Hiller Aviation Museum

Hiller XH-44

The Hiller XH-44 was donated to the Smithsonian Institution and has been on public display at the National Air and Space Museum for over 25 years. The XH-44 was designed and built by 18-year-old entrepreneur Stanley Hiller Jr. and his team in a small automotive garage in Oakland, California. On July 4, 1944, after several engineering setbacks and teaching himself to fly, Mr. Hiller flew the “Hiller-copter,” as it was called, for the first time. The flight occurred inside the Memorial Stadium on the Berkeley Campus of the University of California. The XH-44 achieved many firsts. It was the first successful coaxial rotor helicopter to fly in America, the first to use all metal rotor blades, and the first helicopter to be built on the West Coast. The coaxial rotor system has two sets of rotor blades – one mounted over the other and turning in opposite directions. Mr. Hiller chose this unique design to eliminate the need for an anti-torque tail rotor, which can use as much as 10% of the power from the engine. Mr. Hiller felt the added power to the lifting rotors was a better design idea. The second public demonstration was held in San Francisco on August 30, 1944, at the Marina Green near the bay. Hundreds of spectators, including government dignitaries and military observers, witnessed this historic event. They were impressed watching the XH-44 hover, fly vertically, and fly sideways, mimicking the hummingbird’s flight. The successful XH-44 led to the development of many other Hiller helicopter designs.

Curtiss Pusher

Many aviation firsts took place in early northern California. None may have had more impact than Eugene Ely’s epic landing on the heavy cruiser U.S.S. Pennsylvania in his Curtiss Pusher. Ely’s Curtiss model “D-IV” pusher aeroplane was equipped with metal hooks set to catch any of the 22 ropes stretched across the 120 foot long platform erected on the ship. The ropes were weighted taut with 50 pound sandbags. Upon his landing, this simple setup successfully snagged the ropes, arresting the aircraft ten feet short of the ship’s superstructure. After having lunch with the captain, Ely turned the Curtiss around and flew back to Tanforan Airfield west of the more recent San Francisco International Airport. His historic accomplishment was hailed by the Pennsylvania’scaptain and documented by the San Francisco Examiner newspaper. Naval carrier aviation was born of this event in San Francisco harbor, on January 18,1911. Ely, a Curtiss factory pilot, showed that ships could be used as floating airfields.

Hiller XROE-1 Rotorcycle

One of the helicopters that has most sparked visitors’ interest and imagination in the museum is undoubtedly the collapsible Rotorcycle. Small enough when folded to carry in a pod under an aircraft’s wing or on the luggage rack of your car, this contraption becomes a full-sized helicopter in a matter of minutes – capable of taking off from your backyard and flying anywhere in the San Francisco Bay Area on a single tank of gas. One of the initial design requirements was a device that could be dropped with a parachute to a downed pilot. Without any tools, the helicopter can be rapidly assembled and started, carrying the pilot across enemy lines to safety. Originally designed by Hiller Helicopters in the mid-1950s, the museum has the original ground-test prototype, an evaluation model on permanent display, and continuously playing footage of several early flights. History In 1954, Hiller Helicopters was selected by the Navy’s Bureau of Aeronautics to build a one-man, foldable, self-rescue and observation helicopter. The military designated the Hiller Model 1033 as the XROE-1 “Rotorcycle.” Two prototypes were built at the Hiller Helicopter Plant in Palo Alto, California. The helicopter has the Hiller Rotormatic control paddles with a conventional tail rotor. Power was supplied from a Nelson H-59, two-cycle, 40 hp, four-cylinder opposed air-cooled engine through a centrifugal clutch. The prototype Rotorcycle first flew on January 10, 1957. Saunders Roe, an English aircraft manufacturer, was contracted to build ten additional Rotorcycles. Twelve Rotorcycles were built in all. The English-built helicopter first flew in October 1959; the first five were completed by the spring of 1960, with a second lot of five completed by December 1961. Five of the Saunders-Roe helicopters were shipped back to the U.S. for military evaluation (with the designation “YROE-1”), and the remaining five license-built aircraft stayed in Europe at Helicop-Air of Paris, the European Hiller civilian sales agent. The Saunders-Roe helicopters had a civilian designation of Model G-46. Seven of the Rotorcycles ended their careers in the United States: the two Hiller Helicopter prototype Rotocycles with the XROE-1 designation and the 5 Saunders Roe Rotocycles designated YROE-1. BuAer 4021, 4020 and 4024 were evaluated at NASA Ames Moffett Field, CA, in November 1962. BuAer 4023 & 4024 were evaluated at Patuxent River, MD, for the U.S. Marines Corps. The Rotorcycle never entered military service, as the requirements were canceled before the military tests were completed. Where They Are Now Of the 12 Rotorcycles produced, 5 are currently part of the collections of aviation museums, and one is privately held. One military version (YROE-1 #3) and five civilian models are currently unaccounted for. If you know of the location of any of these missing units, please get in touch with the Hiller Aviation Museum.

Hiller Flying Platform

The Hiller Flying Platform, the closest design to mimic a magic carpet, still captures the public imagination. The Hiller Aviation Museum houses some of the most unique flying machines imaginable. One such craft, the Flying Platform, is the prototype developed by National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (N.A.C.A.) engineer Charles H. Zimmerman’s concept known as the “Flying Shoes.” To the amusement of his engineering peers, Charles Zimmerman proved the theory that rotors on the top (i.e., helicopters) are inherently unstable. Zimmerman theorized that a person’s natural balancing reflexes would suffice to control a small flying machine. Charles coined the term “kinesthetic control,” similar to riding a bicycle or balancing a surfboard.

FMX Flight Simulator

Fly with a pilot instructor in the FMX Flight Simulator. It’s an FAA-approved full-motion flight simulator, typically seen only in flight schools and academies used in real-world flight training. The cockpit is fully functional, and the sensations of flight are amazing. This is the most realistic experience possible, short of flying a real airplane! Pass Required. - $10 for a 10-minute flight. (in addition to museum admission). - $8 for museum Members. - Tickets can be purchased at the Museum Gift Shop. Museum members receive additional discounts at the Pilot, Barnstormer, and all Premium levels. Saturday and Sunday, 11 am – 3 pm

Imagination playground

Exercise your imagination! Open Daily. Time: 10 am – 5:00 pm Create and construct magnificent structures using our innovative foam blocks. With their safe and easy-to-maneuver design, children can unleash their creativity to build anything they can imagine. These foam blocks are perfect for young children, providing a fun and engaging way to develop their motor skills while expanding their imagination. *Please note that Imagination Playground occasionally closes for special education events, offering facilitated learning experiences.

Invention Lab

The Invention Lab uses tools of science to explore aviation, aerodynamics, engineering, assembly, and design. Perfect for children and adults. Free with Museum admission. Saturday and Sunday 11 am – 3 pm

Flight Sim Zone

With expert help from one of our volunteer pilots, discover how airplanes move in three dimensions with your hands at the controls. Take a virtual flight across the Bay and see the world from the unique perspective of a pilot. Pass Required. $5 per Pass (in addition to museum admission). Pass is free for Members. Obtain Passes at the Museum Gift Shop. Saturday and Sunday, 11 am – 3 pm

Flight Shop

Located at the Hiller Aviation Museum in San Carlos, the museum Flight Shop contains one of Northern California’s largest selections of aviation-themed items. Books, toys, clothing, posters, models, RC aircraft, drones, and more! Museum members receive 25% off in-store sales all holiday shopping season–Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving) through December 24. - Clothing (Jackets, shirts and hats for all ages.) - Model kits (Classic models to assemble for the crafty.) - Books (Histories, biographies and stories of aviation across time.) - Airliner models (Models of airlines, in airline colors and livery, at many scales.)

