Explore the breathtaking landscapes of Arizona on a scenic VFR flight aboard a Cessna 172 Skyhawk. From rugged desert valleys to towering red sandstone formations, this short flight takes you to one of the most spectacular airports in the United States.
This week, our XPFlightPlanner Flight Adventure takes us to the American Southwest!
After exploring destinations in Europe and Oceania, we’re switching from commercial airliners to general aviation for a scenic flight across Arizona.
Our aircraft is the legendary Cessna 172S Skyhawk, equipped with the Garmin G1000, and our destination is Sedona Airport, famous for its spectacular location on top of a mesa surrounded by towering red rock formations.
With an early morning departure, we’ll enjoy the warm colors of sunrise over the Arizona desert before making a memorable landing at Sedona.
Flight Details
| Parameter | Flight Information |
|---|---|
| Departure | Prescott Regional Airport (KPRC) |
| Destination | Sedona Airport (KSEZ) |
| Aircraft | Cessna 172S Skyhawk |
| Avionics | Garmin G1000 |
| Flight rules | VFR |
| Flight date | Sunday, October 18, 2026 |
| Departure time | 13:45 UTC (06:45 MST) |
| Estimated flight time | Approximately 45 minutes |
| Direct distance | 33 NM |
| Region | Arizona, United States |
Ready to fly? The complete flight plan is available for download, including multiple formats compatible with X-Plane aircraft and navigation systems.
✈️ View and Download the Flight Plan
Departure: Prescott Regional Airport (KPRC)
Our adventure begins at Prescott Regional Airport, located in the highlands of central Arizona at an elevation of approximately 5,045 feet.
Unlike the desert landscapes surrounding Phoenix, Prescott is characterized by rolling hills, pine forests, rugged mountains, and open valleys.
It’s the perfect starting point for a general aviation adventure.
We prepare our Cessna 172S for an early morning departure, just as the first rays of sunlight begin to illuminate the surrounding mountains.
The Garmin G1000 provides a modern glass cockpit with integrated flight instruments, GPS navigation, and a multifunction display. Combined with XPFlightPlanner, it makes navigating between Prescott and Sedona both straightforward and enjoyable.
After takeoff, we head east toward Sedona, leaving Prescott behind as the spectacular Arizona wilderness unfolds beneath our wings.
En-Route: discovering Arizona’s Red Rock Country
Although Prescott and Sedona are separated by only about 33 nautical miles in a straight line, this flight is about much more than simply traveling between two airports.
Flying a small general aviation aircraft gives us the opportunity to appreciate the landscape at a slower pace.
As we continue east, the terrain gradually changes. Forested hills give way to broad valleys, rocky ridges, and dramatic sandstone formations.
The Verde Valley offers a beautiful contrast between green vegetation and the surrounding arid landscape.
As we approach Sedona, the scenery becomes increasingly spectacular.
Massive red sandstone cliffs rise above the valleys, creating one of the most recognizable landscapes in the American Southwest.
The Magic of the Golden Hour
Our departure at 13:45 UTC, or 06:45 local time, is timed to take advantage of the morning golden hour.
With the sun still low above the horizon, warm golden light illuminates the sandstone cliffs, highlighting their textures and producing long shadows across the desert.
The combination of orange and red rock formations, deep valleys, and distant mountains creates an unforgettable visual experience.
For flight simulation enthusiasts, this is the perfect opportunity to enjoy the detailed scenery available in X-Plane while practicing VFR navigation.
And aboard our Cessna 172, there’s plenty of time to admire the landscape!
Arrival: Sedona Airport (KSEZ)
Our destination is one of the most remarkable general aviation airports in the United States.
Sedona Airport is perched on top of a mesa, approximately 4,830 feet above sea level, surrounded by the spectacular red rock formations that have made the region famous.
The airport features a single asphalt runway, designated 03/21, approximately 5,132 feet long.
