Augsburg (PG City)

The Flight Experience While Queenstown is about raw vertical drama, Augsburg offers a stunning lesson in dense, historical European photogrammetry. As one of Germany’s oldest cities, founded by the Romans, it serves as the visual gateway to the Alps. The city is defined by its complex water management system—a UNESCO World Heritage site—meaning your flight will be dominated by the shimmering confluence of the Lech and Wertach rivers interwoven with centuries-old canals.

Augsburg Airport (EDMA) This is not a massive international hub, but rather the premier playground for General Aviation and Business Jets in Bavaria. It offers a "civilized" challenge. The airport is situated just northeast of the city center. The approach to Runway 25 is a favorite among simmers; it brings you in low over the Autobahn A8 and the Lech River, offering a fantastic view of the city skyline on your left before you settle onto the 4,200ft asphalt strip. It is the perfect base for high-fidelity business jet ops or VFR touring.

Visual Highlights

• The "Hotelturm" (Hotel Tower): Known locally as the "Corncob" (Maiskolben), this cylindrical concrete tower is the tallest building in the city. It is unmistakable from the air, rising out of the Wittelsbach Park. It serves as your primary VFR pivot point when orbiting the city center.

• Augsburg Town Hall (Rathaus): Located in the heart of the Old Town, this is considered one of the most significant secular Renaissance buildings north of the Alps. Look for the distinct twin onion-domed towers of the adjacent Perlachturm; the photogrammetry here captures the density of the surrounding market square beautifully.

• The Fuggerei: A treat for low-and-slow flying. This is the world’s oldest social housing complex, a walled enclave within the city. From the cockpit, you can clearly distinguish its uniform rows of yellow-ochre houses and red roofs, distinct from the rest of the city grid.

• The Lech River: While not as deep as Queenstown’s lake, the Lech is your VFR highway. It runs north-to-south and acts as a massive visual guide. Following it south is the easiest way to navigate from the flat plains into the rising foothills of the Alps.

• WWK Arena: Situated to the south of the city, the home of FC Augsburg is a modern glowing architectural landmark. Its "nest-like" illuminated façade stands out starkly against the surrounding green fields, marking the southern boundary of the photogrammetry zone.

Pilot’s Note: The "Castle Run" Augsburg is the perfect jumping-off point for a "Royal Bavarian" tour. After departing EDMA, if you follow the Lech River south for just 15 minutes in a fast prop (or 30 in a Cessna), the terrain will begin to rise aggressively. You will eventually hit the edge of the mountains where the famous Neuschwanstein Castle (the inspiration for the Disney castle) sits perched on a ridge. The transition from the dense urban photogrammetry of Augsburg to the alpine majesty of the castle is one of the best short VFR hops in the simulator.