Plane Spotters Kai Tak Hong Kong Airport 1998

A look at Kai Tak Airport and how airplanes must make a breathtaking approach or take-off over Hong Kong's Kowloon City . This report also examines how this unique aspect of Hong Kong's airport has drawn plane spotters from around the world to flock to the famous "Checkerboard Hill". It also catches up with an international airline pilot who says he'll miss the approach and take-off from Kai Tak Airport once it shuts down and moves to Chek Lap Kok on Lantau Island.
Air date: June 1998
Copyright: Max Media Asia

[@mrashid3643]

"Hong Kong the city that never sleeps". Bloody good reason why!

[@sazzlepop321]

Lmao

[@mrashid3643]

@@terrell7184 wrong planet.

[@emiliotorra4396]

@@mrashid3643 huh?

[@gustavoceballos5327]

Like New York City

[@richardschindler8822]

I flew into there several times as a pilot. Scarred the crap out of me, was also one of the most enjoyable approaches i've ever experienced. Now, both Kai TAk and I are retired.

[@vegasjill21]

Thank you for getting us to our destinations!!! You are much appreciated by me. :)

[@karpig8939]

richard schindler nice! Which planes did you fly into Kai tak

[@q.taylor2921]

'Scarred'? Or 'scared'?? I'm thinking...BOTH! LOL. Cheers to you and such a cool career!

[@miniena7774]

richard schindler Lying pig.

[@user-gr6he3hw8x]

Greg Caesar that's a Chinese thing to say

[@patgwynne3653]

One of my best flying experiences dropping out of the clouds to find yourself looking into people's apartments. II have never forgotten it.

[@lubakohn3069]

I experienced landing in Hong Kong at the old airport and it was something I will never forget. I looked through my window while passing through all those buildings and focused on the people inside them. I also saw many times the Concord passing above our house in Mexico City, since our place was located right on its flying path. You could tell way in advance when it was approaching..the sound was that loud! Beautiful craft! I think the year was 1973 or 74.

[@ccqpl]

yep. mexico city had airfrance operate there. wish you chould have boarded it to kai tak

[@IsmailOzkan-sz9jb]

Evet

[@42Rdekker]

I remember Kai Tak so vividly. I was flying out of Colombo to Tokyo Japan via Hong Kong, it was 1984. We were on board the phenomenal Tristar, built by Lockheed Martin. A gigantic aircraft with 3 tech crew inside the cockpit, which to me was a fantastic piece of aircraft engineering. I had the immense joy and pleasure of being seated in the jump seat of the cockpit for landing, thanks due to family connections. In those old days, being invited to sit inside the cockpit for a landing was an accepted practice. There were no terrorism threats and other risks to worry too much about. I will never forget how captain Johnson, a British pilot made the final approach to Kai Tak runaway. He had to manoeuvre sharp turns and skirt skyscrapers and when I looked over my shoulder to the left , the sight was surreal and breathtakingly stunning. It felt like as if I could stick my hand out of the window and touch the tops of the myriad skyscrapers. Wow! what a privilege in life to have been able to experience. Grateful❤

[@kenkenken628]

SQ001 Woke me up every day from 1995-1998 at Kowloon city... 😘😘😘

[@ExtremelyAverage1]

Too bad this airport is gone now. It really did roll out the carpet for the commercial development of HK. The skill level of pilot qualified to land there was phenomenal. I never got to see it. Good job with all the video documentation. It is as close as I can get to experiencing it.

[@JamesDC152]

haha great to see a younger version of my father (Graham) on this!

[@geraintroberts565]

I was stationed in HK '76-78 at Kai Tak, and lived just under the checkerboard. It was awesome and noisy watching them come in. I watched the first Concorde land there also. Great days and I am going back this weekend for the first time since then.

[@flowergirl8815]

must have been amazing

[@psaini27]

So what was it like to go back there?

[@raksh9]

How was the trip? There's a fair difference between Hong Kong of the late 70s and the mid 2010s.

[@nikinoodles7017]

I saw the first Concorde landing at Kai Tak from the roof of the Rosemary Towers in north point. I since met the pilot as my mum in laws best friend was his mum. That was about twenty years later when I married.

