My dad, Jerry Pilgrim

[suzie griffin]

Picture of my dad, Jerry Pilgrim, holding one of his old planes. He still has them, and loves to talk about his flying days. I thought y’all might enjoy.

[john e. holliday]

Thanks  for the pictures.  I don't believe I have had the pleasure of meeting him.  He looks like he is in good health.

[frank williams]

Hi Suzie,
When I was getting back into flying in the 70's I remember his plane and his great flying at Dallas contests.  I think he called the yellow plane with flames "Pilgrims Progress".  I thought it was a beautiful plane.  Thanks for the pictures and the memories.
Frank Williams (Houston)

[Ken Culbertson]

Hi Suzie,
When I was getting back into flying in the 70's I remember his plane and his great flying at Dallas contests.  I think he called the yellow plane with flames "Pilgrims Progress".  I thought it was a beautiful plane.  Thanks for the pictures and the memories.
Frank Williams (Houston)

Those were the days!  yes, it was "Pilgrims Progress"

Ken

[Les McDonald]

Hey Suzie, thanks so much for this and especially the pictures.
Jerry came and went in only a few short years but he certainly made his mark when he was there. Around 1974 and 1975 he and I were operating around the same level but his planes were a step above. I will never forget both the "flame" ships. The yellow one and then the black one. At some of the Nats a plane would show up that would be so stunning it would be historically significant. Jerry brought one of those. Stunning is one thing but to be "epic" it had to perform and Jerry could do that too. By 76 or 77 he was gone but certainly not forgotten. Please give your Dad my best wishes.

[Trostle]

I am pretty sure of the dates and some of the details, but one thing that stands out was that Jerry Pilgram's yellow airplane with the flames was (is?) absolutely a magnificent model.

Frank McMillan and I were appearance judging at the 1974 Nats at Lake Charles (the first PAMPA Nats).  (This is when models were inspected one-at-a time.  The process to have all the models on the floor at the same time had not yet been invented.)  That yellow airplane with the flames was brought to our table.  It was amazing.  The masking to do the multiple flames was flawless.  We looked everywhere to find something wrong.  I do not remember if those were the days of 40 appearance points, whatever they were, we gave that airplane maximum points.

That was 50 years ago and the that memory is still strong.

Keith

[wwwarbird]

...Jerry Pilgram's yellow airplane with the flames was (is?) absolutely a magnificent model.


Keith

 Looks like a Shark with a restyled fin/rudder?

[suzie griffin]

Thank you all for your kind words. I’ve shared them with him, and they put a big smile on his face!

[Bob Hunt]

I vividly remember that airplane... and Jerry! I also remember getting beat by it... and him at the 1975 Nats and Team Trials. It was one of the most gorgeous airplanes of any kind that I'd ever seen... before or since.

Here's a photo of it from my archives.

Please say hi to Jerry for me.

Bob Hunt