Wisk Gen 5 air taxi

The Wisk Gen 5 air taxi, also known as Cora, is a pioneering electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft designed to revolutionize urban transportation. Its vertical takeoff capabilities eliminate the need for runways, making it ideal for densely populated areas where rooftop landing zones can be established. While initially undergoing testing with a pilot for oversight, the ultimate goal is for the Gen 5 to achieve fully autonomous flight. The Gen 5 is fully electric, minimizing noise pollution and environmental impact in urban areas. With a cruising speed of 110 mph and a range exceeding 90 miles with reserves, it is well-suited for short to medium-distance hops within cities, or connecting suburbs to urban centers. Additionally, Wisk boasts a remarkably fast recharge time of only 15 minutes, minimizing downtime between flights. The potential benefits of widespread air taxi adoption are significant. Urban traffic congestion could be significantly reduced, leading to shorter commutes and increased productivity. On-demand air taxis could provide accessible transportation in underserved areas or serve as a critical resource during emergencies. Some challenges remain; regulatory frameworks for autonomous eVTOLs need to be established to ensure public safety, and successful integration of air taxis into urban environments will depend on public perception and acceptance. The Wisk Gen 5 air taxi represents a groundbreaking advancement in urban transportation. With its focus on safety, sustainability, and efficiency, the Gen 5 paves the way for a future where autonomous flying vehicles become a viable and accessible mode of transportation, ushering in a new era of urban mobility

Rutan Defiant 40

American aerospace engineer Burt Rutan was a pioneer of experimental homebuilt light aircraft kits using composite materials. The Defiant was intended to be an efficient, safe twin engine aircraft that did not have the engines mounted on the wings. This meant that the pilot would not have to deal with yaw, or spin, in the event of a potentially fatal engine failure and could retain moderate directional control. This was achieved by mounting both engines on the aircraft center axis in a “push-pull” configuration – one engine in front of the cockpit and another in the rear. A forward-canard design provided pitch control and fixed landing gear augmented the Defiant’s simplicity and lightweight construction. Its unusual rudder is mounted under the plane’s cabin, beneath the pilot, and it has no flaps. Each Titan O-320 piston 167-horsepower engine has its own ignition key. The Defiant was never certified as a production aircraft; the prototype Model 40 (N78RA) made its maiden flight from Mojave, California in June 1978. The Defiant was then offered as the Model 74 as a kitplane in 1984. Over a dozen were completed and registered with the FAA. It may have never achieved widespread success due to the intensive process of certifying such an experimental design, but it was a valuable contribution to Rutan’s catalog of revolutionary concept planes. This original Defiant prototype, model 40, was retained by Burt Rutan as his personal aircraft prior to its donation to the Hiller Aviation Museum.

Boeing Condor

The Boeing Condor was a high tech test bed reconnaissance aircraft built in the late 1980s. With a wing span of over 200 feet, the Condor is larger than either the Boeing 747 or the Boeing B-52 bomber. The Condor had an un-refueled flight duration of 80 hours. It was powered by two 175 hp, six-cylinder opposed, twin supercharged, liquid cooled, Continental TSOL-300-2 engines. One of the Continental engines is on display on the museum’s mezzanine. Remarkably, the aircraft is totally robotic with no pilot. On board computers communicate with computers on the ground via satellite to control all facets of the Condor’s mission. The Condor set an altitude record for a piston powered aircraft of 67,000 feet, over twelve and a half miles high. The Condor logged over 300 hours of secret missions before its retirement. All of its test flying took place at Moses Lake, Washington. Very light for its size, the Condor was built of state-of -the-art carbon fiber composite materials, giving the Condor stealth qualities. With a very low radar and heat signature footprint, the Condor was nearly electronically invisible.

Fokker Dr.1 Triplane

In 1917, this German aircraft made its debut in the skies over France in World War 1. Exceptionally maneuverable yet prone to wing failure, the Fokker Dr.1 (“Dreidecker,” or triplane) was renowned as the aircraft flown by Manfred von Richtofen, the “Red Baron.” At the age of 25, the “Red Baron” was fatally wounded on April 21, 1918, flying a Fokker Dr.1 triplane in a dog fight over the Somme River. Only three triplanes are known to have survived the end of World War. Since then, they have all been dismantled into component artifacts or destroyed. No original Fokker Dr.1’s exist today, but many replicas and reproductions have been built by individuals and museums. Museum volunteers built the Hiller Aviation Museum’s scale replica aircraft over four years between 2016 and 2020 in celebration of the 100+ anniversary of the aircraft. The aircraft is designed so visitors can sit in the open-air cockpit.

Grumman HU-16 Albatross

The Grumman HU-16 Albatross was used by the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard primarily as a search and rescue aircraft. The Air Force used the aircraft extensively in Korea for combat rescue, where it gained a reputation as a rugged and seaworthy craft. The Albatross also was used as a passenger airliner serving island destinations in the Pacific and elsewhere. Its deep-V hull cross section enabled it to land in the open sea. It was designed for 4-foot seas but could land in more severe conditions while taking off in 8-10 foot seas using jet-assisted take off (JATO). This particular Albatross, N44RD, saw adventure in 1997 as a filming platform and safety aircraft in support of a globe-circling expedition recreating the final flight of Amelia Earhart. Flown by local Bay Area aviators Andy Macfie and Reid W. Dennis, this aircraft became the first Grumman Albatross ever to fly a single purpose mission that circumnavigated the entire world.

Paper Airplane Launcher

Complete amazing hands-on projects in flight! The Paper Airplane Launcher is open every day. Everyone has endless fun launching paper airplanes. The Paper Airplane Launcher is a popular activity at the Hiller Aviation Museum, next to the Drone Zone. Activities are available 10 AM – 5 PM, 7 days a week.

NASA AD-1

The NASA AD-1 was an experimental project to determine the efficiency of a wing that could be pivoted up to 60 degrees during flight. The plane was developed by experimental aircraft designer Burt Rutan and manufactured by the Ames Industrial Corporation of New York (which has no relation to NASA Ames Research Center at Moffett Field). During takeoff and landing the wing would remain perpendicular to the fuselage to provide typical aircraft lift and control surfaces. However, during high-speed flight the wing would pivot along the fuselage to reduce drag, which then increased speed, range and fuel efficiency. The AD-1 flew from NASA’s Dryden (now Armstrong) research facility at Edwards, CA from 1979 to 1982. Over a series of 79 research flights, the AD-1 provided valuable data regarding the aerodynamics of oblique wing aircraft.

