Hong Kong’s old airport, Kai Tak, was always a challenging approach for any pilot, particularly during the Typhoon season but what was it like to actually fly around the Checker Board.  Hopefully, this Tale explains all.

One particular Captain’s very last Kai Tak landing.

Aircraft on the approach would just clear the apartment blocks of Kowloon.

How the airport looked in the late ’60s before the IGS was built.

A 747-400 ran off the end of Runway 13 into the harbour. The military blew off its fin because it jutted up into the take off path.

Images under Creative Commons licence with thanks to Christian Hanuise, Barbara Spengler and Ywchow.