China '08 - Beijing & China Aviation Museum

These photos are from a trip in early 2008 to Beijing China. The trip started in Taipei, Taiwan and required a stop in Hong Kong to get a visa. Unfortunately, the weather at HKG didn't cooperate but Beijing more than made up for it.

In China I was able to visit the China Aviation Museum, Beijing Capital Airport and even had time to visit the Great Wall. Special thanks to Yamon for taking me to some of the photo spots at PEK and a great cup of coffee :)

The China Aviation Museum is located about an hours drive north of Beijing in Datangshan. The museum contains over 200 aircraft including Chinese & Russian aircraft as you would expect; however quite surprisingly there are a large number of Western types on display - some of which probably never served with the PLAAF or CAAC.

Part of the collection (including an F-104!) is located in a huge curved hanger cut into a small mountain. Photos in the tunnel are quite difficult due to poor lighting. The entrance to the museum is actually a very long taxiway that connects to an airfield south of the museum.

Beijing Capital Airport (PEK) offers several places to photograph aircraft. There were no problems with security inside or outside of the terminal (except for a visit by El Al security!).

Air China has a few Olympic special color schemes but the highlight was definitely the North Korean Air Koryo Il-62.

Taipei - Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) - 16 Feb 2008 to 17 Feb 2008
Hong Kong - Hong Kong International (HKG) - 24 Feb 2008 to 25 Feb 2008
Beijing - Beijing Capital International (PEK) - 26 Feb 2008
China Aviation Museum (Datangshan) - 27 Feb 2008
Beijing - Beijing Capital International (PEK) - 28 Feb 2008