Approaching Kai Tak – View from the cockpit in July 1979 | Gwulo: Old Hong Kong

Approaching Kai Tak – View from the cockpit in July 1979

The following images were taken by Tony Hawes in (most likely) July 1979. They are taken from the cockpit. He wrote me that he wasn’t stationed in Hong Kong, but visited this city twice – in 1963 and 1979. The images are in the order he remembers.

Updated version 2016-08-21

This one is already at the Kowloon Peninsula showing Mei Foo Sun Chuen housing estate and the Lai Chi Kok municipal incinerator. Flight direction is south-east.

Approaching Kai Tak 1979 (1)
Approaching Kai Tak 1979 (1), by Tony Hawes

 After a slight turn left to east a small hill approaches with the famous “Checkerboard”. This is a visual marker for the final approach towards runway 13.

Approaching Kai Tak 1979 (2)
Approaching Kai Tak 1979 (2), by Tony Hawes
Approaching Kai Tak 1979 (3)
Approaching Kai Tak 1979 (3), by Tony Hawes, kai tak

Upon reaching that marker the pilot had to make a 47° manual right turn to get in line with the runway.

Approaching Kai Tak 1979 (4)
Approaching Kai Tak 1979 (4), by Tony Hawes
Approaching Kai Tak 1979 (5)
Approaching Kai Tak 1979 (5), by Tony Hawes
Approaching Kai Tak 1979 (6)
Approaching Kai Tak 1979 (6), by Tony Hawes
Approaching Kai Tak 1979 (7)
Approaching Kai Tak 1979 (7), by Tony Hawes

Done! ("You have reached your final parking position.")

 

Next are some images taken when parked on Kai Tak’s dispersal area:

At Kai Tak (1)
At Kai Tak (1), by Tony Hawes

Landing jets, most spectacular with B 747's.

Landing jets at Kai Tak (1)
Landing jets at Kai Tak (1), by Tony Hawes
Landing jets at Kai Tak (2)
Landing jets at Kai Tak (2), by Tony Hawes
Landing jets at Kai Tak (3)
Landing jets at Kai Tak (3), by Tony Hawes
Landing jets at Kai Tak (4)
Landing jets at Kai Tak (4), by Tony Hawes

Time for departure. Flying over Victoria Harbour along Hong Kong Island.

 

Departure from Kai Tak (1)
Departure from Kai Tak (1), by Tony Hawes

Next is a similar one, but possibly not from 1979.

 

Departure from Kai Tak (2)
Departure from Kai Tak (2), by Tony Hawes

The last two images show Cheung Chau Island.

Departure from Kai Tak (3)
Departure from Kai Tak (3), by Tony Hawes

 

Departure from Kai Tak (4)
Departure from Kai Tak (4), by Tony Hawes

 

All images are uploaded by kind permission from Tony Hawes.

 

P.S. A video of the approach to Kai Tak can be seen here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iqnit5PXZIo). It’s a Swissair image film from the 1970s in German language with English subtitles. The approach to Hong Kong starts at 5:40 min. Excellent views over Hong Kong!

Forum: 

Nice shots of Cheung Chau. Similar to the Swissair video,I guess the shots of Cheung Chau would have been on arrival to Kai Tak. Photo (5) shows the approach chart via Cheung Chau. 

Thanks to Tony for these, and to Klaus for bringing them here for us to see.

For any pilots reading, did you do the turn into Kai Tak often enough that it became routine, or was there still a bit of nerves making this approach? I imagine the sight of the runway straight ahead in photo (5) must have been good to see.

Regards, David

Great pix Tony take a bow !