Gi Chao, Ph.D.

General aviation in Hong Kong

Happy Sea Lodge 海上樂居 came to Hong Kong in 1996, the first private yacht in the city to carry a helipad. Rotor flying around Hong Kong has run from her deck ever since.

Helicopter anchored in the bay

Anchored in the Bay

Perfect time for a dip

Helicopter tied down on deck

See Cecil waving

on the passenger deck below the helipad

Helicopter on approach to Happy Lodge

Happy Lodge

The Happy Lodge swimming pool still looks the same 30 years later

Boat landing demonstrated while the boat was under way

Mike Smith

Demonstrating a boat landing while boat is in ocean cruise

On the deck — Shut down and centred on the pad, July 2014

On the deck

Shut down and centred on the pad, July 2014

Doors open — Cooling down after shutdown, the hills close in

Doors open

Cooling down after shutdown, the hills close in

At the helm — With the skipper aboard Happy Sea Lodge — the boat with the helipad

At the helm

With the skipper aboard Happy Sea Lodge — the boat with the helipad

At the controls

Cecil took the lessons. The flying test was left to his daughter. Training runs through the Aviation Club of Hong Kong, China at Shek Kong — the only place in the city a private pilot's licence can be earned and kept current — and as a Lieutenant of the Hong Kong Air Cadet Corps she has flown its cadets.

In the air — Over the moorings, July 2015

In the air

Over the moorings, July 2015

Air Cadet Corps — Flying cadets as a Lieutenant, May 2015

Air Cadet Corps

Flying cadets as a Lieutenant, May 2015

Panel and compass — The water below, June 2013

Panel and compass

The water below, June 2013

At the club — With fellow B-KCA pilot Michael Wong and Gi's mother Kelly, November 2014

At the club

With fellow B-KCA pilot Michael Wong and Gi's mother Kelly, November 2014

In the hangar — Blades bagged, B-KCB at rest

In the hangar

Blades bagged, B-KCB at rest

R22 airborne — A Robinson R22 over the hills, 2008

R22 airborne

A Robinson R22 over the hills, 2008

R44 Raven I — B-KCA on the ground, 2008

R44 Raven I

B-KCA on the ground, 2008

A day in Cheung Chau

Cecil's birthday falls on the Mid-Autumn Festival, so the moon festival has never been a family occasion alone. Flying in to give the island's older residents a look at their own island from the air, and to hand out tea, rice, oil and mooncakes. Cheuk Nang's New Villa Cecil stands on the same coastline.

Cheung Chau from the air — The helipad and the beach

Cheung Chau from the air

The helipad and the beach

Down on the grass — The R44 on Cheung Chau, September 2011

Down on the grass

The R44 on Cheung Chau, September 2011

Mooncakes — Tea, rice, oil and mooncakes, handed out to the island's older residents

Mooncakes

Tea, rice, oil and mooncakes, handed out to the island's older residents

On the island — September 2011

On the island

September 2011