Salt Lake City (PG City)

The Flight Experience Salt Lake City offers a stunning high-altitude flying experience set in a massive geologic bowl. The city sits at 4,200ft on the valley floor, sandwiched between the jagged, snow-capped Wasatch Range to the east and the Oquirrh Mountains to the west.

Salt Lake City International (KSLC) is a major hub that has recently undergone massive real-world reconstruction, often reflected in updated sceneries. The approach is visually unique: you typically descend over the surreal, shimmering surface of the Great Salt Lake, transitioning from the alien salt flats to the dense urban grid in a matter of minutes.

Visual Highlights

• Temple Square: The Salt Lake Temple is the absolute zero-point of the city's grid system. Its spires are the primary visual anchor for downtown.

• Utah State Capitol: Sitting on a prominent bluff (Capitol Hill) overlooking the downtown area, its copper dome is distinct and serves as an excellent VFR checkpoint.

• Bingham Canyon Mine: Located in the Oquirrh Mountains to the southwest, this is one of the few man-made structures visible from space. In the sim, it renders as a terrifyingly deep, multicolored terraced pit that is fascinating to fly over.

• The Great Salt Lake: The water textures here are unique, often shifting from blue to pinkish hues near the salt evaporation ponds. Antelope Island sits in the middle as a rugged, brown obstacle to navigate around.

• The Wasatch Front: Just minutes east of the city, the terrain shoots up to 11,000ft. You can easily spot the ski runs of Park City, Alta, and Snowbird cut into the forests.

Pilot’s Note: Watch your Density Altitude. Salt Lake is a high-elevation city. In the summer, temperatures often exceed 35°C (95°F), pushing the density altitude over 7,000ft. Your naturally aspirated Cessna will feel sluggish, your takeoff roll will be significantly longer, and your climb rate will be anemic. Lean your mixture for best power before takeoff!