VHHH · IGS 13 · 1998
The Fly Kai Tak blog
New features, bug fixes and notes from the Kai Tak approach.
Latest posts
Kowloon Walled City, rebuilt from photographs
Kowloon Walled City is rebuilt as one solid mass of 10 to 14 storey blocks with balconies, aerials, rooftop shacks, shop signs and tube-lit windows at night.
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Terminal gate blocks, the nullah and the tank farm
Kai Tak's terminal gets protruding gate blocks for its jet bridges, the nullah crosses the apron under three taxi bridges, and the tank farm moves.
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The real road network, as it was in 1998
Fly Kai Tak's traffic now uses Hong Kong's official road network, with Route 8, the Hung Hom Bypass, Kai Tak and other post-1998 roads removed.
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The Regal Kai Tak Hotel, rebuilt from photos
The Regal Kai Tak Hotel rebuilt from photos and its roof plan: the L-shaped tower, glass bands, brick end walls, podium terrace, name signs and night lights.
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The Big Buddha at Ngong Ping
The Tian Tan Buddha at Ngong Ping arrives: the bronze statue, its altar, steps and Po Lin Monastery, floodlit at night, on newly extended Lantau terrain.
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Kwai Chung container terminals come to life
The Kwai Chung container terminals get more ships, detailed quay cranes, offices, truck gates, freight stations, depots, yard traffic and working lighters.
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Apron mast lights off on clear days
The apron floodlight masts' lamps and obstruction lights now switch off on clear days and come on at night, in overcast weather and in fog.
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Red floodlight masts over the stands
Tall red floodlight masts now stand between the stands across the Kai Tak apron, as in 1998 photos, with lamps and obstruction lights at night.
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The car park moves to the runway end, with the airport hotel and its footbridge
The Kai Tak car park moves to the runway end of the terminal frontage, with the airport hotel across Prince Edward Road East and its footbridge.
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The car park roof view moves to the new car park
The Car park roof spotter view now sits on the new landside car park, at the runway-end rail, with a clear view over the terminal.
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13 more parking bays from the Kai Tak plan
Checked against an unofficial Kai Tak plan: new stands 21-26, an east apron with stands 51-57, and south apron stands 71-81 now nose-in.
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The car park moves to the landside of the terminal
The Kai Tak car park now runs along the landside of the terminal, with footbridges, the clock and airport sign on its end wall and spotters on the roof.
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The Kai Tak shop is open
Fly Kai Tak has a merch shop: checkerboard and IGS 13 tees, a Runway 13 cap, a 1998 patch, a pin, a poster, a mug and stickers.
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Boats along the seawall, not in the inlet
Boats pass right alongside Kai Tak's runway seawall again, as in the 1990s, but never enter the inlet under the taxiways to the south apron.
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Wider spacing between taxiing aircraft
Taxiing aircraft at Kai Tak now keep double the gap on the taxiways. Departures queuing at the runway end can still close up.
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The checkerboard turn tightens at the end
Kai Tak's checkerboard turn now starts gently and tightens to about 25° of bank over Kowloon City before rolling out on the runway.
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Maintenance apron now matches the flight apron
The Kai Tak maintenance apron in front of the hangars now uses the same concrete colour as the main flight apron, with no dark patch or seam.
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The checkerboard turn now starts at 650 ft, 2 NM out
Kai Tak's checkerboard turn now starts about 2 NM out at 650 ft and rolls out near 140 ft, with an orange-and-white checkerboard.
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One bridge, a joined-up apron and a wider taxiway
Kai Tak's apron now runs into the south apron, one bridge crosses the inlet, and the taxiway tarmac widens near the Runway 31 end.
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The control tower is back on the terminal roof
The Kai Tak control tower moves to its real spot on the terminal roof at the runway end, rebuilt from period photos with outward-leaning glass.
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