Chicago, IL, U.S.A (PG City)

The Flight Experience

Chicago offers the ultimate "Canyon of Steel" flying experience in the United States. Situated on the immense shore of Lake Michigan, the city's geography is defined by a dramatic contrast: the flat, endless midwestern plains meeting an astonishing concentration of massive, historically significant skyscrapers along the lakefront. The extensive photogrammetry added in World Update X (USA) renders The Loop with breathtaking vertical detail, making low-altitude runs through the core of the city a thrilling test of precision flying. The city's atmosphere is defined by its architectural density and the vast, smooth expanse of the lake providing a perfect navigational reference.

Chicago O'Hare International Airport (KORD)

KORD is one of the busiest and most complex airports in the world, making it the premier destination for serious airliner simulation.

• The Strip: KORD operates multiple intersecting and parallel runways, with the primary parallel pairs being 10C/28C and 10L/28R (over 10,000 feet long). The complex layout demands strict procedural adherence.

• The Challenge: The primary flight experience here is managing the Class B Airspace—an extremely complex, high-traffic environment with multiple satellite airports (like Midway and DuPage) nearby. Controllers are constantly juggling arrivals and departures, requiring sim pilots to maintain precise speeds and altitudes during the entire transition.

Visual Highlights

• The Willis Tower (Sears Tower): The massive, black, bundled-tube structure remains the tallest and most recognizable landmark. Its sheer scale dominates the skyline and serves as the ultimate VFR anchor point, visible from nearly any approach vector.

• John Hancock Center (875 N. Michigan Ave): Distinguished by its prominent external X-bracing, this skyscraper is a visual treat. It marks the northern end of the major high-rise cluster and is a crucial reference when navigating the northern suburbs toward the lake.

• The Loop and Chicago River: The dense downtown area, The Loop, is fully rendered in PG. The Chicago River, with its signature movable bridges, cuts through the business district. Flying at 1,500 feet over the river and looking up at the surrounding buildings is one of the most immersive experiences the sim offers.

• Millennium Park: This park, located along the lakefront, contains the iconic Cloud Gate sculpture (popularly known as "The Bean"). This distinctive, polished steel POI is often clearly visible and marks a key intersection between the lake, the high-rises, and Grant Park.

• Lake Michigan Shoreline: The massive, flat, deep-blue expanse of the lake provides an endless navigational aid. The contrast between the rigid, manufactured shoreline and the natural water boundary is a defining visual feature.

Pilot’s Note: The "Midway Challenge"

For a short-hop that trades the massive scale of O'Hare for a high-intensity urban approach, fly a regional jet or GA aircraft to Midway International Airport (KMDW).

The Maneuver: KMDW is surrounded entirely by dense urban suburbs. You fly low over houses, schools, and streets right up until the threshold. Attempt the Visual Approach to Runway 22L which requires a precise track over the dense grid before a final, steep descent. It demands focused attention, as the houses feel close enough to touch.