SUN CITY – There is no greater feeling in the world than the feeling of flight. This sentiment is known all too well by the Grimmonpre family. Sun City resident Jerry Grimmonpre of N. 15 has 25,000 hours of flight time to his name alone. He is a retired United pilot. Kendall, Jerry’s grandson, has a little over 500 hours of flight time at the age of 21. Kendall recently took Jerry up in a Light Sport Aircraft, heretofore referred to as LSA. This aircraft is special because “You can fly the LSA with [just] a driver’s license,” said Jerry.
Sun City resident Jerry Grimmonpre (left) has logged 25,000 hours in flight. His grandson Kendall (right) is 21 and, with 500 hours, a year away from becoming an airline pilot. (Photo by Chris LaPelusa/Sun Day)
This aircraft allows pros like Jerry to take to the skies as they walk gallantly into their twilight years.
While Jerry’s aviation career has ended, Kendall’s is just beginning. In fact, Kendall’s love of aviation started when he was just a child.
“When I was ten years old, my dad bought me a flight simulator … and it really just got me into aviation,” said Kendall.
Kendall graduated from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, with a bachelor’s degree in aviation management in May 2010. His love of aviation was so strong that he completed the degree in three years instead of the usual four. He is a CFI (certified flight instructor) for Sport Pilots Chicago and is only one certification away from being able to be a full-fledged airline pilot.
Kyle, Kendall’s brother, is one year younger than Kendall and is getting his aviation management degree at SIU as well.
“Kyle is flying the WBBM aircraft for traffic reporting,” said Jerry.
Gary, Kendall’s father, is an aviation mechanic for United, and Kathryn, Kendall’s mother, was a flight attendant for United.
“We’re a very big aviation family,” said Kendall.
The reason the Grimmonpres are so interested in aviation can be traced back to one very special individual.
“My sister [Marcy] was a flight attendant in the 1950s,” said Jerry.
“The fascination of flight can’t be expressed with words. But it really lies beyond the capabilities of human endeavor. Once you’ve experienced it, you’ll never be able to forget it,” said Friedrich Oblessor, the great World War II pilot.
“What more can I say…” said Jerry. “I’m proud of everybody.”
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