[@broede85]

@@nikinoodles7017 So then Concorde´s pilot had been your wife´s brother? Do you have still contact to the pilot? =)

[@GarySanOly]

I flew the approach to Hong Kai Tak to runway 13 at night and in the daytime a few times in stretch DC-8s in the early seventies and later in USN P-3 Orions late seventies to late eighties. Back in the seventies the approach was an NDB DME Arc from the Stonecutter NDB, a mandatory figure 8 hold before beginning the arc to a localizer with a required visual of the checkerboard. The runway was much shorter then if memory serves correct around 9,000 feet in length. A real recipe for an accident in the making. The approach will keep a flight crew on their toes for sure. Back then there was a row of buildings including a 8 story school at the end of runway 13/31. That meant a steep descent on approach to 13 and a steep climb out of runway 31. You had to also worry about penetrating the no fly zone of the Chinese ADIZ as well. A take off on 31 was more marginal in a heavily loaded stretch DC-8, if you lost and engine that was a serious problem. At night or marginal weather we preferred the overwater approach to runway 31. Runway 13 required a visual of the checkerboard as you turned right onto the localizer final off the arc, no visual and it meant a missed approach. It is amazing that more accidents did not occur in and out of Kai Tak. The Video brings back memories.

[@henrychan720]

GarySanOly Now it’s the boring RNAV arrivals and ILS approaches in the new airport. I miss the good old days.

[@snowboardvhsarchive1089]

I went to that 8 story school, It was called BeaconHill. I could see the checkerboard from my house in Kowloon Tong

[@johannesbols57]

What really amazes me is the state of the checkerboard when it was in use! It was filthy and poorly lit.

[@Mediaboon]

Plane spotting must be hard. One wrong move, you step on a tree branch and make noise, they fly scared before you can get that picture.

[@eltfell]

Plus the other plane spotters will kill you.

[@joetrump2983]

but there are nearly no trees there tho

[@andylam73]

i missed all these beautiful plane spotting while i was in hongkong. then was just too young to get to know all about these. tell hong kong i love her. thx for the posting.

[@gwats19577]

I loved that Airport... coolest landing I've ever experienced... Fond memories of the United 747SP jumbo.....

[@suhaimifariz2713]

Being a spotter back then would be far more challenging given that the camera's not digital. You can't see whether your settings are correct until you develop the film.

[@johannesbols57]

I'm unsure if anybody's aware of this, but here in Seattle, we have our version of the Kai Tak heart attack. When Lake Union Air lands to the north, the seaplane does a slow pass over Lower Queen Anne Hill (where I live), and then a 180 bank to line up with South Lake Union, before descending to the lake and landing on the water. You've got to see it to believe it.

[@ashleymalamute]

I was born to early to explore the stars and too late to fly into Kai Tak :(

[@anethers7545]

I remember being on a BA 747, I had a window seat, landing at Kai Tak was unforgettable, literally looking into peoples apartments! Looking up at buildings towering above the plane!

[@clee6746]

I had lived in a building very close to the Checker Hill for 12 years, no wonder I cannot hear anything now.

[@andylam73]

my goodness then most of the planes arriving are jumbo 747. what a sweet spot to see all these jumbo landing and with the engines roaring in the air. what a lovely sight.

[@truthseeker7242]

Andy - The runway would have been far too short when I was in HK [1955-1958], for the likes of 747s or Concordes - as aircraft began to require longer and longer landing and take-off distances, they removed Lion Rock, and continually extended the runway 'seaward'.

[@MenuMcBlue]

I once was on BA passing there. Could recognize the type of laundries on the rooftop of those buildings.

[@sakurasoh]

The pilot flying into Kai Tak especially at night have to be highly skilful...

[@ImmortalSynn]

For all those who miss Kai Tak, google Skiathos airport in Greece.... same crazy-low approach. Also Princess Juliana airport at Maho Beach, in St. Maarten.

[@bnascimento94]

ImmortalSynn if you want a crazy approach like kai tak, check madeira(funchal), they have the same curve as well

[@hectorsoy]

It's just not Hong Kong... amazing city and i miss the old airport! Nothing like it.

