A number of our members are now returning from the Oshkosh 2025 EAA Air Venture airshow – we look forward to hearing about their adventures and travels at the next gathering on Wednesday the 13th of August at the West Adelaide Football Club. Please note there is no need to book in for this meeting. The booking system has been suspended for the remainder of 2025 and will be reviewed at the end of the year.

Our guest speaker will be Steve Nelson on the history of Kai Tak aerodrome in Hong Kong. Steve has forwarded the following details about his presentation:

KAI TAK AIRPORT HONG KONG 1925-1998, A HISTORY

Many of us will have flown into Hong Kong before.
If you arrived before 1998 you will likely have experienced the famous IGS 13 approach.
A turning, swooping arrival low over the buildings of Kowloon is a treasured memory.
From its small beginnings as a failed business adventure to becoming the third busiest airport in the world, Kai Tak has an interesting and varied history.
An airport surrounded by a city and high terrain, Kai Tak faced many challenges. Yet post World War 2 it enjoyed double digit growth until eventually it became a victim of its own success, culminating in its closure in 1998.
Captain Steve Nelson (retired), was a 28 year veteran of Cathay Pacific Airways. The first 13 years of his career he operated out of Kai Tak, flying the IGS approach hundreds of times.
Come and hear his account of an airport like no other, which now sadly only exists in our memories. 

Our next Club event is the RFDS fundraiser breakfast at YMBD on the 23rd of August. Please come along and support our charity of many years. Looking ahead, we have a fly/drive visit to the Pocock’s at Loxton 12-13 September as well as a visit to Emilis Prelgauskas’ sailplane museum at Monarto on Saturday the 20th of September.  As I will be overseas until the end of August, I would like to thank Secretary Barry Windle and the Councillors for looking after my duties during my absence.

Safe Flying

John Siebert