a year preparing for the flight, then three months and four days during the trip taking care of Irving’s flight handling needs. “There was always something to be concerned with,” Foreman related, including storms, lack of avgas, difficulties obtaining permission to land and dealing with countries that don’t like small airplanes. Details of Irving’s flight are available at www.experienceaviation.org.