Aero L-39C “Albatros”

The Aero L-39C “Albatros” is a high performance military jet trainer developed in Czechoslovakia during the cold war. Pilots of the Warsaw Pact trained in the L-39 before moving up to MiG and Sukhoi jets. At the peak of production, the primary users of the L-39 were the Soviet Air Force, the Czechoslovak Air Force, and the Royal Thai Air Force. Today, the majority of L-39 owners are American pilots who seek a low cost private jet and find the aircraft’s simplicity, ease of maintenance, and relatively low purchase price irresistible. L-39 jets are seen in airshows around the USA and regularly participate in competition events such as the Reno Air Races.

Space Ship One

Winner of the $10 million Ansari X-Prize for the first successful flight of a privately financed commercial spacecraft, SpaceShipOne took its first test spaceflight on June 21, 2004, reaching an altitude of over 100 kilometers (62.14 miles) which is the officially designated edge of space aka the “Kármán line.” The hybrid rocket-motor powered vehicle was developed by Mojave Aerospace Ventures, which was a collaborative project between well-known aircraft designer Burt Rutan of Scaled Composites, and Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. All flights took place at the newly christened Mojave Air and Space Port in Southern California. It was flown by longtime Rutan test pilot, Mike Melvill, who subsequently became the first ever licensed commercial astronaut. Carried aloft from the runway attached to a customized turbojet aircraft called “White Knight,” SpaceShipOne was released at an altitude of 14.3 km (47,000 ft), where its rocket engine was ignited and 76 seconds of thrust propelled it to a speed of 2150 mph, reaching Mach 2.9 at an altitude of 54.9 km (180,000 ft). After rocket burnout, the aircraft coasted upward on a ballistic arc, exiting the densest part of the earth’s atmosphere and ultimately reaching 100.12 kilometers (62.21 mi) and making SpaceShipOne the first privately built vehicle to fly in space. The whole test flight took 24 minutes. At the height of its trajectory, SpaceShipOne was configured for high drag mode, rotating its tail booms into an upright position to provide stability in its gliding descent, similar to a badminton “shuttlecock.” The coasting parabolic flight path produced a few minutes of zero-G weightlessness. Melvill took a moment to do an experiment with what he had on hand: “I reached into my pocket and I took out some M&M’s, all different colors, and let them go in front of my face and they just spun around like little sparkling things. I was so blown away… I got another handful and threw them out as well.” After his flight, candy manufacturer Mars, Inc. signed on to become one of the sponsors of the Ansari X Prize. Since this one test flight did not meet the requirements to qualify for the Ansari X Prize (make two successful competitive flights within 14 days, have a payload equivalent of two passengers, etc.), it was not considered for the competition. However the next two flights of Space Ship One on September 29, 2004 and October 4, 2004 qualified Mojave Aerospace Ventures for the coveted trophy and $10,000,000 X Prize. There were 26 teams from around the world competing, but only one with Burt Rutan!   Artifact Details: Title: Full-scale model of SpaceShipOne Model: Scaled Composites Model 316 Artist/Maker: Scaled Composites Country of origin: United States Medium: Metal frame and fiberglass skin Dimensions: height: 91″ width: 26’10” length: 27’11” weight: 4000 pounds Accession No. L2017.03

Black Diamond

Diamonds are forever, though sometimes it takes a bit of extra work. The Diamond airplane was built by a couple of shipyard buddies in 1910; but by 1999 there were no drawings, most parts were rotten, and essential components were missing. All the Hiller Aviation Museum restoration crew had were old pictures, an assortment of parts, and a determination to revive an airplane built a few years after the first flight at Kitty Hawk. Lan Maupin was a dredge captain working in the Pittsburg, California, shipyard owned by a man named Lanteri. Probably motivated by the new adventure of flight and not even aware of the money being made flying in air shows, they formed the Diamond Airplane Co. There were stories that Maupin and Lanteri slipped under tent flaps at an exhibition to eyeball details of the Curtiss show planes. Curtiss had been sharing design ideas with those who had interest and money to buy them. Most likely, however, Maupin and Lanteri winged it with pictures, magazine articles and personal observation. In any case, their Diamond was larger than the Curtiss planes and loaded with hardware store buckles and fittings. The two young men flew their plane a little, but had the deeper wisdom to hire a pilot, Weldon Cooke, to fly it at air shows. Actually, Weldon wasn’t a pilot, either; being a racecar driver, he had never flown before. But he was willing to learn, and did so with on the job training at San Francisco Bay Area air shows, flying figure 8s and around pylons, one day stressing the amateur-built Diamond with 60 landings. The Cooke-Diamond combination survived qualifications, and at the 1912 Los Angeles Air Meet Cooke flew the Diamond to a five-day record of 23 hours and 23 minutes flight duration, coupled with a 5,600-foot altitude record. Such feats had won the Diamond Airplane Co. some $14,800, and record-breaking flights had been made over Oakland, the Napa Valley, and even to Mt. Tamalpais in unfriendly December weather. At the top of its form, but palpably worn out at the age of two, the Diamond performance at the Los Angeles Air Meet was the last time the plane flew. Maupin and Lanteri retreated back to their Pittsburg shipyard, leaving the plane with Cooke and a mechanic named Williamson. The Diamond was unceremoniously crated and shipped back to the shipyard where it was born…but not, it turned out later, the whole plane. A few years later, Lanteri was killed in a boat accident and the Maupin family took the crated Diamond to their ranch in Marysville. There it rested until 1930, when its presence was requested for the Yuba City County Fair, and that’s when many vital parts were discovered missing. Impressed by the historical significance of the airplane, the Yuba College Aeronautical School built a new undercarriage and plugged in substitute parts for the other missing ones. Apparently the Yuba restoration and display attracted attention because three years later the resurrected Diamond became a colorful display at the Oakland Airport. There the plane remained until the Smithsonian acquired it in 1948, only to be re-crated for storage in the museums Silverhill, Maryland, facility. Those crates were never opened until 1998 when the Smithsonian made the components available to the Hiller Aviation Museum. Volunteer craftsmen started bringing the plane to back to life again with a fervor that’s spiritual. One question dogged the Hiller team from the beginning: what happened to the many original parts which never made it to Yuba City from Los Angeles in 1930? Fully absorbed in the mystery, Hiller’s Newton Craven had been poring over old aviation magazines, and among the pictures he recognized a familiar-looking control column in the hands of Paul Poberezny who had long been a kingpin in the Experimental Aircraft Association. “My God,” said Craven, “that’s the Diamond’s steering column!” Days later he was in Oshkosh with Poberezny arranging for the reunion of the long missing authentic parts with the body of their origin. It was a bountiful victory: control column, seat, front and rear forks of the undercarriage, fittings, compression members, wheels…and all of them in good condition! Even a 1910 tire was still inflatable. The mystery unwound: in 1964, Poberezny had received the missing originals from a Texan friend, Neil Carr, who had inherited the old California Airplane Co. on San Francisco’s Gough Street. Along with the company–for reasons unknown–came the missing pieces of the Diamond. Receiving the parts from Poberezny proved that Hiller’s restoration team had been correct in its reverse engineering: all the puzzle-pieces fit. The bogus Yuba City replacements were discarded and the 1910 Diamond, a remarkable creation from a shipyard, is today accurate and even flyable.

