03-31-2008, 09:15 AM
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Guru
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 6,446
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Quote:
Originally Posted by raytri
That sounds similar to landing at the old Hong Kong airport:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kai_Tak_Airport
Landing at Kai Tak was considered challenging. Depending on the landing direction, aircraft had to pass over densely populated areas in Kowloon at low altitudes. The infamous "checkerboard" approach to Runway 13 involved flying down an ILS-like "Instrument Guidance System," toward floodlit orange and white checkerboard patterns painted on a hilltop. The checkerboard served as the landmark for a sharp 47-degree right turn at about 100-meter altitude to align with the runway -- a marginal manoeuvre at best in a large, heavy jet -- often made more difficult by turbulence and strong crosswinds during the last part of final approach and at the runway. Many airplanes were damaged attempting this approach and landing.
At the northern end of the runway, buildings up to 6 stories rose just across the road. The other three sides of the runway were surrounded by Victoria harbour. The low altitude manoeuvre was so spectacular that some passengers have claimed to have witnessed the flickering of televisions through apartment windows as their aircraft approached the airport's landing strip. |
here's an interesting landing at kai tak:
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“Mayor Palin fails to have a firm grasp of something very simple: the truth.”
[Frontiersman editorial, 2/7/97] "God Bless John mKKKain, and John Bless America." - Fred Thompson
Quote:
Originally Posted by Spare
Well, that settles it ... who cares about facts?
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