One of my biggest regrets as an airplane nerd is never being able to fly into Kai Tak, which had one of the most incredible approaches in the world.. Unfortunately, the airport closed when I was about eight years old. So, here’s a great video from the cockpit of the approach.
Well, at least there’s Flight Simulator. I really should go out and buy FlyTampa’s version of Kai Tak. You can see some incredible screenshots here.
I was lucky enough to have made the Kai Tak approach, as passenger, from both ends of the runway. But the first time is always the best. especially as I had been advised on which side of the aircraft to sit, starboard, for maximum effect on the city side approach.
Unfortunately, the video does not show the large checkerboard on a hill side above the airport, which was used as a target, before the final run into the runway.
While living in HK, my home office overlooked the South China Sea, and I could watch the aircraft approaching. You can actually see where I lived at 2m 30s on the video, just outside the cockpit window. I would have my aviation band radio tuned to the tower frequency and could watch the approach, represented by 1:00 to 2:30 on this video. I could also walk outside the house about 100m and watch the rest of the approach with the turns into the runway from far above the airport. A magnificent sight, which is, as you say, no more. Somehow Chek Lap Kok does not match up to Kai Tak for excitement.