Kai Tak Airport, International airport in Kowloon City District, Hong Kong
Kai Tak Airport was an international airport in Kowloon City District, Hong Kong, that operated until 1998. The runway jutted into Victoria Harbour and forced pilots to navigate tight approaches through residential blocks.
An investment company began land reclamation work on the site in 1912, paving the way for aviation use. From 1925 onwards, the location grew into the main gateway for air travel in the city and remained so for over seven decades.
The airport gave its name to the surrounding neighborhood and shaped daily life for residents who lived beneath the flight paths for decades. Many locals developed a special relationship with the constant roar of engines overhead, seeing it as part of their home.
The site was transformed into a development area after closure and now hosts new residential neighborhoods and parks. Visitors can walk through the former grounds and still trace the outline of the old runway in the street layout.
The notorious approach procedure required pilots to make a sharp right turn shortly before landing while flying low over densely packed apartment buildings. Passengers could peer directly into homes from their windows during descent.
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