Aerocycloid

J.C. Irvine 1908 Aerocycloid (Replica) The Aerocycloid was a concept aircraft, exploring VTOL (Vertical Takeoff and Landing) ideas that were truly “out-of-the-box” before the age of flight really even started. It had four circular discs mounted horizontally on a Ferris wheel-looking device that was rotated by a 7 H.P. Indian Motor Cycle engine. The control system enabled the entire disc assembly to pitch forward or backward or to warp, producing side-to-side translation. The Aerocycloid did not fly

Santa Clara Glider

John J Montgomery 1905 Santa Clara Glider (Replica) Built in 1905, this John Montgomery glider had tandem wings. It was flown from Aptos California in rather an unorthodox manner suspended from a hot air balloon that rose to 4,000 ft. altitude. The glider was cut loose and glided to the ground. There were several successful flights lasting up to 13 minutes in duration. The last flight ended in tragedy due to an entanglement with the balloon ropes damaging the glider causing it to plunge to earth. Daniel J. Malone, one of Montgomery’s collaborators, a pilot and acrobat, was flying the Santa Clara at the time and was killed.

Montgomery Gull Glider 

John J Montgomery 1883 Gull Glider (Replica) In 1884 John Montgomery flew the first heavier-than-air glider from Otay Mesa near San Diego. It flew several hundred feet on this first attempt. This was the first glider to fly in the Western Hemisphere without power or control. It weighed 40 pounds and had a single wing with a span of 20’ and an 8’ fuselage. There was a tail of sorts, but no rudder.

Avitor

Before the transcontinental railroad’s completion, travel from New York to California was a six-month journey by land or sea. In 1866, Frederick Marriott of San Francisco formed The Aerial Steam Navigation Company, intending to build and operate a large steam-powered airship between New York and California, bridging the gap between the population centers of the United States and the burgeoning gold fields of the Pacific. By 1869, Marriott had constructed a 37′ long prototype named the Hermes Jr. Avitor, after the fleet-footed Roman messenger god who flew through the air on winged sandals. The prototype carried no pilot and was powered by a 1-horsepower steam engine. The buoyant lift was provided by a hydrogen-filled envelope, with stabilizers and elevator surfaces attached to allow for controlled flight. The vehicle was successfully tested at Tanforan, near modern-day San Francisco International Airport. The aircraft completed a circular flight of approximately 1 mile and was recovered successfully. Marriott planned the construction of a larger version capable of carrying passengers and crew. Still, completion of the first rail link between the east and west coasts in 1869 reduced transcontinental travel times to a week or less, and the stock market crash of 1870 prevented him from securing the necessary financing. The original prototype was destroyed in a fire; the Hiller Aviation Museum displays a full-scale replica at the entrance to its main Gallery.

General Atomics MQ-1 B Predator

First flown in 1994, the RQ-1 Predator was developed as a medium altitude, long endurance drone intended for reconnaissance and observation missions.  The high aspect wing, lightweight carbon fiber fuselage, inverted stabilizers and fuel-efficient Rotax engine enabled the Predator to conduct missions of up to 24 hours’ duration from austere bases around the world. Originally operated as an unarmed drone, the Predator’s payload carrying capability, laser target designator, and exceptional loiter time over areas of interest led to it being adapted to carry missiles under the United States Air Force’s Big Safari project office.  Predators gained the ability to carry AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-surface missiles in 2001, with the first armed combat sorties flown in October 2001.  Redesignated MQ-1 to reflect its new multirole mission, Predators were used in combat across multiple theaters from 2001 through its retirement from USAF service in 2018, when it was replaced in service by the larger and more powerful General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper.    00-3069, the aircraft exhibited at the Hiller Aviation Museum, is an MQ-1B Predator with a lengthened wingspan and improved functionality.  It was photographed by aviation photographer Andreas Zietler over Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, while participating in the Aviation Nation air show on November 10, 2007.   The aircraft is on loan from the National Museum of the United States Air Force after having been removed from desert storage with the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona. 

Lockheed YO-3A

In the tumultuous landscape of the late 1960s during the Vietnam War, the United States military found itself grappling with the challenge of surveilling elusive Viet Cong soldiers that were performing nighttime supply missions to South Vietnam. It was specifically for this task that the Department of Defense’s Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA), renowned for its innovative and experimental programs, embarked on a pioneering initiative – the creation of a “quiet aircraft” tailored specifically for nocturnal reconnaissance along the river in South Vietnam. The inaugural phase of this clandestine aerial surveillance project materialized in 1967 at NASA Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, CA. The brainchild of ARPA, the aircraft was named the “QT-2” and drew inspiration from unpowered gliders which possessed an unparalleled ability to traverse the sky like ninjas. The wingspan of the aircraft, based upon a Schweitzer SGS 2-32 sailplane, allowed it to soar silently for long distances without waking up the whole neighborhood.

Sky Portal

This interactive exhibit uses the real-time power of Google Earth to observe any place on the Earth, to view it from miles above the ground right down to the Earth’s surface. In addition to the unique thrill of finding your neighborhood and house as seen from orbiting satellites and exploring exotic destinations around the world, you can investigate aviation from a sky-high perspective. Included are airports, airspace, and routes of famous flights across the country and the world, such as the flight of the Vin Fiz in 1911, the 1929 Women’s Air Derby, the final flight route of Amelia Earhart in 1937, and the recreation of her flight by Reid Dennis and Linda Finch in 1997.

Women in Aviation

The stories of 29 women from different countries and ethnic backgrounds who achieved their dreams of flight are told in words and pictures spanning over one hundred years of aviation history. Among those featured are pioneering aviatrixes, including Bessie Coleman, the first African-American male or female to receive a pilot license in 1921, and Martha McSally, the first American woman to fly in combat.   The accomplishments of these brave pioneers and their colleagues have inspired millions worldwide with personal examples of how to follow a dream and, in the words of Amelia Earhart, “just do it.”

Flying Destinies

Ambitious endeavors unfolded uniquely, putting California into the spotlight of aviation history. This exhibit features stories about aviation pioneers like Lincoln Beachey, Robert Fowler, The Loughead brothers, Shaesta Waiz and Jack Northrup. The lore of aviation milestones includes the 1927 Dole Air Race, the 1929 Women’s Air Derby, and many others.

Real Time Air Traffic

Large displays show, in real-time, the complexity of air traffic in the San Francisco Bay Area and flights en route to SFO from around the world. Online platforms featured are Flight Aware and FlightRadar24.

Storm Making

Aviation’s working world is the earth’s atmosphere.   The workings of weather are explored here, including the opportunity to creating your own weather by manipulating a simulation of atmospheric conditions, including temperature and humidity, to make clouds, fog, rain, sleet, snow and thunderstorms.

Aircraft Engines

Discover the heart and soul of aviation with our fascinating exhibit on aircraft engines. From state-of-the-art turbines to iconic radial engines, delve into over a century of aviation history and explore the incredible machines that make airplanes soar through the skies. Unleash your curiosity as you learn about the evolution of engine technology, witness the engineering marvels that power modern aircraft, and gain a deep appreciation for the powerhouses behind the “zoom” we all love in airplanes.

Wright “Vin Fiz” – Exhibit and Simulator

Complementing the museum’s flyable replica of the Wright Model EX “Vin Fiz”, this exhibit tells the story of the attempt to claim the first flight across the transcontinental United States in pursuit of the $50,000 Hearst Prize in 1911.  You can fly a simulation of a Wright Model B aircraft, very similar to the first aircraft fly cross-country.

