Barry Strickland

Barry Strickland (played by Holter Graham) is one of Thomas Alden and Susan Barnes' friends. He works as a mechanic and sometimes provides Thomas with materials such as battens for his sculptures and various contraptions. He owns and flies a glider and took part in the elaboration of the ultralight aircraft prototypes that would later be used in leading Amy Alden's rescued Canada geese on a migration route to North Carolina. Strickland played an active part in the process and helped every step of the way. He was nicknamed "Goose Ground" during the operation, as he remained on land with Susan Barnes and David Alden, but communicated necessary information such as weather conditions to the Aldens by radio, following them in a vehicle and by boat during the flight over Lake Ontario.

Amy Alden's meeting with Barry Stickland was rather traumatic as he first saw her naked following an incident involving Thomas' fish mouth soap dispenser shower invention. He quickly looked away, but Amy was quite upset. They went on to become good friends and it appears that Amy had feelings for Barry. The young man once told her he'd met a lot of flyers in his time but thought she was "a natural." Barry Strickland plays guitar, and sometimes attempts duets with Amy Alden on the tuba.