Here's Why You Still Need to Learn VORs (Even in 2025)

Check out IFR Ground School at https://www.flight-insight.com/ifr Most pilots think VORs are outdated—but there’s a real-world scenario where using VORs can actually make more sense than GPS. In this video, we’ll fly IFR from W90 (New London Airport in Virginia) to Manassas, using a simple Obstacle Departure Procedure (ODP) that relies on the Lynchburg VOR (LYH) and the 005 radial. We’ll cover: ✈️ How to fly the Runway 36 ODP using raw VOR data 🧭 How to build that same procedure in the G1000 using the flight plan and user waypoint functions 📟 How radials and GPS tracks differ because of magnetic variation 🎓 When ATC can clear you direct vs. when you must stay on the ODP 💡 And why understanding VORs still matters for IFR safety and situational awareness Even if you rely on ForeFlight or a G1000, you’ll see why “old-school” VOR skills remain part of smart IFR flying—especially when no graphical departure exists in your GPS database.