Beginnings of Flight

The surprising amount of aviation activity in California at the beginning of the last century reflects the region’s hallmark status as a center of innovation and “out-of-the-box” thinking.   This display tells the story of early aircraft designs, including George Cayley, Rufus Porter, Frederick Marriot, John Montgomery and many others

SFO Airport Beacon

The Crouse-Hinds Type DCB-36 beacon displayed here was originally mounted around 1945 on the San Francisco Airport Administration Building and Control Tower. Restored by skilled museum volunteers, the beacon is now illuminated and rotates continuously while dominating the center of the museum’s gallery.

Boeing 737-200 Cockpit

Step inside our Boeing 737-200 cockpit and experience the thrill of flying with United Airlines. This retired aircraft has been transformed into a unique display that offers a glimpse into the world of aviation. Discover this iconic plane’s intricate controls, advanced technology (at the time), and rich history. Whether you’re an aviation enthusiast or simply curious about the inner workings of a commercial aircraft, our Boeing 737-200 cockpit is a must-see attraction at the Hiller Aviation Museum

Drone Plex

Try Flying a Drone! - Discover the fun and challenge of drone flight with instruction. Each 25-minute program includes: - Preflight briefing - Practice with a drone flight simulator - Flight time with a real quadcopter within the Drone Plex Drones are one of the most significant advances in aviation of the 21st century. Get a “taste” of flying them in a safe arena with an instructor who will show you techniques for safe drone piloting, including rules, regulations, and “do’s and dont’s” practices for responsible drone flight. Saturday and Sunday, 10:30 am – 12:00 pm + 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Drone Plex is closed for Lunch between 12:00 pm and 1 pm   For Ages 7 and up Purchase your flight ticket at our gift shop. $5 for 25-minute experience. Free for Museum Members

Parachute Launch Tower

Endless fun launching and watching Parachutes drop. The Parachute Launch Towers is open every day. Everyone has endless fun launching, watching, and catching parachutes. The Parachute Launch Towers are a popular activity at the Hiller Aviation Museum, next to the Albatross Display Aircraft. Activities are available 10 AM – 5 PM, 7 days a week.

History of the Museum

The Hiller Aviation Museum was founded by helicopter pioneer Stanley Hiller Jr. and opened to the public in June 1998. The museum can trace its origins to the 1970s. A group of eclectic aircraft, collected by Stanley, was gathered in a warehouse in Redwood City but only accessible to the general public by special appointment. The growing collection consisted of unique early aircraft, one-of-a-kind prototypes, and cutting-edge test vehicles, some of which came from the Hiller Aircraft Company between 1944-1964 and other manufacturers. The importance of an adventurous and innovative spirit is evident in the aircraft collection. These traits were Stanley’s hallmark over decades of invention as a helicopter manufacturing pioneer. They reflected Stan’s own participation in Northern California aviation history in which he produced innovative aircraft the world had never seen, from personal flying platforms to ramjet tipped rotorcraft. Stanley Hiller Jr. understood that progress in solving global transportation issues, with aviation as a key element, required a relentless capacity for innovation. He recognized the strength the Bay Area possessed in harboring the talent, science, progressive attitudes, and capital resources needed to develop science and aviation in the 21st Century. A museum devoted to communicating the richness of this legacy and its promise for the future was Stanley’s vision. To fulfill this dream, the museum’s Board of Directors built a structure with the flexibility to house and display inspiring examples of aviation technology, to tell the stories of adventurous aviation pioneers, and to provide facilities that allow the community to gather and explore science and technology through the gateway of aviation. The museum was opened in June 1998 and has thrived ever since.

AR-5 Sport Monoplane

This amateur designed moldless composite homebuilt airplane set a world speed record for aircraft with 65 HP, weighing less than 661 lbs. The record run was 213.18 mph which was for the FAI (Federation Aeronautique International) 3 Km course for class C1a0 (land plane, piston engine, propeller driven, under 661 pounds--300 kilograms--gross weight) aircraft. This is a remarkable example of design progress when compared to aircraft of the same approximate weight and power that flew prior to the first World War at only 30 – 40 mph. The AR-5 is an extremely efficient, streamlined design, built of space age materials by master craftsman Mike Arnold of Sacramento, California. It is powered by a Rotax 582 two cycle, liquid cooled engine.

1898 Baker Electric Car prototype

The Baker Motor-Vehicle Company, located at 63 West 80th Street in Cleveland, Ohio, specialized on vehicles for the commercial market. By October 1912, the company had a Commercial Car Department and had dealers situated in several leading cities around the United States In 1901 the first production Baker vehicle was a two seater with a selling price of $850.

Colomban Cri-Cri

The Colomban Cri-Cri, also spelled Cricri, is the smallest twin-engined manned aircraft in the world, designed in the early 1970s by French aeronautical engineer Michel Colomban. Colomban designed the aircraft to be easy to build and fly, and the closeness of the two engines to each other, around the centreline, meant that it flew very much like a single-engined aircraft. The cockpit canopy was carefully designed to direct effective airflow over the tail surfaces in this situation. The plans-built aircraft was also designed to be easy to store in a garage and tow on a trailer, with assembly and disassembly each taking only five minutes.  

Pepsi Skywriter (Travel Air)

The Travel Air Manufacturing Company was an aircraft manufacturer established in Wichita, Kansas in the United States in January 1925 by Clyde Cessna, Walter Beech, and Lloyd Stearman. The company initially built a series of sporting and training open-cockpit biplanes, including the Model A, Model B, 2000, 3000 and 4000. Travel Air then produced a series of five and six-seat high-wing cabin monoplanes for wealthy private owners, and for airline use. In 1928, National Air Transport operated the Type 6000 on their mail and passenger routes from Chicago to Dallas, Kansas City and New York.

Library

The Michael King Smith Research Library at the Hiller Aviation Museum contains more than 5,400 books and other works – including instructional materials, technical manuals, audio/video, and serial publications. The collection is non-circulating but open to both researchers and the public. We also display a collection of model airplanes and special collection artifacts. Library entry is included with your museum admission. If the library is not open during your visit, ask for a ‘rain check’ and return when you can. The library is open Tuesday – Thursday from 10 am to 3 pm and by appointment. Please email the librarian at library@hiller.org for appointments. You may browse our entire book catalog online at https://www.librarything.com/catalog/HillerAviationMuseum If you have a research request, please get in touch with the librarian via email at library@hiller.org. If you make an appointment in advance, we can prepare materials for your visit. Photocopies are available for 10 cents a sheet, although you are welcome to take photos of materials free of charge.

Restoration Shop

Restoration Shop  work primarily on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9/9:30 am – 2pm. 

