From Kai Tak To Simple Flying: Sam Chui Joins Our Global Aviation Team

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AIR TRAVEL PLANNER

Much like Simple Flying, I have a passion for sharing aviation stories with the world. Much of my life has been dedicated to traveling on some of the largest, fastest, and rarest aircraft out there, and bringing that experience back to readers and viewers at home.

I’m now looking forward to doing so as a guest contributor at Simple Flying! Having appeared on the podcast three years ago, I can’t wait to share my written thoughts with the readership on all things aviation – it’s great to have you along for the ride.

My Life In Aviation

An interior view of a crowded airplane cabin, specifically a Garuda Indonesia Boeing 747 configured for Hajj pilgrimage. The economy class seats are filled with passengers, many of whom are wearing traditional white pilgrimage attire (Ihram) or head coverings. In the foreground, Sam Chui in a dark t-shirt with a small Shiba Inu logo sits in an aisle seat, waving at the camera. The cabin features blue seating with teal headrest covers, and overhead bins line both sides of the center aisle. Credit: Sam Chui

It’s fair to say that I was almost born with a love of aviation, given that my childhood could not have been better aligned when it came to developing a fascination for things that fly. I grew up in Hong Kong at a time when the legendary Kai Tak Airport was still in use. Here, planes made daring low approaches over the city with a late turn at the famous ‘checkerboard,’ and I loved watching them come into land.

While Kai Tak Airport sadly closed in 1998 to be replaced by today’s Hong Kong International Airport, I retained my love of aviation in my teenage years, and ultimately started my own website to share my planespotting photos and stories with the world in 1999. Aside from photographing aircraft, I naturally have a deep love of traveling on them, and have managed to add many rare types to my logbook.

Among the most notable of these was Concorde, and I have also flown on many variants of the Boeing 747, which, as we shall soon discuss, was the subject of one of my books. In fact, such is my love of the famous ‘jumbo jet’ that, earlier this year, I was lucky enough to marry my wife on board a Boeing 747-400 in a high-flying ceremony in the skies over the UAE, complete with special boarding passes.

Sharing My Love Of Aviation Online & In Print

Sam Chui in a blue suit stands on a sunny tarmac, gesturing toward a large Emirates Airbus A350-900 parked behind him. The aircraft features the gold "Emirates" title on its white fuselage and the UAE flag on its tail. A mobile boarding stair is connected to the front door, and a large hangar and other airport buildings are visible in the background under a clear blue sky. Credit: Sam Chui

As the reach of my website grew, so did the number of different ways in which I shared my love of aviation with the world. I have written multiple books on all things aviation, initially covering my aviation photography (‘Air 1’) and later including reports of my experiences on board some of the world’s coolest aircraft (‘Air 2’ and ‘Air 3’). I even got to present ‘Air 2′ to Qatar Airways’ CEO in 2018.

Most recently, I published a book with a more specific angle, and you’ll be unsurprised to hear that the angle in question was, of course, the Boeing 747. I wrote ‘Air 747 – Experiencing The Passion: Boeing’s Jumbo Jet » with Charles Kennedy, and it was published in 2020 by Astral Horizon Aviation Press. However, as proud as I am of my books, the chances are that you may recognize me from elsewhere.

Indeed, my reach and passion for aviation have also led me to become one of the subject’s foremost online content creators, and I’m lucky enough to be supported by 3.82 million subscribers on YouTube and 946,000 followers on Instagram. These channels allow me to share my stories online in an audiovisual medium, and I hope that you enjoy watching them as much as I enjoy putting them together for you.

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Revealed: Does Sam Chui Get Paid To Fly?

It’s a question many would like to ask, but few know the truthful answer to…

Here To Have My Say

Sam Chui lies comfortably in a large, fully flat bed within a luxury aircraft cabin, the Lufthansa Allegris First Class suite. He is tucked under a white duvet with his hands clasped, smiling at the camera. The suite features dark, padded walls, a personal touch-screen controller mounted on the wall, a small bedside lamp, and two glasses of water on a side console. The lighting is warm and subdued, creating a cozy, private atmosphere. Credit: Sam Chui

I’m now looking forward to further broadening my horizons by having my say as a guest contributor at Simple Flying. I can’t wait to discuss all things aviation with you and bring my stories to life for a new audience. While some are more unbelievable than others, all of them have their appeal!

It’s going to be quite the adventure getting to know the readership, and I’m excited to hear your stories as well as share mine with another corner of the online aviation space. My first piece will be coming soon, so keep your eyes peeled, and, in the meantime, sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride!