LAX From United States of America, joined Dec 2000, 2290 posts, RR: 3 Posted (9 years 3 months 1 week 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 7473 times:
On March 31, 2004, Just Planes Videos will release a 2-Disc DVD set featuring Kai Tak International Airport, which closed forever in July 1998.
I've been looking forward to a "Best Of Kai Tak" type of DVD release from JPV for a couple of years now. I've known it was in the works for quite some time now, and am glad to see it's now officially been announced on the Just Planes' website.
This Kai Tak DVD set will contain ALL of the "Final Day" program (which was previously released on VHS format); plus ALL of the 1997 two-hour program.
I've been told by JPV's main man that the first 3 hours of this mega six-hour set will contain approx. one-half of the first 3 VHS videos of HKG, but part of this portion will be "re-edited" to feature possibly some footage that was not included on the VHS versions. Basically, Mr. Moskal has chosen the "best" footage of the first six hours of 1995-1996 material to place onto Disc 1 of this DVD collection.
I'm very excited about this release....and I hope some of you guys who enjoy JPV's products will be too. (Nice-looking cover too, IMO. )
Price is $39.95 (USD), plus the $6.00 (USD) for the cheapest Shipping option. Not a bad deal, considering it's six full hours of the greatest airport ever designed (from a spotter's point-of-view). In fact, it's much less expensive than what the same amount of video footage would cost in the WAR series. Six hours of WAR programs would = $60.00.
While the picture quality will certainly not be as good as the newer Digitally-produced JPV programs on DVD, I think the Kai Tak material will still be pretty good. But we do need to keep in mind that ALL of this material was shot BEFORE JPV went to "Digital" cameras in late 1998. So all the footage will be NON-Digital. However, I've been told that (while certainly not "perfect"), it's still fairly decent-looking after the transfer to DVD. And anyway, it's Kai Tak! So any footage is bound to look good of this great airport, in my view.
I'd enjoy hearing what you guys think of this DVD set when it arrives (that is, if you decide to cough up the $45.95 to get a copy ).
I, for one, am looking forward to this DVD release very much.
777guy From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 488 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (9 years 3 months 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 7236 times:
First off I apologize for being so long in spotting this post. It looks like an airport DVD that I might really consider buying. If so it would be my first since they went to DVD format. So I am wondering do they break the airport DVDs into chapters or is it just a continuous run format? From the look of their site it does not address this.
Lax From United States of America, joined Dec 2000, 2290 posts, RR: 3 Reply 2, posted (9 years 3 months 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 7218 times:
777 .........
Yes, the JPV Airport DVDs *are* divided into "Chapters". There's a chapter break every 30 minutes. I assume the 2-Disc Kai Tak will continue that trend.
LAX From United States of America, joined Dec 2000, 2290 posts, RR: 3 Reply 4, posted (9 years 3 months 1 day 12 hours ago) and read 7183 times:
S'alright.
But remember ..... For supplying invaluable info like this, YOU must buy me the upcoming Kai Tak program. If you're short on funds at the moment, you can pay via the Installment Plan.
"Cathay 778 Heavy, Kai Tak Tower ... Wind 230 @ 12, Altimeter Two-Niner-Niner-Eight, Cleared to land, Runway 13. ... Caution: Wake Turbulence; preceding arrival was heavy Boeing Triple-Seven."
Roots From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 98 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 23 hours ago) and read 6919 times:
Does anyone have their DVD's? Are they any good? These two look interesting.
N754pr From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 9, posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 6898 times:
As mentioned on the boxes the pictures are only pictures, The EXACT landings are not in the video.
If you like aviation you will like them, if you want stuff made by a pro then you may not be 100% happy and neither will you get it for the same price. I can tell you the guy puts a great deal of time into making the DVD's.
For the record some of the tape I took in the mid 90's is used in these DVD's and before any of you ask, NO I dont get commission!!
Lax From United States of America, joined Dec 2000, 2290 posts, RR: 3 Reply 10, posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 6895 times:
>> "As mentioned on the boxes the pictures are only pictures, The EXACT landings are not in the video."
Sure don't know where you arrive at that info. I've got them all, and NOWHERE on any of the DVD packages does it say this about the cover shots. (Although, it IS very possible, and even likely, that N754 is correct 100%, and that the photos are just "examples" of the "kind" of action you'll see on the DVDs.)
I've watched nearly all of "Vol. 9", and I think it's pretty darn good.
There's a brief "Producer Commentary", subtitles for much of the ATC we hear, and interesting on-screen facts about the airlines that frequented Kai Tak International during the times filmed, which vary by DVD -- some are from 1994-1995; with "The Final Day" being, duh!, the Final Day (07/05/1998) (hehe); and "The Final Year" being 1997-1998 coverage.
Lax From United States of America, joined Dec 2000, 2290 posts, RR: 3 Reply 12, posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 6874 times:
>> "I just received 10, 11, and 12. That's how I saw that."
