SO LONG, AND THANKS
FOR ALL THE FISH
K
ai Tak was like no other. The
sweltering heat and almost
unbearable humidity, the tower
blocks and the intense noise and bustle
of Asia’s World City pressing right up
to its perimeter made every visit a truly
incomparable experience.
Countless aviation enthusiasts
joined throngs of locals to glimpse
widebodies, right wings down and left
wings up and with rudders against the
stops, as they performed jaw-dropping
low-level manoeuvres among the
high-rise flats lining the final approach.
Many hoped to witness a hapless
captain get it slightly wrong and make a
dramatic touchdown on Runway 13.The upper level of the airport’s multi-
storey car park was a popular venue
from where the comings and goings
could be monitored. But photographers
who had the gift of the gab often took
refuge in the tranquillity of the Hong
Kong Aviation Club in Sung Wong Toi
Road, abeam the Runway 13 threshold.
Its rooftop deck and gardens off ered
a be er ambience and gave those
lucky enough to blag their way in an
opportunity to sip an ice-cold beer while
capturing some exclusive shots.
There was no space to expand Kai
Tak and fl ying imposed limitations on
the height of new buildings. Pollution
became a problem and the overnightcurfew impacted airline schedules, so
Hong Kong’s government constructed
an entirely new airport on Chek Lap Kok
island, 19 miles (30km) to the west of the
city. Kai Tak’s lights were turned off at
0128hrs on June 6, 1998 after the last
aircraft left.
Those of us who made a pilgrimage
to the postage stamp of an airport
that served the UK’s former colony in
Southeast Asia had an experience we will
always treasure and never forget.HONG KONG KAI TAK
50 // Extreme AirportsPainted in a
special livery and
named Spirit of
Hong Kong 97,
Cathay Pacifi c
Boeing 747-267B
B-HIB passes
the high-rise
apartment
blocks nestling
beneath Lion Rock
while making
an approach to
Runway 13 in May- (Simon
Gregory / Aviation
Image Network)
A detailed illustrated history of Kai
Tak is included in Great Airports of the
World Volume 3, available from the Key
Publishing Shop (shop.keypublishing.com)
50-51_Kai Tak Retro.indd 50 11/05/2018 12:17