[@catbins]

loved flying into Kai Tak...I remember my dad telling me we fly through the skyscrapers...didn't believe him until i looked out the window lol...the new airport has no where near as much character

[@andylam73]

man gone are these sights. gone are the good old days of hong kong. thx for the posting.

[@Andy-oe8bi]

lived there 1975-77 we lived near lion rock in the army quarters ,we had a perfect view of the airport, great memories

[@truthseeker7242]

I lived in HK 1955-1958, went to school at St. George's, close to the Kai Tak flight path. We used to have swimming lessons at the pool in RAF Kai Tak. Civvy and RAF used to share the runway - there was a slipway at the water's edge for Catalina and Sunderland flying boats. Most of the civvy aircraft were prop or turbo-prop powered, and Lion Rock stood 'gate guard' at the beginning of the runway, making landings, particulary when there were also strong side winds, rather 'interesting'! I see that the spoil sports later removed Lion Rock.

[@smurphy2146]

Imagine seeing a Sunderland take off. Jesus

[@abdullabintalib4118]

It's a good thing that there has been a lot media coverage around Kai Tak

[@TheLadyDiazepam]

I loved Kai Tak! Take-off and landing were so exciting. And they had one of those old indicator boards. I haven't been back to Hong Kong since it went back to the Chinese. Would love to go back.

[@DLAU2886]

TheLadyDiazepam The evil CCP has ruined HK since the handover. It’s sad indeed.

[@krajmutfak8940]

I went there in 1989, and again in 2018. It’s not the same. Overcrowded especially in Kowloon and Sheung Shui. Ocean Park was a nightmare! Mainlanders pushing, shoving and queue jumping!

[@bsmith1164]

That's the side of my head at 25 seconds in the tower! Loved working at this bizarre airport. The approach was really unbelievable for such large airplanes. I saw some amazing landings; you can't believe how much punishment a 747 can take!

[@johnarnold893]

What was amusing to me was that you weren't allowed to film or take pictures while on the tarmac there but anybody in an apartment or on a building next to the airport could use a telephoto lens and zoom right in on the area.

[@BadenCityFire]

wooooow no words needed, i´ve seen that in 1991.... never be forgotten !

[@dynasty0019]

I was lucky to have experienced Kai Tak back in the 90's as a kid. I remember the views and the approach like it was yesterday.

[@taketimeout2share]

Kai Tak. Incomparable. Thank you very much for uploading this.

[@heikeihle6077]

Auf meinem Australienflug hatte ich in Hong Kong ein Zwischenstopp, der Anflug auf den Airport dort war schon spektakulär....ein Hoch auf die Leistung der Piloten 👍👍👍

[@rodhigh7]

I have flown into Kai Tak (30 times)and out of (30 times) I will miss the Old Lady !

[@nikinoodles7017]

My most exciting flight was during strong winds and the plane got too near the end of the runway and he had to pull up and go round again to land. Awesome skills!

[@craigjackson2428]

Thanks for the upload. Being the 747 and Kai Tak are all but rendered to the aviation history books, great to have seen both in action first hand.

[@conniecheung7862]

My overseas friends were very exciting to watch airplanes in my rooftop within few feet above their heads.

[@Aviatorspot]

An historic ocassion for spotters! The most unique airport to land over the city skyscrapers!

[@canman5060]

+Aviatorspot It is indeed ! Very challenge airport to land.

[@Genevieve8002]

Oh wow, I'm in awe at the skill of those pilots. Wouldn't want to live right beneath there though!.....I understand why it would have been closed, but it's also a shame to have missed out on such a unique experience...

[@mirandavanrossum9712]

I lived in Hong Kong for many years, and I can still remember this airport

[@5012810]

those people are really happy!! wish i was there at the time...

[@suwitsuwit8213]

when I was12 years .to Hk and landing down to Kai tak airport in 1989 .it make me exciting so much.

[@gemiegeminist6194]

I love the moment when the plane fly so close over those high rise blocks, amazing view 😍😍😍😍

[@Talkless142]

Can see those planes landing all day ...what a sight ...

[@pete5534]

Simply fantastic. I wish I’d travelled to HK a little earlier.

