Living Seas Heliport? Epcot Ultralight Airport?

[Geoff_M]

A friend turned me on to a VERY cool new application from NASA... "World Wind". NASA has joined 10 terrabytes of global satellite data into one application. It's a 170M download, but the application is worth the wait. You can use your mouse to spin around the globe and zoom down to the USGS's 1 meter resolution images. The link for the install is http://worldwind.arc.nasa.gov/ I've used Terra Server before, but this application is a lot cooler!

Anyway, they have nameplace labels on the maps. Two names caught my eye... Behind the Living Seas pavillion was "Living Seas Heliport". South of Epcot was "Epcot Center Ultralight Airport" I assume these nameplaces were lifted off of aeronautical charts, but I thought it was pretty interesting.

 

[daber]

There was a daytime show many years ago on the WS lagoon that had ultralights with the Disney characters, so the ultralight airport could be more fact than fiction.

 

[zcasper]

Where is the heliport on this image?

http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=28.375218,-81.551610&spn=0.005901,0.007167&t=k&hl=en

Zach

 

[Geoff_M]

It's actually closer to The Land. Zoom into that image all the way and find the rectangular parking lot on the left edge of the photo. Go across the water way from that parking lot and you'll see a much smaller concrete rectangle with a "loop" road running out to it. The that rectangle is the "heliport". I assume the loop would allow for a limo to pull up and pick up the VIP getting off the copter.

 

[Nebsky]

There is an Airport for the Disney Epcot Area.

The identifier is 44FD. It is shown on all Terminal Area Charts and Sectionals published by the FAA.

It is even shown in Microsoft Flight Simulator. I play that alot. Usually fly a big aircraft to MCO then fly a Helicopter from there down the tollroads and land there. I also land the amphibious planes in Bay Lake and the World Showcase Lagoon.

Later Ill post the pictures of what it looks like in Flight Sim.

 

[zcasper]

Got it - thanks. The heliport may also be elevated and the loop is inclined. I've seen this on several heliports around Houston. Maybe Nebsky could comment on whether it is elevated or not.

Zach

 

[Plus4206]

Is there a way to get a better focus on the close up? My images are very pixelated. I haven't had time yet to play with the program, just looking for a short cut.

 

[zcasper]

Is there a way to get a better focus on the close up? My images are very pixelated. I haven't had time yet to play with the program, just looking for a short cut.

Here is a screen shot from my Keyhole program. It shows the heliport close up.

http://www.zachcasper.com/Heliport.JPG

Zach

 

[Nebsky]

It is not an elevated airport. Its a strip of concrete that is about 50 feet across by about 200 feet length wise.

Wouldnt even be able to take off in a Cessna.

 

[seashoreCM]

There is an airport runway north of Epcot (north of the Epcot freewaytoo) and southeast of Transportatin & Ticket Center. Walt Disney himself used this for his private plane.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[KS Jeff]

It's due south of Wilderness Lodge. You can see it in this photo:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=lake+...43,-81.573894&spn=0.005375,0.007918&t=k&hl=en

At one point it was closed, but this photo doesn't show the "X" at each end of the runway so maybe it was open when the photo was taken. You can see a bus on the runway; I was told the runway was/is used for bus training.

 

[VintageKnight]

awsome program!!! thanks for the heads up!

Yes i witnessed the hang glider show during my only trip christmas 86.

Thanks!!


DVK