Doyle Conference Room

This versatile room can host meeting space for 50 theater style, 50 sit down, or 42 classroom style. The room is wireless enabled and includes conference style tables, chairs, along with a 85″ smart TV and video conferencing capable. It is located at the rear of our facility with views of the San Carlos Airport. This room is adjacent to the caterer’s kitchen. Contact us: Events Manager Lanie Agulay lanie@hiller.org (650) 654-0200 x205 (650) 654-0220 fax

Hall of Fame Room

The Hall of Fame room is a room that recognizes unique individuals and their contribution to the air show industry. Our Hall of Fame room can host meeting space for 50 theatre style or 40 sit down style. This wireless enabled room comes equipped with tables, 20 unique airline style seats, a pull down screen and an overhead projector for the user’s convenience. This room is great for small meetings, and both children and adult birthday parties. The Hall of Fame room is located at the rear of our facility with a great view of the museum’s favorite attraction, the Boeing 747! Contact us: Events Manager Lanie Agulay lanie@hiller.org (650) 654-0200 x205 (650) 654-0220 fax

Courtyard Patio

Time to book your outdoor event at the Hiller Aviation Museum’s courtyard patio. Our courtyard is a perfect place for hosting your private or corporate event, wedding, BBQ, reunion…. day or night! The newly renovated courtyard has fresh paint with the Museum Dazzle design, new picnic style tables and umbrellas and lighting has been added for evening events. Contact our Facility Rental Manager Lanie Agulay for more information on booking the courtyard or any other space in the museum. Contact us: Events Manager Lanie Agulay lanie@hiller.org (650) 654-0200 x205 (650) 654-0220 fax

UH-4 Commuter

A helicopter in every driveway?  This low-cost helicopter built in the post-World-War-Two years and introducing new rotor technology was created to fulfill that dream. The Commuter was configured to carry two passengers about 100 miles. It was designed for private rather than commercial or military use, but the market never materialized for this concept of an everyman’s aircraft. A 125-horsepower Lycoming engine powered a coaxial rotor system.  The Commuter’s new system of chemically bonding the blade structure to the hub mandrel anticipated developments of the next thirty years.  This aircraft is the sole survivor of the three constructed.