[@mattaviation7472]

now i wish i was born 50yrs earlier :P

[@MsEdy09]

Same

[@lauc62]

I remember my first landing in Kai Tak one evening in 1995, I couldn't believe I saw people in their apartments probably having dinner. I lived continuously in Lantau Island and kept coming frequently until 1999, the last time I flew out of Hong Kong was from the new airport.

[@lofiman3942]

i always heard the thunder - like airplane noise in my grand pa ' s home where was near kai tak airplance in the old days ...

[@dimitrisvlachodimos3393]

I was lucky enough to travel there and lucky enough to land and take off with a thunderstorm. True unspelling experience.

[@SecsSells]

Although there are no jumbos, KDCA still offers the twists and turns when approaching from the north. The last manual turn to the runway is less than a half mile and less than 500 feet as I recall. That is tight. Check out the approach plate. It's squirrely.

[@Sandoz-tq7qj]

I enjoy that sharp right turn ✈💥👍💥🛬

[@jontibloom]

Miss the Old Girl. With there being only 1 runway I always found it an extraordinary sight you sometimes got of a 747 , a Tristar and a minute Piper Cherokee or similar lined up to take off.

[@cheyenneasiafoxe292]

that was one crazyyyyyyyyyyyyy airport--totally cool! great pilots too!

[@softmechanics3130]

Currently, the most similar places are Guro Tool Market in Seoul and near Unyang station in Gimpo. The planes don't fly as low of course but it looks similar.

[@AitorBeobideRubioSpotters]

Este aeropuerto tiene una aproximación impresionante. Gran vídeo.

[@jeremyhaines4481]

Kai Tak was one of the difficult airports to land at because of strong crosswinds

[@1984tinkerbelle]

Love HK, gutted i never got chance to land when it was the old airport.

[@woodensurfer]

I still remember the runway extension project to accommodate the 747.

[@davidhoffman1278]

Nice video. Nice to see how the various enthusiasts considered the airport.

[@rascalhusky8129]

No airport like Kia Tak . Amazing landing experience.

[@CAL1MBO]

D: Looked like the ideal holiday destination for me. Big shame it shut down.

[@MrDannyboyhall]

My dad was once on a plane going in to Kai tak he was sitting beside a guy who was nervous and popping some pills he asked what was wrong with him and the guy said last time he flew in to Kai tak the plane ended up in the harbour after overshooting on landing lol my dad said it was a fairly hairy ride in

[@FsimulatorX]

i think you are referring to the 1993 accident involving a Taiwanese airline.

[@LIVdaBrand]

What balls that guy had to land there again lol

[@simonpeters2128]

"Aviation Enthusiast" ... Old word for planespotter?

[@AboveInShadow]

I can hear plane engines miles away, living in those areas must be hell.

[@SANJOSE1919]

vitto. no more. they move.to a new place

[@AboveInShadow]

Good to know.

[@stbasilstockton]

in stockton the planes fly as low as that when they come in to the airport. It is so loud! the airport is only 3 miles away from the downtown area so the planes go pretty low. it is a very scary approach through all of the buildings.

[@HansVerhoeven]

Good old Yupiteru vt125 airband receiver still going strong.

[@allesiofondressi2602]

Great video, thank you.

[@MCO2ATL2DTWby777]

they are talking about getting good sun. Seems like every picture I have ever seen at this airport it was cloudy or stormy. Wish I had gotten to spot here though.

[@batchint]

they had a 'last minute' checkerboard on the hill adjacent to the final turn for line-up

[@PrestissimoMasterStation]

Nice Approach

[@clownchaostime3024]

Too bad it's closed An airport like that keeps a pilots skills sharp and alert. It also gives a pilot confidence. The world of aviation needs challenging airports like KT to put pilots to the ultimate challenge and in the long run, have pilots achieve their full potential and skill level.

[@cravenmoorehead7099]

Love d Kowloonies lurking

[@sheamichael7336]

What about JFK s 13R and 13L ,growing up in Howard Beach Queens ,I was and still am able to view all types and different airlines from around the world each and every day for the past 40 yrs ,its a great feeling both the plane spotting and the noise of these aircrafts especially on a cloudy and rainy day....

