A
Adler
Guest
Yeah. I was pretty sure I was either going to be arrested or bitten by a cobra.
I thought I was going to slip and fall down the hill.
Yeah. I was pretty sure I was either going to be arrested or bitten by a cobra.
What I don't understand about that situation is that the wall itself is clearly intact. It would only take a couple of dedicated enthusiasts to keep it clean and maintained. Why not perserve since they haven't built over it yet?
I thought I was going to slip and fall down the hill.
That's all that is left???? Crap. Over 60 years of history as an active international airport and nothing is left. Really sad. So much history all but forgotten.
They could have/should have made a really nice little aviation museum with a restaurant (done up like the 70's or something) on the property. I am sure plenty of locals and tourists would frequent such a venue.
They could have/should have made a really nice little aviation museum with a restaurant (done up like the 70's or something) on the property. I am sure plenty of locals and tourists would frequent such a venue.
I'd be very surprised if they allowed flight training to go on in HKG. That place is almost exclusively heavies and very busy day and night.
I know/understand that, no doubt there. The 8 can fly further and higher. The systems have very much been improved and been upgraded. Fuel use, redesigning of the wings, larger payload, etc., I get all of that, I really do. But I flew in a different era and in a different time. I flew regularly into one airport that does not even exist today. (Kai Tak) So in my time and the airframes used for international flying, the 400 was the ultimate for me and a very special time and aircraft. Lots of wonderful experiences and nostalgia attached to her. At that time, she still attracted a lot of attention where ever she flew. Just a wonderful experience. It's a history/back in the day thing that is probably not as understandable/known to younger pilots. It was an entire package that was also related to that experience. You often flew with the same crews (at least way more often than what happens currently) it was like a family in a sense. That plane afforded you the most wonderful of layovers and time with other 400 Captains from all over the world. Much as changed since then, and much of it in the industry- not always for the better.
It's not a contest of what is better now, it's the story of what flying the 400 was like for me and some others back in the day, the history of such a wonderful plane, the 747's that predated her and how they came to be.
Huh, I never knew there was an airport out there."The Hong Kong Aviation Club remains based at Kai Tak which is the focus of all social activities. The relocation of the main airport from Kai Tak to Chek Lap Kok has resulted in the closure of the famous Kai Tak runway and at present recreational flying is not permitted at CLK. All flying activities now take place at Shek Kong. The Club continues to provide flight training instruction including aerobatics and is currently running a young eagles program giving the opportunity for young people to experience flying. The HKAC prime objective is to continue to promote all aspects of recreational flying."
From their website. No idea where Shek Kong is
My dad seems to have the same feeling for the -400. He liked the DC-10 a lot, and has fond memories of the 727 rolling up to a little station on gravel and loading through the aft air stair in the early 70s.
But it seems like the -400 was the pinnacle. He talks about the -200 and what a significant step forward it was over the -100, and all the quirky variants they had managed to scrape together as UA scrambled to find 747s in the Pacific expansion of the 80s and 90s. In the end the -400 is the only one he expresses any desire for one last ride
The 744 is nice. The -8 probably even better and both definitely a step up from the old -100/200 models. However, our -400's are very noisy and cramped up front.
For comfort, big spacious cockpit, quietness (don't need headsets), power, speed, system automation and the fact it just doesn't look like anything else out there....my fav out of all the types I've flown has to be the MD11.
There's a recently retired Capt here who's father flew the Clipper boats for TWA and eventually retired as a 747 Capt. Now that's walking history.....what a career!
I really miss the three holers. Shame the MD-11 didn't get the orders/meet its promised performance right away. Of course ETOPS didn't help I guess.
I figure my career started with twins and will end in a similar way, only hopefully with a significantly larger check. At least I got to fly a turboprop and a twin with engines in the back.....I love the stories of guys who flew clippers, connies, Dakotas and end up crossing oceans on the top of a 747. Really truly amazing times. I like how safe and reliable those guys made it for us, but sometimes I think I was born 40 or 50 years late. ;-)
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The 744 is nice. The -8 probably even better and both definitely a step up from the old -100/200 models. However, our -400's are very noisy and cramped up front.
For comfort, big spacious cockpit, quietness (don't need headsets), power, speed, system automation and the fact it just doesn't look like anything else out there....my fav out of all the types I've flown has to be the MD11.
There's a recently retired Capt here who's father flew the Clipper boats for TWA and eventually retired as a 747 Capt. Now that's walking history.....what a career!
....I love the stories of guys who flew clippers, connies, Dakotas and end up crossing oceans on the top of a 747. Really truly amazing times. I like how safe and reliable those guys made it for us, but sometimes I think I was born 40 or 50 years late. ;-)