Then you received a different cover design from the ones I received. (Although I did return them all, due to failure to play on NTSC machines.)
777guy From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 488 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 5 days 22 hours ago) and read 6857 times:
Does anybody know what the running time on these various Air Utopia programs are?
Lax From United States of America, joined Dec 2000, 2290 posts, RR: 3 Reply 14, posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 6843 times:
To N754pr ...... I feel the need to offer up an official apology to you regarding the matter of the Air Utopia packaging notes. You are 100% correct. The back of the boxes do indeed (in small lettering) state: "Not all photos match every scene".
I overlooked this small text previously. Sorry about my stupidity on this matter. No hard feelings, I hope.
Lax From United States of America, joined Dec 2000, 2290 posts, RR: 3 Reply 15, posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 6847 times:
>> "Does anybody know what the running time on these various Air Utopia programs are?"
Yes.
All of the DVDs run 75 minutes, except Volume 9 ("Kai Tak Final Year"), which runs 90 minutes.
As for their VHS airport videos (which will probably ALL be transferred to DVD as well pretty soon) -- SXM runs the longest (a full 2 hours); the San Diego and Bangkok volumes run 90 minutes each; with the remainder of them lasting 75 minutes each.
Utopia's one "cockpit" volume (PB Air) runs for 90 minutes.
Lax From United States of America, joined Dec 2000, 2290 posts, RR: 3 Reply 17, posted (9 years 2 months 3 weeks 5 days 14 hours ago) and read 6829 times:
Why would you prefer VCDs over DVD-Video? DVD offers much better quality.
Aviationwiz From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 953 posts, RR: 4 Reply 19, posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 6582 times:
I just ordered this myself, I spotted it in the JustPlanes newsletter I got today and ordered immediatly. $47.95 with UPS Ground shipping. (USPS isn't reliable enough for my tastes.)
747srule From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 419 posts, RR: 0 Reply 20, posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 6578 times:
777guy From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 488 posts, RR: 0 Reply 21, posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 6535 times:
"I just ordered this myself, I spotted it in the JustPlanes newsletter I got today and ordered immediatly. $47.95 with UPS Ground shipping. (USPS isn't reliable enough for my tastes.)"
I always use the USPS option for my Just Plane orders and usually receive within 2 working days. Just curious if others here have problems with the USPS ordering?
Lax From United States of America, joined Dec 2000, 2290 posts, RR: 3 Reply 22, posted (9 years 1 month 2 weeks 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 6527 times:
>> "Just curious if others here have problems with the USPS ordering?"
Not here. JPV's USPS Shipping is excellent. They always ship via "Priority". Arrives in 2 days.
Upgrading to UPS or FedEx on JPV domestic orders is a total waste of $$, IMO. Because it's NOT any faster. (Same with Amazon.com. Their FREE S&H, in fact, is as fast (sometimes faster!) than if you pay for Shipping.)
I only wish JPV would offer a "Media Mail" option for an amount less than the $6.00 standard USPS charge. It would probably only take 1 to 2 days longer to arrive; but the charge would be approx. $2-$3 less.
Let's face it, kids, shipping an order containing a single 4-oz. DVD does NOT cost anybody $6.00 to ship (even using Priority). That would cost you or me $1.42 to mail via "Media" (in USA).
Having a lower-cost "Media Mail" option would be welcome, in my view.
777guy From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 488 posts, RR: 0 Reply 23, posted (9 years 1 month 1 week 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 6413 times:
Upgrading to UPS or FedEx on JPV domestic orders is a total waste of $$, IMO. Because it's NOT any faster. (Same with Amazon.com. Their FREE S&H, in fact, is as fast (sometimes faster!) than if you pay for Shipping.)
I only wish JPV would offer a "Media Mail" option for an amount less than the $6.00 standard USPS charge. It would probably only take 1 to 2 days longer to arrive; but the charge would be approx. $2-$3 less.
I agree with you on both counts here LAX.
As for the the "Media Mail" option it would not bother me to wait a few extra days for delivery. Over the course of several purchases that would save a bundle of costs.
H. Simpson From United States of America, joined Mar 2001, 949 posts, RR: 3 Reply 24, posted (9 years 1 month 1 week 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 6399 times:
How is the quality of the video though? Good/bad/terrible/masterpiece?
25 Lax: >> "Good/bad/terrible/masterpiece?" Good. Very good, in fact, for non-digital footage (IMO).
26 Aviationwiz: I always upgrade to UPS if given the choice. USPS is not reliable, there is no tracking, and no guaranteed delivery times. Amazon's free shipping, dep
27 Lax: >> "USPS Media Mail is terrible, it takes 5 business days at the least to get to it's destination from CA to MN, then say, coast to coast would be a
28 Lax: My Review for the Just Planes Videos 2-Disc DVD presentation of Hong Kong -- Kai Tak International Airport (released onto Digital Versatile Disc on Ma