This is a final farewell to an aviator who lost a year long battle with cancer on Saturday.

Vern Hammersly was a friend of my father's, both worked at NASA during the Apollo and Shuttle heyday and into the beginning stages of the ISS construction.  Vern had a 182 and would often invite my father and I to fly to early breakfasts on Saturday mornings in La Grange, TX, at the Cottonwood in, departing from what was then Clover Field near Friendswood.  I have incredibly fond memories of being allowed to attempt to taxi his plane down the strip in La Grange (I'm sure his feet were close to, if not on, the pedals) and him showing me rudimentary maneuvers when flying to Harlingen for the annual CAF show when it was still there.

Farewell, you were a good man and helped stoke a lifelong fascination with aviation.  Here's to hoping there's smooth air wherever you are...

Sorry to hear of your loss.

Condolences.

God Speed.

John