ORIGINAL: Esprit

It is with such sadness that I tell you that Vern Kramer passed away on the 14th August at 14:05 peacefully in his sleep having been unable to beat cancer.

Jo and I met the “Kramers” (Vern, Beulah and Larry) in November 2001 at the Florida International Jet Rally, we had come over from the U.K. for a holiday, but mainly to see the “Jets” in action with some good weather. Vern invited us to stay under his tent, as he was very worried that we would get sun burnt being out in the sun all day. This was the beginning of a wonderful relationship.

The following year we returned but this time with models and had a great time at FIJR. After the meeting was over we then travelled south to stay in Naples and sample the delights of the south west of Florida.

This led to us becoming good friends and meeting up with Vern and Larry all over the USA. We have kept 2 models in a storage unit ever since and wherever we went the models would follow. On 3 occasions Vern and Larry brought them up to Indiana to Tim Redelman’s meeting ‘Jets over the Heartland’. We would never have been able to fly direct into Chicago and have such a wonderful time had it not been for them.

Master builder and Master painter, Vern will be well remembered for his stunning models, BVM Bandit and BVM Kingcat, to name but 2, always winning trophies at many events around the country. The number is too many to recall, but if ever you stopped by his tent he was always happy to show you his models and explain how the building and painting was done.

Recently he purchased a ‘Boomerang Elan’, well this was just fantastic, always a good pattern pilot, he was just ever so happy to come out to field with his Brit friends and give the Boomerang a good fly. He was just able to relax that bit more and really enjoy each flight. Not to mention the hundreds of flights he put on his famous Compensator.

I was fortunate to spend a week with Vern in May this year, we went to the field each day and just messed about and flew planes, talked about this and that for hours, sat under the tent while it rained, but none of it mattered as we were just having a good time. His trust was wonderful, on one occasion he offered me a flight on his Venus with the single stick tx, I was well made up seeing I fly mode 1. I am happy to say all ended well.

I have lost a friend, a second father; the hobby has lost a great builder, painter and a true ambassador of the “Jet scene”. Vern I do hope that everyday has blue skies and no wind, endless Jet A and that you have many more flight with you’re your friends.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Buelah, Larry, Sheila, Diane and the rest of the family.