HAECO has undertaken and supported many sophisticated aircraft overhaul and modification projects in its day, the latest being Hong Kong’s first locally-assembled kit plane. The project was initiated and privately funded by Cathay Pacific pilot Hank Cheng, who flies Boeing 777s.
The Van’s RV-8 kit plane, which has a wing span of 7.34 metres, took Hank six years of leisure time, HK$1.5 million and voluntary help from 200 secondary school students to assemble. HAECO supported Hank’s mammoth undertaking by lending him a corner of its maintenance hangar to work on the project. A number of HAECO staff members participated as technical advisors, including Alfred Poon, Assistant General Manager, Technical Services.
Upon obtaining the necessary licences, Hank hopes to take the aircraft on a world tour, crossing Mainland China, Russia, America, Europe, the Middle East, India, Cambodia and Thailand to raise money for charity.