It will be a blast from the past on Sunday when a Cathay Pacific A350 passenger jet soars above Victoria Harbour to commemorate the city's aviation history that began 100 years ago in Kai Tak.
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The special flight demonstration coincides with the historic debut staging of the Hong Kong Sevens at Kai Tak Sports Park.
The CX8100 flight will take off at around 4pm, flying past Central, Wan Chai, Kai Tak Stadium and North Point through the harbor.
"The thundering roar of the engines, the bustling neighborhood right underneath These collective memories of Kai Tak shall come alive on March 30, back in where it all began," Cathay wrote on Facebook.
The government said it "symbolizes the century-long legacy of Hong Kong's aviation history" as it invites the public to witness "this momentous and meaningful occasion."
Starting as a simple airfield in 1925, Kai Tak, over decades, developed into a main air hub that connected Hong Kong to the world.
Located in the heart of Kowloon City with a runway extending into the sea, the former Kai Tak airport was known for the remarkable airplane landings.
Residents could look up and see aircraft roar right over their neighborhood - a memory cherished and shared by Hongkongers from certain generations.
Pilots, meanwhile, remembered Kai Tak as the most difficult airport to fly in and out of as it required a 45-degree turn below 500 feet to align with the runway.
In 1998, a year after Hong Kong's handover, the airport was relocated to Chek Lap Kok. Residents crowded rooftops to bid farewell to the old one.
The former site in Kai Tak was redeveloped and is currently home to the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal and the newly opened Kai Tak Sports Park.
The former runway has been turned into the Kai Tak Runway Park, where visitors can see the yellow and black checkerboard patterns, once used as a landing guide, and other aviation design elements.
To facilitate the flight demonstration, the Civil Aviation Department will establish a temporary restricted flying zone in and around Victoria Harbour.
Activities such as the flying of unmanned aircraft systems, including drones and model aircraft, as well as kite-flying and releasing balloons, will be restricted.
CAD will announce details of the restricted flying zone on "eSUA," the electronic portal for small unmanned aircraft, and by Notice To Airmen.
Cathay said the flight activity is subject to weather conditions, with more details to be announced.jamie.liu@singtaonewscorp.com
