Robert DeLaurentis

Robert DeLaurentis is an American aviator, businessman and author. He was the first solo pilot to fly a Piper Malibu Mirage, a small, single-engine plane, around the world May 17, 2015 to August 14, 2015. The flight covered 26,000 nautical miles and 23 countries in the ninety-eight days for a fundraising campaign to support aviation programs.

DeLaurentis was born in Salamanca, New York, moved to the Bay area and Indonesia and finally settled in San Diego, CA. Following an undergraduate degree in Accounting from USC, he earned an advanced graduate degree in Spiritual Psychology from the University of Santa Monica. From 1989 to 2006, DeLaurentis served in the United States Navy as Lieutenant Commander. In 1995, following his Navy career, he founded a real estate development company, Innorev Enterprises, Inc. with projects throughout San Diego, CA. He has authored the book Flying Thru Life and announced his second book, Zen Pilot, to be released in the early 2016.

DeLaurentis decided to attempt to fly solo around the world to raise awareness and funding for programs at Lindbergh-Schweitzer Elementary and A.O.P.A (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association) Flight Training Scholarship Program by the name “The Spirit of San Diego”. He was testing new aviation technology to make aviation more affordable and safer. Departing Lindbergh Field, San Diego, CA in the single engine Piper Malibu Mirage named 'Spirit of San Diego' on May 17, 2015, DeLaurentis covered 26,000 nautical miles and 23 countries in the ninety-eight days.