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avitor before the transcontinental railroad’s completion, travel from new york to california was a six-month journey by land or sea. in 1866, frederick marriott of san francisco formed the aerial steam navigation company, intending to build and operate a large steam-powered airship between new york and california, bridging the gap between the population centers of the united states and the burgeoning gold fields of the pacific. by 1869, marriott had constructed a 37′ long prototype named the hermes jr. avitor, after the fleet-footed roman messenger god who flew through the air on winged sandals. the prototype carried no pilot and was powered by a 1-horsepower steam engine. the buoyant lift was provided by a hydrogen-filled envelope, with stabilizers and elevator surfaces attached to allow for controlled flight. the vehicle was successfully tested at tanforan, near modern-day san francisco international airport. the aircraft completed a circular flight of approximately 1 mile and was recovered successfully. marriott planned the construction of a larger version capable of carrying passengers and crew. still, completion of the first rail link between the east and west coasts in 1869 reduced transcontinental travel times to a week or less, and the stock market crash of 1870 prevented him from securing the necessary financing. the original prototype was destroyed in a fire; the hiller aviation museum displays a full-scale replica at the entrance to its main gallery. Avitor curtiss pusher many aviation firsts took place in early northern california. none may have had more impact than eugene ely’s epic landing on the heavy cruiser u.s.s. pennsylvania in his curtiss pusher. ely’s curtiss model “d-iv” pusher aeroplane was equipped with metal hooks set to catch any of the 22 ropes stretched across the 120 foot long platform erected on the ship. the ropes were weighted taut with 50 pound sandbags. upon his landing, this simple setup successfully snagged the ropes, arresting the aircraft ten feet short of the ship’s superstructure. after having lunch with the captain, ely turned the curtiss around and flew back to tanforan airfield west of the more recent san francisco international airport. his historic accomplishment was hailed by the pennsylvania’scaptain and documented by the san francisco examiner newspaper. naval carrier aviation was born of this event in san francisco harbor, on january 18,1911. ely, a curtiss factory pilot, showed that ships could be used as floating airfields. Curtiss Pusher hiller xh-44 the hiller xh-44 was donated to the smithsonian institution and has been on public display at the national air and space museum for over 25 years. the xh-44 was designed and built by 18-year-old entrepreneur stanley hiller jr. and his team in a small automotive garage in oakland, california. on july 4, 1944, after several engineering setbacks and teaching himself to fly, mr. hiller flew the “hiller-copter,” as it was called, for the first time. the flight occurred inside the memorial stadium on the berkeley campus of the university of california. the xh-44 achieved many firsts. it was the first successful coaxial rotor helicopter to fly in america, the first to use all metal rotor blades, and the first helicopter to be built on the west coast. the coaxial rotor system has two sets of rotor blades – one mounted over the other and turning in opposite directions. mr. hiller chose this unique design to eliminate the need for an anti-torque tail rotor, which can use as much as 10% of the power from the engine. mr. hiller felt the added power to the lifting rotors was a better design idea. the second public demonstration was held in san francisco on august 30, 1944, at the marina green near the bay. hundreds of spectators, including government dignitaries and military observers, witnessed this historic event. they were impressed watching the xh-44 hover, fly vertically, and fly sideways, mimicking the hummingbird’s flight. the successful xh-44 led to the development of many other hiller helicopter designs. Hiller XH-44 santa clara glider john j montgomery 1905 santa clara glider (replica) built in 1905, this john montgomery glider had tandem wings. it was flown from aptos california in rather an unorthodox manner suspended from a hot air balloon that rose to 4,000 ft. altitude. the glider was cut loose and glided to the ground. there were several successful flights lasting up to 13 minutes in duration. the last flight ended in tragedy due to an entanglement with the balloon ropes damaging the glider causing it to plunge to earth. daniel j. malone, one of montgomery’s collaborators, a pilot and acrobat, was flying the santa clara at the time and was killed. Santa Clara Glider fokker dr.1 triplane in 1917, this german aircraft made its debut in the skies over france in world war 1. exceptionally maneuverable yet prone to wing failure, the fokker dr.1 (“dreidecker,” or triplane) was renowned as the aircraft flown by manfred von richtofen, the “red baron.” at the age of 25, the “red baron” was fatally wounded on april 21, 1918, flying a fokker dr.1 triplane in a dog fight over the somme river. only three triplanes are known to have survived the end of world war. since then, they have all been dismantled into component artifacts or destroyed. no original fokker dr.1’s exist today, but many replicas and reproductions have been built by individuals and museums. museum volunteers built the hiller aviation museum’s scale replica aircraft over four years between 2016 and 2020 in celebration of the 100+ anniversary of the aircraft. the aircraft is designed so visitors can sit in the open-air cockpit. Fokker Dr.1 Triplane hiller flying platform the hiller flying platform, the closest design to mimic a magic carpet, still captures the public imagination. the hiller aviation museum houses some of the most unique flying machines imaginable. one such craft, the flying platform, is the prototype developed by national advisory committee for aeronautics (n.a.c.a.) engineer charles h. zimmerman’s concept known as the “flying shoes.” to the amusement of his engineering peers, charles zimmerman proved the theory that rotors on the top (i.e., helicopters) are inherently unstable. zimmerman theorized that a person’s natural balancing reflexes would suffice to control a small flying machine. charles coined the term “kinesthetic control,” similar to riding a bicycle or balancing a surfboard. Hiller Flying Platform aerocycloid j.c. irvine 1908 aerocycloid (replica) the aerocycloid was a concept aircraft, exploring vtol (vertical takeoff and landing) ideas that were truly “out-of-the-box” before the age of flight really even started. it had four circular discs mounted horizontally on a ferris wheel-looking device that was rotated by a 7 h.p. indian motor cycle engine. the control system enabled the entire disc assembly to pitch forward or backward or to warp, producing side-to-side translation. the aerocycloid did not fly Aerocycloid hiller xroe-1 rotorcycle one of the helicopters that has most sparked visitors’ interest and imagination in the museum is undoubtedly the collapsible rotorcycle. small enough when folded to carry in a pod under an aircraft’s wing or on the luggage rack of your car, this contraption becomes a full-sized helicopter in a matter of minutes – capable of taking off from your backyard and flying anywhere in the san francisco bay area on a single tank of gas. one of the initial design requirements was a device that could be dropped with a parachute to a downed pilot. without any tools, the helicopter can be rapidly assembled and started, carrying the pilot across enemy lines to safety. originally designed by hiller helicopters in the mid-1950s, the museum has the original ground-test prototype, an evaluation model on permanent display, and continuously playing footage of several early flights. history in 1954, hiller helicopters was selected by the navy’s bureau of aeronautics to build a one-man, foldable, self-rescue and observation helicopter. the military designated the hiller model 1033 as the xroe-1 “rotorcycle.” two prototypes were built at the hiller helicopter plant in palo alto, california. the helicopter has the hiller rotormatic control paddles with a conventional tail rotor. power was supplied from a nelson h-59, two-cycle, 40 hp, four-cylinder opposed air-cooled engine through a centrifugal clutch. the prototype rotorcycle first flew on january 10, 1957. saunders roe, an english aircraft manufacturer, was contracted to build ten additional rotorcycles. twelve rotorcycles were built in all. the english-built helicopter first flew in october 1959; the first five were completed by the spring of 1960, with a second lot of five completed by december 1961. five of the saunders-roe helicopters were shipped back to the u.s. for military evaluation (with the designation “yroe-1”), and the remaining five license-built aircraft stayed in europe at helicop-air of paris, the european hiller civilian sales agent. the saunders-roe helicopters had a civilian designation of model g-46. seven of the rotorcycles ended their careers in the united states: the two hiller helicopter prototype rotocycles with the xroe-1 designation and the 5 saunders roe rotocycles designated yroe-1. buaer 4021, 4020 and 4024 were evaluated at nasa ames moffett field, ca, in november 1962. buaer 4023 & 4024 were evaluated at patuxent river, md, for the u.s. marines corps. the rotorcycle never entered military service, as the requirements were canceled before the military tests were completed. where they are now of the 12 rotorcycles produced, 5 are currently part of the collections of aviation museums, and one is privately held. one military version (yroe-1 #3) and five civilian models are currently unaccounted for. if you know of the location of any of these missing units, please get in touch with the hiller aviation museum. Hiller XROE-1 Rotorcycle black diamond diamonds are forever, though sometimes it takes a bit of extra work. the diamond airplane was built by a couple of shipyard buddies in 1910; but by 1999 there were no drawings, most parts were rotten, and essential components were missing. all the hiller aviation museum restoration crew had were old pictures, an assortment of parts, and a determination to revive an airplane built a few years after the first flight at kitty hawk. lan maupin was a dredge captain working in the pittsburg, california, shipyard owned by a man named lanteri. probably motivated by the new adventure of flight and not even aware of the money being made flying in air shows, they formed the diamond airplane co. there were stories that maupin and lanteri slipped under tent flaps at an exhibition to eyeball details of the curtiss show planes. curtiss had been sharing design ideas with those who had interest and money to buy them. most likely, however, maupin and lanteri winged it with pictures, magazine articles and personal observation. in any case, their diamond was larger than the curtiss planes and loaded with hardware store buckles and fittings. the two young men flew their plane a little, but had the deeper wisdom to hire a pilot, weldon cooke, to fly it at air shows. actually, weldon wasn’t a pilot, either; being a racecar driver, he had never flown before. but he was willing to learn, and did so with on the job training at san francisco bay area air shows, flying figure 8s and around pylons, one day stressing the amateur-built diamond with 60 landings. the cooke-diamond combination survived qualifications, and at the 1912 los angeles air meet cooke flew the diamond to a five-day record of 23 hours and 23 minutes flight duration, coupled with a 5,600-foot altitude record. such feats had won the diamond airplane co. some $14,800, and record-breaking flights had been made over oakland, the napa valley, and even to mt. tamalpais in unfriendly december weather. at the top of its form, but palpably worn out at the age of two, the diamond performance at the los angeles air meet was the last time the plane flew. maupin and lanteri retreated back to their