Hong Kong Airport The Good Old Days
 

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Photos # 1 and # 2 were taken from the high rise balconies.
Sort of like driving thru midtown Manhattan toTimes Square!

No auto pilot stuff here; hand-fly that Sucker, and don't screw up.
The prayer:"Lord, if I'm gonna die, please don't let it be pilot error!"

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At ILS "Minimums," you break out of the clouds at the top of a hill!
First one to see it calls "Checkerboard in sight"!

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Now...hard right turn and dive! And don't mess around, or you simply won't make it! Is that a short runway or what!
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Woe to you if you're too high!
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Strong cross winds were common ... So you had to "crab" all the way to the runway!


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.....Sometimes the crosswinds were stronger than others...



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Over-shoot, and you're in the drink . Kick it out of the crab too soon, and you're blown back off the runway. Wait too late, and "crunch"...# 4 engine!

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Overreact on the crab correction, and "Crunch" # 1 engine!



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Don't "Float" or try to make a smooth landing, just put it on!
"Firm" landings?help?dissipate energy, and help you stop!


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Drop too low, and you'll drag your wheels thru the high rises!

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What I said was: "I think we're a little high and fast . T hat was a nice smooth touchdown though, Sir!


Tough place to land in those days especially by air
Richard

Richard,

It was a very "interesting" airport and one that you had to have a special checkout to fly into. Autopilot? Ha, it would not react fast enough and any crosswind (which happened often) made the approach a bear.

The new HK airport is a lot easier to get into but has none of the flavour nor personality of the original airport.

Miss the 'old airport', while I was based in Singapore I went to HK every other week (at least) ... that will make over 50 landings; day, night, clouds, rain, wind. Never any 'major' issue.

Never will cease to amaze me how close the wingtips of 747's where from the houses. The myth that you can see what was on TV while 'in the turn' is true, only flight I will request a window seat.

it took me many many tries to land a 737 on that aproach on ms flight simulator 2000, i think i only pulled it off twice :D

The "checkerboard" always brings a smile to my face but at the same time I still tense up as you better be on your toes for that approach, or you will be making a missed approach.

Its kinda like flying into Innsbruck or St. Moritz, you really enjoyed it when you did it, but not sure you ever want to do it again.