This year will be a special one for Hong Kong's aviation community as it celebrates the 100th anniversary of the first powered flight in the territory, which took place on 18 March 1911.
Belgian former cycling champion Charles Van den Born arrived in Hong Kong a century ago with three Henry Farman biplanes and took off from Sha Tin beach.
Hong Kong International Airport - host of this week's Asian Aerospace show - now handles around 900 flight movements per day and is one of the busiest airports in the world. The centenary celebration programme aims to promote the city as an aviation hub, while instilling youth interest in the industry and raising money for charity.
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© CADHong Kong International Airport (above) opened in 1998 taking over from the now defunct Kai Tak Airport (top) |
The main event to mark the centenary milestone will be an aircraft-pull on 17 March. Four aircraft - a Cathay Pacific Boeing 747, A330s operated by Dragon Airlines and Hong Kong Airlines, and a replica of the Farman biplane - are to be pulled forward 50m (164ft) with the aim of setting a Guinness world record.
Pulling the aircraft will be Hong Kong Legislative Council members, district council representatives, aviation industry figures, airport workers, voluntary organisations and the general public.
Source: Flight Daily News
