I attended Harry Leicher’s memorial on Thursday, and I could not get up and say what I wanted to, so I will here. I met Harry five years ago, when he did my first phase check during my private pilot training. It was immediately obvious that he was like no other instructor. He taught me things on that flight that I never had heard from another instructor or in a book. Harry taught me to fly an airplane “by the numbers”. To make the airplane want to do what I wanted it to do by configuring and trimming, rather than to force the airplane and then trim out the resistance. He said it wasn’t lazy, reducing workload meant safer flight. Harry also recorded his lessons and then gave the tape to his students. I have many, many hours of instruction transferred to CD, including my entire instrument rating, an incredible learning tool. Harry wasn’t just an instructor, he was a teacher. He taught classes at Long Beach City College, gave FAA safety seminars, and his articles were published in AOPA Flight Training and other magazines. Harry wasn’t in it for the money, and he wasn’t trying to fill his logbook. Harry was concerned about what happened to me when he got out of the airplane. He sent me e-mails with homework assignments. He would take my call whenever he could, even on the lifecycle. He was never late, always cheerful, and always willing to help. Harry would treat me like a friend, and share with me what he loved. With him it was safety first, followed by large helpings of fun. He did everything to minimize risk, and then he stepped out of the airplane. I will miss him. Blue skies, Harry Danny Bower
