Fly High Captain Frank Pelaggi and Godspeed: The animal rescue world has lost a devoted, generous, kind hearted life saving friend. Frank flew too many Pilots N Paws Freedom Flights to count.
His daughter Dianne says, “My dad flew dozens of PNP rescue flights for dozens of dogs and puppies. Mostly legs from the VA area to PA/NJ/NY."
Captain Frank, 84 years young, lived a full and inspiring life and died of natural causes.
Frank and his wife Sally raised two daughters and shared 49 years of marriage before her death in 2014.
Frank’s lifelong involvement in aviation began when he took his first solo flight at age 16. He earned his Private Pilot certificate in 1963, beginning a career spanning more than six decades of military, corporate, commercial and private flying.
Frank’s military service included active-duty Air Force training and later service with the Rhode Island Army National Guard. He also completed Army helicopter flight training at Fort Rucker, Alabama.
During the Blizzard of 1978, Frank flew National Guard helicopter missions transporting and rescuing people when deep snow and impassable roads brought areas of New England to a standstill.
In 1978, Frank became a corporate pilot for Bethlehem Steel where he continued his part-time military service at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania.
Frank later joined Continental Airlines, based in Newark, New Jersey, where he flew domestic and international routes. After retiring, he continued to fly privately for many years.
Frank earned an extensive range of aviation certificates and ratings in both airplanes and helicopters. He held Airline Transport Pilot and Commercial pilot privileges and was a flight instructor in both airplanes and helicopters, including instrument instruction. He was also an Airframe and Powerplant mechanic.
Frank was meticulous about aircraft safety. In July 2013, the Federal Aviation Administration presented him with the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award, recognizing more than 50 years of safe flying and his contributions to aviation safety.
In retirement, Frank volunteered as a pilot for Pilots N Paws, flying dozens of rescue missions to help transport dogs from the Southeast to rescue organizations in the Northeast.
Frank is survived by his two daughters, Dianne and Susan, his beloved grandchildren, nieces, nephews and extended family.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions may be made to Pilots N Paws in Frank’s memory: Pilots N Paws 4651 Howe Rd. Landrum, SC 29356 www.pilotsnpaws.org #AnimalRescueHeroes #freedomflight #ALifeWellLived #Godspeed #RIP
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