Bordeaux, France (PG City)

The Flight Experience

Bordeaux, the world capital of wine, offers a sophisticated and visually rewarding flight simulation experience defined by water and meticulously ordered landscapes. The city sits on the wide Garonne River, which flows north into the massive Gironde Estuary. The terrain is generally flat, allowing for open, expansive flying. In the simulator, the World Update IV (France and Benelux) photogrammetry beautifully renders the neoclassical architecture of the core city, but the real visual feast lies just outside the urban area: the endless, uniform grid lines of the famous Bordeaux vineyards, which create a unique, patterned texture for VFR navigation.

Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport (LFBD)

LFBD is a major international gateway for Southwest France and serves as a major base for commercial, cargo, and military (Dassault Aviation assembly/testing) traffic.

• The Strip: The airport is a large facility with two main runways: the primary commercial strip is 11/29 (long and suitable for all jets), and a shorter runway, 05/23, often used for General Aviation (GA).

• The Challenge: Approaches are relatively straightforward, capitalizing on the flat terrain. However, the sheer volume and mix of traffic (from wide-body cargo jets to fast military aircraft) make it a complex and satisfying airport to operate, especially when flying under live air traffic control (ATC) networks. The approach to Runway 29 provides an overflight of the suburbs, while Runway 11 offers a cleaner, rural approach.

Visual Highlights

• Place de la Bourse and Miroir d'eau: This is the city's architectural signature. Look for the crescent-shaped Place de la Bourse facing the river, with the reflecting pool (Miroir d'eau) in front of it. The PG captures the symmetry and elegance of this landmark, which is essential for VFR referencing.

• Cité du Vin: Located north of the city center, this striking, modern landmark is unmissable. Its curved, bulbous shape is designed to represent wine swirling in a glass. It is a fantastic POI that contrasts sharply with the city’s neoclassical blocks.

• Pont de Pierre: This is the oldest stone bridge crossing the Garonne River. It connects the Old Town to the right bank. Its 17 arches are a clear visual reference that divides the dense photogrammetry core.

• The Vineyard Grids: Fly north or east of the city, and the ground texture transforms into a massive, organized pattern. The uniform lines of the famous Médoc and Saint-Émilion vineyards create one of the best examples of detailed agricultural terrain for VFR map reading in the sim.

• The Garonne River: The wide, muddy Garonne is the primary natural feature. It is noticeably wider than other European rivers and provides an excellent navigational corridor for flights up the estuary.

Pilot’s Note: The "Château Run"

Take a slow, high-wing GA aircraft (like a C172 or a Savage Cub) and head north from LFBD. Your goal is to fly a low-altitude VFR route over the famed Médoc Peninsula vineyards.

Follow the Gironde Estuary north, keeping the vast vineyard blocks to your left. Fly at 1,000 feet, using the châteaux (like Château Margaux) and the straight vineyard rows as your checkpoints. It’s a tranquil and educational flight that requires precise heading control to keep parallel with the rows, rewarding you with some of the most unique agricultural scenery in the sim.