[@cameraman655]

+Shea Michael JFK is alright I suppose, a ton of carriers as you suggested, but Kai Tak was in a league all it's own. Now if 747s were skimming just 50-100 ft above the Empire State or anywhere over mid-town, then JFK might had given Kai Tak a run for it's money. HKG was unique, highly unlikely we will ever see her like again. I do miss HKG.

[@sheamichael7336]

That would be neat to see them on final right through midtown.HKG is on my bucket list..

[@cameraman655]

Shea Michael You are aware that the current Chek Lap Kok (HKG) is nowhere near HK's CBD and those scenes are relegated to the history books. The current airport is a nice "sanitary" standard airport (well as standard as can be for an airport built on reclaimed land in the middle of a bay), but no where as intriguing or exciting as Kai Tak was.

[@sheamichael7336]

I did not know that but thank you for informing me .Like I said earlier comment ,growing up just to the west of JFK s landing strip I was able to experience all different types of aircraft as well as different weather scenerios,..Still love to go down to Charles park on a summer day and plane spot ...

[@tdewijnsoftbyte]

Notice the approach lights for the runway on the roofs of the buildings. Kai Tak is gone and HK has changed so much I don't want to go back. I prefer to remember it as it was in the 80's.

[@raksh9]

Tony de Wijn - Much of the 80s Hong Kong still exists, although it depends on which parts you mean. Districts like Sham Shui Po and Mong Kok are largely the same. There's a lot more high rise development, but many older buildings still stand. I miss the 80s parts of Harbour City which have since been renovated.

[@KerbalHub]

Seems unbelievable that few planes ever crashed here

[@AprilleShepherd]

Beautiful !

[@DJTechno94]

there is a similar airport with a similar approach on Marina di campo ( i believe it is). nothing will ever compare to Kai Tak though

[@jaylipod]

Damn cool 😎

[@GeorgeJansen]

Thxs☺

[@lamjustin9938]

The old Kai Tak airport has now been turned into a rc airport

[@TopicContemporary]

可以咁近睇飛機好正 可惜97我還太小

[@gabrielbaruque4063]

0:51 BUTTER AT KAI TAK!

[@juschu67]

It is more safe now for our chinese fellow passengers they can now stand up and open the overhead compartment without fear for the landing approach swing in Kai Tak

[@Marybgreat]

Twa 707. Happy landings Dad.

[@Whatta33]

How sad it is when you think that most of these plane spotters are not alive anymore. Probably taking picture from the other side 😪

[@stephenwylie1916]

was the austalian plane Ansett?

[@ammarjawed8816]

I don't know that how pilot land their aircraft on this airport..unbelievable

[@carlalyles]

That was awesome

[@MauritsVeen]

18 years already..l

[@kokwahtan8577]

The 2 Senior gentlemen, probably not here now!??

[@markbullo7603]

1:29 Philippine airline 747

[@TheAirlineSpotter11]

Man, The Irish and the British certainly have the activity of planespotting down to an art, I could never hope to be as big as them, I've only got 14 videos and 32 subs.

[@KiwiGraggle]

How old is this then, 20+ years?.

[@chocolatcats]

It looks like a great spot for a bar....called THE LANDING STRIP....ENJOY WHILE THEY LAND AND CALL THE DRINKS THINGS LIKE " BOEING FLIGHT 1" "SINAPORE SLING FLIGHT 2" "BRITISH AIRLINES" "jAPAN FLIGHT 13"....ETC WHY NOT

[@q.taylor2921]

Perhaps my biggest regret to date, is not having the experience of landing here.

[@juanguillermorestrepovelez7041]

YO VIEJE EN CARAVELLE, DE AEROCESAR Y TAC DEL CESAR, EXCELENTES AVIONES....NO ME EXPLICO, PORQUE SALIERON DE CIRCULACION, MUY SEGUROS, AL FINAL LOS DEJARON PARA CARGA...LOS HERMANOS SOLANO, EN AEROSUCRE,...

[@curlyanneb1973]

Way more rewarding than bird watching.

[@emmxuvel]

0:51 butter

[@ScaringCrab]

I wish i was born when Kai Tak still exist :(

[@just_josh7167]

I was born Jul 04, 1998. Literally two days before Kai Tak closed.