Orlando (PG City)

The Flight Experience Orlando ("The City Beautiful") offers a vibrant, technicolor landscape defined by hundreds of circular lakes and massive entertainment complexes. The terrain is pancake-flat, which means your visual navigation relies entirely on man-made structures and water bodies.

The airspace is a complex layer cake. Orlando International (KMCO) is the central fortress, a massive hub with four parallel runways. However, for the true VFR experience, Orlando Executive (KORL) is the place to be. Located right in the heart of downtown, its approach takes you over the skyscrapers and urban lakes, offering a much more intimate view of the city than the outlying international hub.

Visual Highlights

• Spaceship Earth (Epcot): The massive geodesic sphere ("The Giant Golf Ball") is the most distinct shape in the entire region. It renders perfectly in photogrammetry and reflects the sunlight, making it visible from 20 miles away.

• Cinderella Castle: Located at the center of the Magic Kingdom, the spires of the castle are a distinct visual anchor. (Note: In the real world, this is covered by a permanent TFR, but in the sim, it’s a favorite buzz-over target).

• The Wheel at ICON Park: This 400ft observation wheel on International Drive stands out sharply against the low-rise hotels and convention centers surrounding it.

• Universal’s Volcano Bay: The artificial volcano (Krakatau) is surprisingly large and easy to spot. It serves as a great visual checkpoint for the northern end of the tourist corridor.

• Lake Eola: In the center of downtown, this perfectly round lake with its distinct fountain is the primary landmark for pilots approaching KORL Runway 07.

Pilot’s Note: The "Mouse" Trap (P-49). In the real world, there is a permanent Prohibited Area (TFR) over the Disney theme parks up to 3,000ft. Sim pilots often enjoy the "forbidden fruit" aspect of flying low over the parks. A fun challenge is to fly the real-world "Disney Transition" used by news helicopters: skirt the exact edge of the TFR restricted zone, keeping Epcot off your wingtip while talking to Orlando Approach.