In July 1998 a monumental and sad event took place in the history of aviation: the closure of the old Hong Kong Kai Tak airport. In the months and weeks before the spectators crowded more and more the famous parking house to witness for the last time planes flying the probably most famous curved approach ever. And then, in the night from July 5 to 6, the airport was closed and this unique and spectacular approach was history…

But, with this scenery these final days of Kai Tak have been brought back to MSFS, brought back to life, and brought back to you!

With this scenery we don’t have to miss the last days of Kai Tak’s operations any longer. And they will never end again. Step into a 747 cockpit and start flying the IGS13 approach towards checker hill, at the landing light in Durham Road start banking into a tight turn, while just roaring over the cities rooftops and sensing the cheering and applause of hundreds if not thousands of spectators lined up on the roadsides and on every building. Approach by approach, in these days a spectacular air show was unfolding and every captain rightfully could be proud like a display pilot flying tricky and difficult maneuvers in close proximity to the ground.

The Hong Kong Kai Tak 1998 scenery is dedicated to the last days of Kai Tak. The scenery specifically shows many details, which were unique for that period of time:

• On July the fourth 1998, the USN NIMITZ class aircraft carrier CVN-72 USS Abraham Lincoln arrived in Hong Kong to celebrate Independence Day. So, the scenery contains a model of VCN-72 anchoring in Victoria Harbour. The details of the ship reflect the state of the late nineties.
• As mentioned, in the last days of operation a large crowd of spectators watched the final flights. Numerous spectators are modelled in this scenery. While flying the final turn towards the runway, the people are waving with their arms!
• In the nineties, frequently shark attacks were recorded in the waters around Hong Kong. So, if you carefully follow the shoreline of the Kai Tak airport you will find a shark lingering under the water surface.
• Colors of apron markings and lines matching the final state of the airport. The same applies to the buildings.

Highlights of the scenery:

• The modelled state reflects the last days of operation in July 1998.
• As the USS Abraham Lincoln arrived in Hong Kong on July 4, 1998, the displayed scenery matches the reality at one single day: July 5, 1998, the day before Kai Tak was closed.
• Airport shorelines designed as 3D models for maximum realism. Like on an aircraft carrier, the runway and the taxiways are elevated considerably above the water level.
• Totally four aircraft bridges carefully crafted as 3D models.
• Cheering spectators are crowding the parking house
• The long bridge between South Apron and Taxiway B1 has a length of more than 250m and has modelled the shallow ramps from both sides meeting in the middle. Taxiing over it you need to apply power on the first half and then brakes on the second half!
• The Kai Tak Nullah (River) flows in a 3D riverbed right through the middle of the airport. As in reality, 10 bridges in total are crossing the Kai Tak River.
• Subtle modelling of the shallow waters around the runway.
• The old East Apron layout (as it was prior the 1992 expansion) is visible by slightly different colored asphalt.
• As no aerial imagery in today standards exist from the airport, a hand drawn image is used as airport background with a resolution of more than 30kx30k-pixel.
• Custom painted lines for taxiway.
• IGS 13 instrument approach with displaced DME to correctly indicate the runway threshold after the turn.
• 1998-era model of the USS Abraham Lincoln anchored in Victoria Harbour.
• The carrier has a landable flight deck and an open hangar deck below, through which you can fly!
• As a “not really realistic but fun”-challenge, you can e.g. take off with from the long bridge to the East, turn left by 270 degrees and fly under the bridge, then turn to the West towards the USS Abraham Lincoln, fly at 40ft altitude through the aft hangar opening from one side to the other side of the carrier’s hull and then turn to land on the carrier!
• Further tips for fantastic flights: fly with a small plane over Victoria Harbour 40 minutes after sunset to get one of most spectacular experiences in MSFS
• Besides the already thrilling IGS 13 approach, try the VISUAL STEP DOWN RWY13 approach starting at Tathong-point: an approach which lead you once around Hong Kong Island using nothing but your eyes and rudder and stick!
• Realistic approach lights placed on the roof of the social club at the Durham Road.
• (Static) trains have been added on the noticeable KCR East Rail-line, which marks the begin of the final turn on IGS 13.
• Fully scripted SID’s and STAR’s in compliance with the charts from https://xe.ivao.aero/pilot/vhhx/.
• Thousands of Kai Tak images were reviewed as baseline for modelling. Many rare photographs showed details in sparsely documented parts of the airport.

Technical features:

• No AI cars on the apron, taxiways and runway! This scenery has resolved the issue with cars appearing at the wrong places, so you don’t need to set the road traffic density to 0%.
• Resource saving innovative tileable texture atlases.
• Approach lights with sequenced strobes showing the path of the final turn.
• Animated clock for the famous Maurice Lacroix-advertisement.
• Animated airport baggage tugs.
• FPS friendly parallax windows.