Pilgrim Airlines  Fokker F-28-3000 Fellowship  N163PM         (c/n  11163)

                                

                                     Here's Pilgrim Airlines one and only Fokker F-28 gleaming outside their hangar at Bradley
                                     International Airport, Hartford, CN in February 1985 having just been washed specially for
                                     the lens of the indefatigable Bob Garrard.     It was virtually a new machine, having been  built
                                     for Air Volta but not taken up by them when they decided they wanted a -4000 machine. 
                                     C/n 11163 remained then with Fokkers until purchased by Pilgrim in January of 1984.  Pilgrim
                                     had by now extended its route network to include Ottawa, Toronto, Philadelphia and Washing-
                                     ton, D.C.   However, before more F-28s were to enter service, Pilgrim suffered the loss of one
                                     of its F-27s which lost power to both engines whilst departing JFK.  The resultant NTSB inquiry
                                     closed the airline's flying operations down for several months and resulted, ultimately in its demise.
                                     In February 1985, in a somewhat desperate attempt to consolidate his position Joe Fugere, CEO
                                     of Pilgrim acquired the stock of NewAir (formerly New Haven Airways).  However, one year
                                     later he sold Pilgrim to the Marketing Corporation of America dba as Business Express, head-
                                     quartered in Bridgeport, CN..