Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps No.

604 (CUHK) Squadron

Aviation History in Hong Kong

Principle of Flight

Objectives
Describe development of aviation activities in Hong Kong
Describe Kai Tai Airport History

Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps No. 604 (CUHK ) Squadron

Aviation History in Hong Kong

Contents
Aviation History in Hong Kong

Early aviation in HK
HK Aviation before World War II
HK Aviation after World War II
Recent aviation in HK

Kai Tak Airport

Aviation Training in Hong Kong

Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps No. 604 (CUHK ) Squadron

Aviation History in Hong Kong

Early Aviation in HK (1891-1936)

In 1891, the first Balloon Flight was
conducted by Baldwin Brother in
Hong Kong.

In 18 March 1911, Charles Van

Den Born has a permission of the
first powered flight at the Shatin
with his Henry Farmer biplane.

Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps No. 604 (CUHK ) Squadron

Aviation History in Hong Kong

Early Aviation in HK (1891-1936)

Henry Farmer

Spirit of Sha Tin

Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps No. 604 (CUHK ) Squadron

Aviation History in Hong Kong

HK Aviation before WWII (1891-1936)

In 1936, the first commercial passenger flight arrived Hong
Kong by De Havilland DH 86 Expressed airliner Named
Dorado.

In a later time, regular flight were conducted into Hong Kong

to Shanghai , Guangzhou and other parts of China until the
Second World War in Dec of 1941. All the civil aviation of was
suspended from 1941-1945.

Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps No. 604 (CUHK ) Squadron

Aviation History in Hong Kong

HK Aviation before WWII (1945-1960)

The flight in Kai Tak was resumed
on September 1945 with arrival
of DC-3 of China National Aviation
Company.
The Cathay Pacific first aeroplane,
Betsy, could fly to HK to Europe
later.
1952, The British-built De
Havilland- comet opened the
commercial passenger jet era.
1958, the large commercial
passenger jet-DC8, Comet, and
Boeing 707 became popular in
the commercial airlines.
Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps No. 604 (CUHK ) Squadron

Aviation History in Hong Kong

Early Commercial Flights

Cathay Pacific Airways
formally registered on
24 Sep 1946
Advertisement in SCMP on
10 Dec 1946
HK-Singapore ticket HK$880

How much now?

Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps No. 604 (CUHK ) Squadron

Aviation History in Hong Kong

Early Commercial Flights

Advertisement in SCMP
on 18 Apr 2004
HK-Singapore Return
Ticket HK$990 !!

Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps No. 604 (CUHK ) Squadron

Aviation History in Hong Kong

Cathay Pacifics First Aircraft DC 3 Betsy

Operated 1946-1961
Passenger capacity 28

Betsy was repurchased by CPA

from Air Queensland
Final flight on 23 Sep 1983 over
Victoria Harbour

Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps No. 604 (CUHK ) Squadron

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Aviation History in Hong Kong

Cathay Pacifics Staff in 1952

Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps No. 604 (CUHK ) Squadron

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Aviation History in Hong Kong

Recent HK Aviation (1960s 1970s)

After extension of runway in 1960s, DC8,

707, and comet could be land in Hong Kong
Kai Tak airport.

In 1970s, Boeing 727 and 737 started the

traveling industry of HK and all over the
world.

In 1970s, the first scheduled Boeing 747

service, operated by Pan America World
airway arrival Kai Tak.

Then the aviation of Hong Kong developed

enormously in both scheduled passenger and
cargo services.

It becomes the aviation-hub in Asia and all

over the world.

Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps No. 604 (CUHK ) Squadron

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Aviation History in Hong Kong

Flying Boat in HK

Before airport wild spread, flying boat offered a

good alternative for airplanes.

In 1936, Pan America airway flying boats provided

international passengers and cargo services in Hong
Kong.

Local flying boat services was provided by Cathay

Pacific and MATCO between Hong Kong and Macau
from 1946-1967.

Their flying boat Miss Macau was first record of

aviation hijacking in the world!!!

The flying boats services was terminated in 1970s.

Nowadays, it is used for advertisements in Hong
Kong.

Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps No. 604 (CUHK ) Squadron

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Aviation History in Hong Kong

Kai Tak Airport

In 1924, HO Kai () and AU Tak () reclaim Kowloon Bay for
housing, however, the venture was failed the land was returned to
government.
The government was used for aircrafts landing field and flying boats trip
in 1930s.
In 1935, the first control tower
and fire station was operated in
the airfield.

Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps No. 604 (CUHK ) Squadron

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Aviation History in Hong Kong

Kai Tak Airport

The first runway (13, 31)
was established in 1939
with 457 metres long, the
runway was further extend
to 1371 metres by
Japanese in WWII.
In the same period,
another runway (07,25)
was built on Kai Tak by
Japanese and it was closed
after the war.

Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps No. 604 (CUHK ) Squadron

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Aviation History in Hong Kong

Kai Tak Airport

In 1956, the first passenger terminal was built and
the runway was extended to 2194 metres.
In 1970s, the new passenger terminal became
available and the runway (13,31) was further
extended to 3358 metres for Boeing 747 and DC 10.
In 1976, only 4 millions of passengers passed
through the airport, and the first air cargo terminal
start to work,.

In 1995, over 24 millions passengers and half

millions tons of cargo passed through Kai Tak.
In July of 1998, Kai Tak airport was closed. The Hong
Kong International was moved to Chap Lap Kwok.
Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps No. 604 (CUHK ) Squadron

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Aviation History in Hong Kong

Aviation Training in HK
The Far East Flying Training School (1934-1962)

1920s-1930s, the training of pilots, aircrews and engineers was expanding in

Asia.
In 1934, Vaughan Fowler (who was the Wing Commander of Royal Air force)
determined to set up the first aviation academy in Asia backed up from Far
East aviation company- The Far East Flying Training School (FEFTS).
Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps No. 604 (CUHK ) Squadron

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Aviation History in Hong Kong

Aviation Training in HK
At the beginning, the school was very popular and attracted the
student from Asia. However, the school was closed in the WWII.
In 1951, the school was resumed and located at the north-west corner
of the Kai Tak airport- the present Hong Kong Aviation Club.
In 1962, Typhoon Wanda destroyed the hanger with all the aircrafts in
FEFTS, the school was forced to closed. It was taken over from Aero
Club of Hong Kong, and rename to Far East Flying and Technical School
(FEFATS).

Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps No. 604 (CUHK ) Squadron

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Aviation History in Hong Kong

Far East Flying & Technical School (1962-1983)

The school gave 35 yrs of excellent training
of pilots engineer and technicians.
More than 6000 students were graduated.

Most of them served in the HAECO (Hong

Kong Aircraft Engineering Company
Limited) and other well known company in
the world.
However, the instructors from the school
was suffered the competition of the Hong
Kong Polytechnics and other companies in
1980s, the school was forced to closed and
sold to Hong Kong Aviation Club in 1983 .

Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps No. 604 (CUHK ) Squadron

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Aviation History in Hong Kong

Chek Lap Kwok Airport

Opened in 6 July 1998

Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps No. 604 (CUHK ) Squadron

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Aviation History in Hong Kong

Q&A

Question & Answer

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