Capt Dave Leonard
 

Capt Dave Leonard passed away last night in Nairobi Hospital after a short illness. He will be sorely missed by all. Our thoughts and condolences to the family. RIP friend.

Very sad news indeed. He was certainly one of the "characters" on the Nairobi aviation scene.

RIP

Sad news. RIP Dave....:(

:( Very sad news, Dave will be missed. Our thoughts and condolences to the family. RIP Dave. :(

Dave Leonard's Family
 

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. Dave's in the giant Aero Club in the sky now. East African Aviation has a huge hole which will never be filled.

Let's all remember him for the wonderful man he was.

Kwaheri Dave from your family...we love you.

Captain Dave Leonard
 

Please send us any anecdotes or memories you have of Dave. You can email us on [email protected]

Thank you,

Dave's Family

I'm really sorry to hear about this loss.Its always doubly sad when one of the great 'characters' of the industry passes on.RIP.
Cheers,
Cb

He'll be missed
 

For Christine and the kids,

Sorry to hear this very sad news. There will be many saddened by this. It was a privilege to know such a fine character. The Aero Club and the Campsite won't be the same again. I know you are all spread throughout the world at the moment, but I hope you get together for a special send off to a fine man.

My condolences to you all.

Be interesting to hear some anecdotes to confirm or deny some of the early safariair/entebbe/cia/ type rumours. I suppose any amusing dodgy stuff from Simba would still be under the aero club official secrets act.:ok: :ok:

Dave gave me alot of help when i first arrived in Kenya as a pilot. Cheers, but i hope the angels arent too pretty or there will be trouble.Hve fun .

Legend
 

Captain Leonard, a legend in East Africa, a gentleman and a kind mentor. Thank you for all your help. Fly high with Ian and you will be fondly remembered by us all for your support of Kenyan aviation. IOut of Africa will never be the same ......

Was in the aero club a few weeks ago.Was told he was fine Fine, I guess not.
What a chatacter, what a guy. A true legand.

Firstly condolences to Christine and family; I was very shocked and saddened to hear of Dave passing away and wished that I could have had one more White Cap or ten, and to talk of times past with him again.
I learnt alot from this true character and consider it a priviledge to have known and to have flown with and for him.
Williewalsh- the rumours you infer to are fact,and only the half of it.
Kwaheri

Sad news
 

Very sad to hear, geuss the Aero Club will never be the same...
RIP, Capt Leonard...:(

My condolences to Daves family.

I have known Dave for thirty years or more and it was a great shock to hear of his death. He follows some good company to the bar in the sky, it now has more old timmers there than are present now!

I hear that there is to be a wake for him today, Friday, I will be thinking of him and will raise a glass or two.

Tribute
 

I had the priviledge to briefly attend a function in Daves memory at the ACEA last evening. To be among his family and friends and to witness the remarkable fly pasts' by his colleagues in aviation, really drove home the immense contribution Dave made to Kenyan aviation and what a great loss to us all his passing will be. RIP Captain

My condolances to Christine and the family. I was saddened to hear the news the other day from Ken and others.

Had the great pleasure of working for Dave in Safari Air days. He was a great boss and a good friend. His Pink Panther Breitling check mustache twirl and heel click all in sequence made for a wonderful and colorful character. It was always good to see him at the Aero Club then and in later days and later still bumping in to him in Europe when he was on the 70.

Renting his 180 DJL to fly round and see the various relis on a few occasions after I had left the country and had just popped down to visit was always great fun and much enjoyed.

Cheers Dave, it was good knowing you.

Aero Club Member !!
 

Best wishes to Christine and family , Pinkers was a star.
I have many memories of him , but my favourite has to be when he got really p...ed off by people objecting to his bringing his beloved dobermann Elsa? into the clubhouse. A few days later some eagle-eyed member spotted an application form on the board for one Elsa Leonard !!Brilliant. RIP Dave.

The Aero Club was the witness on Friday 17/03 .

Fly in clear air Dave. Bay-Bay :)

From MP CJ and QTT

Dave gave me my break at Safari Air almost thirty years ago, and our lives had criss-crossed many times since then. It was always a pleasure to see him, and (over a beer or seven) to catch up again on eachother's news. And, believe me, there was a LOT of catching up to do! Every time.

Yep. Truly a remarkable legend. And one of the most likeable rogues it has ever been my privilege to know.

My deepest condolences to Christine and the family.

Fly high, DJL. (but don't singe that moustache!)

BM