What are some of the inaccuracies? I enjoy flight sims, but I'm not sure I want to actually get a license. My understanding was that it tried to use accurate communication, so I'm curious about the differences!
* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rg90PF4mWJs
* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnxb8RTdl6Y
As a bonus video, see also this crawl-thru of a B-29:
This was me in late 2021 / early 2022.
I urge you to get a discovery flight! I did, and now I'm almost finished with my instrument rating. One of the best decisions I've ever made in my life. I love flying so much - more than I ever could have imagined.
Your wallet won't like it though.
If you use reddit I'd recommend lurking r/flying. Great community of pilots ranging from students to hobby pilots to 747 captains.
Curious do you remember the tips for the sight maps for the pattern/best practices? They sound cool to share for pilots unfamiliar with the field
At KPAO the main thing to know is 1) on departure turn 10 degrees right after clearing runway for noise, and 2) they will often extend the pattern for more space when it gets busy. On the departure/upwind leg, they may extend you to the train bridge or the auto bridge (Dumbarton bridge) before you turn crosswind. On your downwind leg, they may extend you to the amphitheatre, which is the white tent looking thing near Google. This actually runs into KNUQ (Moffet) airspace but the controllers coordinate this so it's fine. And don't extend unless they tell you!
For KSQL, new pilots mostly get tripped upon the departure procedures. You can fly the Hillsdale departure, Oracle departure, Coyote Hills departure, or Woodside departure. KSQL is a short hop from KSFO and under their jet approach, so the procedures are intended to create more predictable incoming/outgoing traffic. Annoyingly, these departures are not charted and instead published as part of the "voluntary noise abatement procedures" by the airport. You can read them here (PDF) https://www.smcgov.org/media/57331
Both are great little GA airports. I learned to fly with West Valley Flying Club and wholeheartedly recommend them. Friendly pilots and a supportive community. If you have questions, just pop into their office and you're likely to find someone you can ask (and get stuck talking about airplanes for an hour :)).
For PAO specifically, also helpful to know where KGO (trio of radio antennas alongside bridges), the Dish / Stanford, Sunken Ship (what it sounds like), the Birdhouse (round structure between Amphitheater and PAO), Amphitheater (as well explained in top comment), 101, and train/auto bridges which often get used as visual landmarks.
For SQL, I can’t really remember too many landmarks that get used often other than Cement Plant (cement plant on the bay slightly past south side of the field) and AT&T (big grey building).
During my first flight I added a comment to the flight plan that I was new and the ATC walked me through how to startup the plane when running into some issues with the guide as they had been an instructor on the exact plane in a real world setting.
If you are curious about it, just dig right in and someone will help you along the way.
As a side note, here is a VATSIM map of current flights: https://simaware.ca/
I've had some truly amazing experiences, including the night before my first discovery flight at KPAO when KPAO was miraculously towered in vatsim (it almost never is compared to the major airports in the Bay).
I logged in and started flying the pattern with a very friendly controller. Somehow we ended up with a full pattern which I've never seen at a GA field in the sim.
Eventually we all started chatting, and turns out the controller used to fly out of KPAO IRL, and another local pilot was in the pattern. I got a bunch of great tips on sight maps for the pattern there, airport procedures and best practices, etc.
It sounds cheesy but it was one of those magical Internet moments of connection with other people that sticks with you forever.
Nailed everything during my discovery flight the next day.