New Kai Tak Scenery Coming On...

[Deltawing]

I never got the chance to fly into Kai Tak. FS2000 came out before I even knew it existed. I am anxious to get the chance to fly the famous checkerboard.

[RollerBall]

You guys are a really great bunch. Whenever you think you've taken on too much or bitten off more than you can chew you only have to talk to you lot to get really motivated again.

Thanks a lot and I really do mean it.

Now I need your advice.

I've done the navaids - esp the IGS approach to Rwy 13 with the chequerboard and the markers exactly where they should be so you can do a proper instrument approach 'to the book'. Now I've had a lot of emails from all over the world asking for this because my original 'simple' scenery didn't include it.

My IGS works with my original scenery (which quite frankly isn't now up to the mark) and as it happens, also works with Thomas Kwong's FS2000 Kai Tak scenery which at present is the best available (my new one should be even more accurate).

Now my new scenery will be a while coming out - quite a few weeks more - so what should I do?

I wanted to issue my new package with scenery, IGS navaids, plus instrument approach plates etc. The question is, do you think I should release the instrument approach stuff separately now, because so many people want it, or hang on until the whole package is ready?

I'd really like to hear what you think

Roger

[Mr. Bones]

i would wait and release everything together

[FSTipster]

I agree.

You've clearly invested a lot of time and effort into this project. I'd be inclined to have it all up and running as one package rather than release it in bits and pieces.

The flightsim public will, I'm sure, chew it's nails till it arrives, but I've no doubt that'll make it all the more well received when it does.

[jcool28]

My two cents says bring it out with a bang all at once. Plus it will give me some much needed refreshing time in the 744, I've pretty much been sight seeing in my baron for the last few months

[Gene Wilson]

I used to fly in and out of Kai Tak as plane captain on Navy P2V's in the mid-fifties.  We'd make them stop the traffic on the road that crossed the runway and taxi to the very end and then back up to the very edge before running up the engines and taking off.  I was always VERY exciting to land and take off at this airport.

[ozzy72]

Roger please do 1 release with all the whistles and bells, and a newbies guide to TTools and AFCAD to set it all up correctly. I'd hate for anyone to miss out on this masterpiece of yours.

Mark

[RollerBall]

We'd make them stop the traffic on the road that crossed the runway

Hey Gene

That's a great story. I've done a lot of research now and even I've not heard of a road crossing the runway!

There's a lovely old pic I found that shows a fine old BOAC machine on the apron and the caption says something like 'note the lady and the cyclist on the runway - things were much more informal in those days'!!

Those really were the days - and I really do envy you. It's obvious from the response I've had since I did my first little scenery and from all the very affectionate pics of Kai Tak on the Net that the place is really missed.

I also saw a pic that was posted only 2 days ago that says 'note the open market at the north end and the driving range at the south' - the southern part of the runway has now been dug up and - there's worse! - the HAECO and old Cathay buildings have been pulled down.

Wish I'd had a chance to go there first - better still, had the chance to fly into runway 13.



Roger

PS Thanks all you guys for your replies. As usual, good advice. I'll keep the whole package together - just have to start working quicker!

[Gene Wilson]

The British had quanset huts very close to the runway so they would be close to their Vampire fighter jets (this was during the 'Quemoy-Matsu' fighting between Red China and Nationalist China) and all the British would pile out of their barracks to watch us try to take off.  We always made it but there were always sampans anchored right off the end of the runway (with their masts sticking up) that we had to climb above.  Another thing we learned the hard way was not park our aircraft with the prop tips over the open sewers that were in the parking area.  The props would create little tornado-like vortices that would suck stuff out of the trenches.

[RollerBall]

Bet that made your eyes water!

Must've been hell - you'd never wanna do it all over again would you (oh yeah!!!!!!)



Roger

Since I wrote the above I did a quick search for p2v on the Net. This is the first reference I found.

http://p2vneptune.org/index.shtml

We laugh now but it was no picnic and they were brave guys doing a difficult and important job. Gene, I and I bet the other guys here on Simviation salute you and your comrades.

[Gene Wilson]

Thanks, Roger.  I didn't know about the website.  Sure brings back memories...

[daryl_chapman]

Here is more pictures for you.

http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=35046
http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=35027
http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=35094

I got a cockpit landing on 31 in a Emirates A310 and a 13 cockpit landing in a Philippines A330 and a Qantas 763.

My cockpit landing in the Qantas 763:

http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=21538

[RollerBall]

Thanks Daryl.

LOL the 1st one's ref is wrong so I changed the last 8 to a 7 and.....I got one of Colin's CX 777 pics at CLK!!

I already have the second pic in my Kai Tak file - I think it's great. You'll never see that one again ....unless you're doing a forced landing on the driving range!

Look forward to seeing the new ones

Roger

[daryl_chapman]

I gave the direct link to three pics. Should be one more on the way.

[Mark Beaumont]

Looks like I'd better start polishing up some of the old Cathay fleet, Roger!  Well done for this work; I'm watching your Kai Tak development work with great interest!

If you've never been to my own little site, go and have a nose about.  It's as Kai Tak-oriented as it can be!

Mark "Dark Moment" Beaumont

http://www.swiremariners.com/cx.html