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SCMP Reporter

THE name of Charles Van den Born has for most Hong Kong people been lost in the mists of time.

  But if the Hong Kong Historical Aircraft Association (HKHAA) has its way, Mr Van den Born will have his day once again.

  The Belgian aviator was the first man to make a powered flight in Hong Kong.

   Given that the airport and aviation industry in general has contributed greatly to the economic success of the territory, the HKHAA believes Mr Van den Born's part in it is worth remembering.

  To this end the society is looking for $1 million to build a full-sized replica of the Farman 11 biplane which the pioneer aviator first flew in Hong Kong on March 18, 1911, HKHAA chairman Ted Pryor told the Hong Kong International Aerospace Forum yesterday at a luncheon meeting.

  A builder has been found to reconstruct the craft, he said.

  Upon completion the biplane will be put on permanent display in the passenger terminal of the new Chek Lap Kok airport.

  The setting for Mr Van de Born's first flight, however, was very different.

   As quoted in the South China Morning Post of the day, the flight took place in ''a nice valley behind Yau Ma Tei . . . an ideal place with splendid surroundings.'' The ''ideal place'' was in fact Sha Tin.

  ''A fine long beach, at low tide absolutely dry, will serve as an aerodrome,'' the Post reported.

  Mr Van den Born's 12-metre aircraft with a wing-span of 10.5 metres took off from a series of planks put down on the dry mud.

  But it was a bit of an anticlimax when it eventually occurred.

  The event had been much heralded and was part of a world tour by the aviator.

   Special trains were laid on and admission prices ranged from $5 for a ''club enclosure'' to 50 cents for fourth-class viewing.

  The governor, Sir Frederick Lugard, and Lady Lugard attended but left disappointed.

   Thwarted by a 30-knot gale, the flight was delayed for almost three hours.

   Only a few diehards were left by the time Mr Van den Born took to the air and flew into the history books.

  The HKHAA is hoping the airport authority will name the VIP lounge at Chek Lap Kok after Mr Van den Born.

  ''Given the huge benefits that aviation has brought to Hong Kong, we feel that this is a worthwhile undertaking,'' said Mr Pryor. * * * THE Hong Kong International Aerospace Forum has lined up moon-walking astronaut Charles ''Pete'' Conrad as one of its speakers for next year.

  Mr Conrad was the third man to set foot on the moon and made a number of missions into space. He was chosen as part of the second group of astronauts in 1962.

  His space career included being pilot of Gemini 5, back-up command pilot of Gemini 8, command pilot of Gemini 11, back-up commander of Apollo 9, commander of Apollo 12 when he made his moon walk, and commander of Skylab 2.

  Today Mr Conrad is McDonnell Douglas Corp's vice-president for international activities.

  ''Pete Conrad was a boyhood hero of mine and I am particularly pleased that he has agreed to address the forum,'' said Martin Craigs, who is to remain in office for a second year as president of the forum.

  During the past year Mr Craigs has managed to raise the profile of the forum by inviting a variety of well-known speakers.

   The biggest draw last month was Virgin Atlantic's founder, Richard Branson.

  Speaking invitations have also been extended to British Airways chairman and chief executive Sir Colin Marshall, Korean Air president C.H. Cho, and Qantas' new chief executive James Strong.

      The forum also decided yesterday to donate half of its surplus cash raised from luncheon meetings during the year to the Orbis flying eye hospital.



Replica would honour HK's first-ever flight