Historic flight plan

1955: Hong Kong Airways, an East Asian route

A Michel Lagneau historic route presented as a clear cockpit briefing, ready to help you prepare the simulator, follow each stopover and enjoy the journey.

Period1955AuthorMichel LagneauReading3 min

6Waypoints~ 4 298 kmDistance2Segments

Interactive route, leg by leg, with animated playback.

Real route map

Approximate track based on the article waypoints and available aeronautical coordinates.

01Hong Kong and Taiwan02Japan and Korea

Pre-flight briefing

Hong Kong Airways, an East Asian route

Understand the mission

Start with the historic context: it sets the atmosphere, aircraft choice and overall logic of the journey.

Prepare the simulator

Check scenery, recommended aircraft, fuel and weather before launching the first leg.

Follow the legs

Use the airport codes, flying times and route notes to build your navigation leg by leg.

Enjoy the journey

Let the route shape the experience: adjust lighting, document waypoints and take time to rediscover the story.

Historic flight plan

Michel Lagneau route notebook

Settle into the cockpit, prepare your aircraft and follow the journey as a proper historic crossing.

A demanding regional network in a Douglas DC-4

In the mid-1950s, Hong Kong Airways operated several East Asian services in cooperation with Northwest Airlines. This route links Hong Kong, Taiwan, Okinawa, Japan and South Korea.

The Douglas DC-4 is the natural aircraft for this journey. On the longer legs, manage fuel, airspeed and cruise altitude carefully: this is classic airline flying, not a simple point-and-click hop.

Period1955

AirlineHong Kong Airways

Suggested aircraftDouglas DC-4

NavigationGPS with VOR/DME and ADF/NDB

Flying notes

Set cruise power progressively and keep airspeed near 185 kt when the aircraft model supports it.
Above 10,000 ft, climb in steps and look for a favorable level, especially on long sectors.
With real weather, plan generous fuel reserves: several legs are far beyond short regional flying.

Suggested route

Hong Kong and Taiwan

This chapter structures the Hong Kong and Taiwan segment with regular legs and distances to monitor in the navigation block.

VHHX → RCTP

Toward Okinawa and Tokyo

This chapter structures the Toward Okinawa and Tokyo segment with regular legs and distances to monitor in the navigation block.

RCTP → MCAS → ROTM → RJTT

Japan and Korea

This chapter structures the Japan and Korea segment with regular legs and distances to monitor in the navigation block.

RJTT → RKPK → RKSS