FINAL FAREWELL SERVICE HELD FOR MUCH-LOVED VALLEY AVIATOR.Byline: DANA BARTHOLOMEW Staff Writer PORTER RANCH -- On his last commercial flight, Capt. Frank Kratzer had offered to give away his final jumbo jet landing to a fellow pilot. ``He was a pilot's pilot,'' said retired Delta Airlines Capt. James D. Poste, who had shared a cockpit for that last commercial MD-11 flight. ``Best there ever was.'' An estimated 1,000 friends, family members and fellow pilots gathered at Shepherd of the Hills Church on Saturday to celebrate the larger-than-life aviation captain and entrepreneur, one of two pilots killed Jan. 12 in a fiery crash north of Van Nuys Airport Van Nuys Airport (IATA: VNY, ICAO: KVNY, FAA LID: VNY) is a public airport located in Van Nuys, California in the San Fernando Valley, within the Los Angeles city limits. . The two-hour funeral, followed by a flyover, included a ``missing man'' flight droning drone 1 n. 1. A male bee, especially a honeybee, that is characteristically stingless, performs no work, and produces no honey. Its only function is to mate with the queen bee. 2. off toward the west. As owner of Sun Quest Executive Air Charter at Van Nuys Airport, Kratzer, 72, was as cool in the air as he was on the ground, other pilots said. As founder of Sun Quest Flight School at Whiteman Airport Whiteman Airport (IATA: WHP, ICAO: KWHP) is located in Pacoima, California in the San Fernando Valley. No commercial airlines fly into this airport and it used exclusively for general aviation. , the man known as ``Capt. Frank'' had led thousands of pilots to chase cloud-studded dreams. When asked who had learned from the blue-eyed aviator, hundreds rose from the pews, including scores of uniformed airline pilots. ``Flying, for Frank, was not his job; it was his calling,'' said Greg Knowles, former chief instructor at Sun Quest Flight School Inc., who delivered the eulogy. ``Frank was a guy who always looked out for new pilots, new flight instructors A flight instructor is a person who teaches others to fly aircraft. Specific privileges granted to holders of a flight instructor certificate vary from country to country, but very generally, a flight instructor serves to enhance or evaluate the knowledge and skill level of an -- he was a guy who gave everybody a chance.'' Frank H. Kratzer was born Jan. 5, 1935, in the Bronx, N.Y. As a boy, growing up near Philadelphia, he'd built many a model plane. As a star baseball pitcher for the U.S. Air Force, he'd turned down a tryout offer from the Philadelphia Phillies “Phillies” redirects here. For other uses, see Phillies (disambiguation). The Philadelphia Phillies are a professional baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. to pursue his love of the skies. Pilots said the airline commander had logged at least 37,000 hours with Alaska, Western and Delta airlines before tossing aside his logbook. A lifetime businessman, he'd owned a carwash before founding two flight schools and an executive charter service. When no one else would, he taught disadvantaged Aviation Explorers to fly. When not practicing his golf swing or tending his beloved birds, Kratzer often was coaching Little League. And he never, ever bragged about being a pilot. When actor Patrick Swayze and his wife, Lisa, hit head-bumping turbulence while on a training flight with the captain, Kratzer unflappingly guided Lisa through the risks ahead. Then he asked for a cup of hot coffee. ``In a way, we have to grow up,'' Lisa Swayze said, ``because we don't have him to lean on anymore.'' Kratzer is survived by his wife, Joanne, of Northridge; his son, Ernest, a commercial airline pilot; his daughter, Barbara Ball; two adopted daughters; three stepchildren; and seven grandchildren GRANDCHILDREN, domestic relations. The children of one's children. Sometimes these may claim bequests given in a will to children, though in general they can make no such claim. 6 Co. 16. . A third son, William, died in 1978 in a motorcycle crash. ``My husband was so deeply honored to fly with Frank,'' said Maria Wilhelm of Hollywood Hills The Hollywood Hills, an unofficial designation of part of the City of Los Angeles, California, are part of the eastern section of the low transverse range of the Santa Monica Mountains, which extends from the Los Feliz District and Hollywood, on the south side of the Valley, to , widow of the second pilot aboard the fateful fate·ful adj. 1. Vitally affecting subsequent events; being of great consequence; momentous: a fateful decision to counterattack. 2. Controlled by or as if by fate; predetermined. 3. Sun Quest charter flight. ``He loved to fly.'' Her husband, Fernando Miguel Fernandez, 49, was president of Re-Volting Co. of Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. -- a lighting and electrical design firm for music and Hollywood studios -- before pursuing a career as a corporate pilot. A native of Cuba with more than 2,000 flight hours, he regularly flew his Beechcraft Baron The Beechcraft Baron is a light-twin-engine piston aircraft originally developed by Beech Aircraft Corporation and currently manufactured by the Beechcraft Division of Raytheon Aircraft (now Hawker Beechcraft). on medical relief missions into Mexico. ``He was a great, great, great man,'' friend and filmmaker David Lynch said in a statement. ``I miss him already.'' He is survived by his wife; mother, Maria D. Fernandez of Reseda; brother and pilot, Jess Fernandez of West Hills; and a niece, Jessica. A memorial service for Fernando Miguel Fernandez will take place at 1:30 p.m. Friday at San Fernando San Fernando, city, Argentina San Fernando (săn fərnăn`dō), city (1991 pop. 144,761), Buenos Aires prov., E Argentina. It is a district administrative center in the Greater Buenos Aires area. Mission, followed by a tribute flyover. dana.bartholomew(at)dailynews.com (818) 713-3730 CAPTION(S): 3 photos Photo: (1 -- 3) Attendees at a funeral service funeral service n → misa de cuerpo presente funeral service n → service m funèbre funeral service funeral n for Capt. Frank Kratzer, above left, one of two pilots killed in a plane crash near Van Nuys Airport, watch a fly-over, top, honoring him at the service at the Shepherd of The Hills Church in Porter Ranch on Saturday. Evan Yee/Staff Photographer |
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