Its elevated location offers breathtaking views, but also presents some interesting challenges for pilots.
The surrounding terrain and mesa-top position can produce turbulence, updrafts, downdrafts, and challenging wind conditions.
Pilots must carefully consider terrain clearance, wind conditions, and aircraft performance when approaching the airport.
For our simulated flight, the arrival at Sedona is undoubtedly the highlight of the journey.
Imagine turning onto final approach with the red sandstone cliffs surrounding the airport, the morning sunlight illuminating the landscape, and the runway appearing on its elevated plateau.
It’s a spectacular conclusion to our Arizona adventure!
Flying the Cessna 172S with Garmin G1000
For this flight, we’ve selected the Cessna 172S Skyhawk, one of the most popular general aviation aircraft ever built.
Powered by a 180-horsepower Lycoming engine, the Cessna 172S offers predictable handling characteristics, excellent visibility, and a comfortable cruising speed for scenic flights.
Our aircraft is equipped with the Garmin G1000, an integrated avionics suite featuring two displays:
- Primary Flight Display (PFD): Provides essential flight information, including airspeed, altitude, attitude, heading, and navigation guidance.
- Multifunction Display (MFD): Displays the moving map, flight plan, navigation information, and additional aircraft systems.
This combination makes the Skyhawk an excellent choice for exploring Arizona while practicing basic VFR navigation and using modern avionics.
Unlike our previous airline adventures, this flight focuses on the pleasure of flying a small aircraft, navigating through varied terrain, and enjoying the scenery.
Planning with XPFlightPlanner
This flight was prepared using XPFlightPlanner, our desktop flight planning software for X-Plane 11 and X-Plane 12.
XPFlightPlanner makes it easy to prepare flights ranging from short VFR adventures to complex IFR routes involving airways and instrument procedures.
For our Prescott–Sedona journey, XPFlightPlanner allows us to explore the navigation environment, create a route, and visualize the journey on an interactive map.
Once the flight plan is ready, it can be exported to the X-Plane FMS format, making it easy to load the route into the Garmin G1000.
During the flight, XPFlightPlanner can also connect to X-Plane and display the aircraft’s position on its moving map, allowing you to follow your progress along the route.
Download the Prescott–Sedona Flight Plan
We’ve prepared the complete flight plan so you can experience this scenic adventure yourself.
✈️ KPRC → KSEZ: View and Download the Flight Plan
The shared flight plan provides access to downloadable flight plan files in various formats, including X-Plane FMS, along with flight briefing information.
For the best visual experience, we recommend setting your simulator to October 18, 2026, at 13:45 UTC (06:45 local time).
The low morning sunlight should make Arizona’s red rock formations particularly spectacular.
Update your navigation with XPNavData
Accurate navigation data is an important part of realistic flight simulation, whether you’re planning a short VFR flight or navigating complex IFR procedures.
With XPNavData, you can update the navigation database of X-Plane 11 and X-Plane 12 to a recent AIRAC cycle.
XPNavData provides updated airports, waypoints, navaids, airways, and instrument procedures, helping you keep your simulator’s navigation environment current.
Unlike subscription-based services, XPNavData offers individual AIRAC cycles as one-time purchases, so you can update your navigation data whenever you need to.
XPNavData is also fully compatible with XPFlightPlanner, allowing you to plan and fly using consistent navigation data.
👉 Discover XPNavData and Update Your AIRAC
Ready for Your Arizona Adventure?
Not every memorable flight requires a large airliner or a long journey.
Sometimes, all you need is a small aircraft, a beautiful landscape, and a destination worth discovering.
From the highlands of Prescott to the spectacular mesa-top airport of Sedona, this short VFR flight offers some of the most rewarding scenery in the American Southwest.
Fire up your Cessna 172, load your flight plan into the Garmin G1000, and enjoy the sunrise over Arizona’s red rock country.
Happy flying, and see you on our next XPFlightPlanner Flight Adventure! ✈️