pittsburg shipyard, leaving the plane with cooke and a mechanic named williamson. the diamond was unceremoniously crated and shipped back to the shipyard where it was born…but not, it turned out later, the whole plane. a few years later, lanteri was killed in a boat accident and the maupin family took the crated diamond to their ranch in marysville. there it rested until 1930, when its presence was requested for the yuba city county fair, and that’s when many vital parts were discovered missing. impressed by the historical significance of the airplane, the yuba college aeronautical school built a new undercarriage and plugged in substitute parts for the other missing ones. apparently the yuba restoration and display attracted attention because three years later the resurrected diamond became a colorful display at the oakland airport. there the plane remained until the smithsonian acquired it in 1948, only to be re-crated for storage in the museums silverhill, maryland, facility. those crates were never opened until 1998 when the smithsonian made the components available to the hiller aviation museum. volunteer craftsmen started bringing the plane to back to life again with a fervor that’s spiritual. one question dogged the hiller team from the beginning: what happened to the many original parts which never made it to yuba city from los angeles in 1930? fully absorbed in the mystery, hiller’s newton craven had been poring over old aviation magazines, and among the pictures he recognized a familiar-looking control column in the hands of paul poberezny who had long been a kingpin in the experimental aircraft association. “my god,” said craven, “that’s the diamond’s steering column!” days later he was in oshkosh with poberezny arranging for the reunion of the long missing authentic parts with the body of their origin. it was a bountiful victory: control column, seat, front and rear forks of the undercarriage, fittings, compression members, wheels…and all of them in good condition! even a 1910 tire was still inflatable. the mystery unwound: in 1964, poberezny had received the missing originals from a texan friend, neil carr, who had inherited the old california airplane co. on san francisco’s gough street. along with the company–for reasons unknown–came the missing pieces of the diamond. receiving the parts from poberezny proved that hiller’s restoration team had been correct in its reverse engineering: all the puzzle-pieces fit. the bogus yuba city replacements were discarded and the 1910 diamond, a remarkable creation from a shipyard, is today accurate and even flyable. Black Diamond montgomery gull glider  john j montgomery 1883 gull glider (replica) in 1884 john montgomery flew the first heavier-than-air glider from otay mesa near san diego. it flew several hundred feet on this first attempt. this was the first glider to fly in the western hemisphere without power or control. it weighed 40 pounds and had a single wing with a span of 20’ and an 8’ fuselage. there was a tail of sorts, but no rudder. Montgomery Gull Glider  rutan defiant 40 american aerospace engineer burt rutan was a pioneer of experimental homebuilt light aircraft kits using composite materials. the defiant was intended to be an efficient, safe twin engine aircraft that did not have the engines mounted on the wings. this meant that the pilot would not have to deal with yaw, or spin, in the event of a potentially fatal engine failure and could retain moderate directional control. this was achieved by mounting both engines on the aircraft center axis in a “push-pull” configuration – one engine in front of the cockpit and another in the rear. a forward-canard design provided pitch control and fixed landing gear augmented the defiant’s simplicity and lightweight construction. its unusual rudder is mounted under the plane’s cabin, beneath the pilot, and it has no flaps. each titan o-320 piston 167-horsepower engine has its own ignition key. the defiant was never certified as a production aircraft; the prototype model 40 (n78ra) made its maiden flight from mojave, california in june 1978. the defiant was then offered as the model 74 as a kitplane in 1984. over a dozen were completed and registered with the faa. it may have never achieved widespread success due to the intensive process of certifying such an experimental design, but it was a valuable contribution to rutan’s catalog of revolutionary concept planes. this original defiant prototype, model 40, was retained by burt rutan as his personal aircraft prior to its donation to the hiller aviation museum. Rutan Defiant 40 boeing condor the boeing condor was a high tech test bed reconnaissance aircraft built in the late 1980s. with a wing span of over 200 feet, the condor is larger than either the boeing 747 or the boeing b-52 bomber. the condor had an un-refueled flight duration of 80 hours. it was powered by two 175 hp, six-cylinder opposed, twin supercharged, liquid cooled, continental tsol-300-2 engines. one of the continental engines is on display on the museum’s mezzanine. remarkably, the aircraft is totally robotic with no pilot. on board computers communicate with computers on the ground via satellite to control all facets of the condor’s mission. the condor set an altitude record for a piston powered aircraft of 67,000 feet, over twelve and a half miles high. the condor logged over 300 hours of secret missions before its retirement. all of its test flying took place at moses lake, washington. very light for its size, the condor was built of state-of -the-art carbon fiber composite materials, giving the condor stealth qualities. with a very low radar and heat signature footprint, the condor was nearly electronically invisible. Boeing Condor nasa ad-1 the nasa ad-1 was an experimental project to determine the efficiency of a wing that could be pivoted up to 60 degrees during flight. the plane was developed by experimental aircraft designer burt rutan and manufactured by the ames industrial corporation of new york (which has no relation to nasa ames research center at moffett field). during takeoff and landing the wing would remain perpendicular to the fuselage to provide typical aircraft lift and control surfaces. however, during high-speed flight the wing would pivot along the fuselage to reduce drag, which then increased speed, range and fuel efficiency. the ad-1 flew from nasa’s dryden (now armstrong) research facility at edwards, ca from 1979 to 1982. over a series of 79 research flights, the ad-1 provided valuable data regarding the aerodynamics of oblique wing aircraft. NASA AD-1 general atomics mq-1 b predator first flown in 1994, the rq-1 predator was developed as a medium altitude, long endurance drone intended for reconnaissance and observation missions.  the high aspect wing, lightweight carbon fiber fuselage, inverted stabilizers and fuel-efficient rotax engine enabled the predator to conduct missions of up to 24 hours’ duration from austere bases around the world. originally operated as an unarmed drone, the predator’s payload carrying capability, laser target designator, and exceptional loiter time over areas of interest led to it being adapted to carry missiles under the united states air force’s big safari project office.  predators gained the ability to carry agm-114 hellfire air-to-surface missiles in 2001, with the first armed combat sorties flown in october 2001.  redesignated mq-1 to reflect its new multirole mission, predators were used in combat across multiple theaters from 2001 through its retirement from usaf service in 2018, when it was replaced in service by the larger and more powerful general atomics mq-9 reaper.    00-3069, the aircraft exhibited at the hiller aviation museum, is an mq-1b predator with a lengthened wingspan and improved functionality.  it was photographed by aviation photographer andreas zietler over nellis air force base, nevada, while participating in the aviation nation air show on november 10, 2007.   the aircraft is on loan from the national museum of the united states air force after having been removed from desert storage with the 309th aerospace maintenance and regeneration group (amarg) at davis-monthan air force base in tucson, arizona.  General Atomics MQ-1 B Predator lockheed yo-3a in the tumultuous landscape of the late 1960s during the vietnam war, the united states military found itself grappling with the challenge of surveilling elusive viet cong soldiers that were performing nighttime supply missions to south vietnam. it was specifically for this task that the department of defense’s advanced research projects agency (arpa), renowned for its innovative and experimental programs, embarked on a pioneering initiative – the creation of a “quiet aircraft” tailored specifically for nocturnal reconnaissance along the river in south vietnam. the inaugural phase of this clandestine aerial surveillance project materialized in 1967 at nasa ames research center at moffett field, ca. the brainchild of arpa, the aircraft was named the “qt-2” and drew inspiration from unpowered gliders which possessed an unparalleled ability to traverse the sky like ninjas. the wingspan of the aircraft, based upon a schweitzer sgs 2-32 sailplane, allowed it to soar silently for long distances without waking up the whole neighborhood. Lockheed YO-3A aero l-39c “albatros” the aero l-39c “albatros” is a high performance military jet trainer developed in czechoslovakia during the cold war. pilots of the warsaw pact trained in the l-39 before moving up to mig and sukhoi jets. at the peak of production, the primary users of the l-39 were the soviet air force, the czechoslovak air force, and the royal thai air force. today, the majority of l-39 owners are american pilots who seek a low cost private jet and find the aircraft’s simplicity, ease of maintenance, and relatively low purchase price irresistible. l-39 jets are seen in airshows around the usa and regularly participate in competition events such as the reno air races. Aero L-39C “Albatros” grumman hu-16 albatross the grumman hu-16 albatross was used by the u.s. air force, the u.s. navy and the u.s. coast guard primarily as a search and rescue aircraft. the air force used the aircraft extensively in korea for combat rescue, where it gained a reputation as a rugged and seaworthy craft. the albatross also was used as a passenger airliner serving island destinations in the pacific and elsewhere. its deep-v hull cross section enabled it to land in the open sea. it was designed for 4-foot seas but could land in more severe conditions while taking off in 8-10 foot seas using jet-assisted take off (jato). this particular albatross, n44rd, saw adventure in 1997 as a filming platform and safety aircraft in support of a globe-circling expedition recreating the final flight of amelia earhart. flown by local bay area aviators andy macfie and reid w. dennis, this aircraft became the first grumman albatross ever to fly a single purpose mission that circumnavigated the entire world. Grumman HU-16 Albatross boeing 737-200 cockpit step inside our boeing 737-200 cockpit and experience the thrill of flying with united airlines. this retired aircraft has been transformed into a unique display that offers a glimpse into the world of aviation. discover this iconic plane’s intricate controls, advanced technology (at the time), and rich history. whether you’re an aviation enthusiast or simply curious about the inner workings of a commercial aircraft, our boeing 737-200 cockpit is a must-see attraction at the hiller aviation museum Boeing 737-200 Cockpit wisk gen 5 air taxi the wisk gen 5 air taxi, also known as cora, is a pioneering electric vertical takeoff and landing (evtol) aircraft designed to revolutionize urban transportation. its vertical takeoff capabilities eliminate the need for runways, making it ideal for densely populated areas where rooftop landing zones can be established. while initially undergoing testing with a pilot for oversight, the ultimate goal is for the gen 5 to achieve fully autonomous flight. the gen 5 is fully electric, minimizing noise pollution and environmental impact in urban areas. with a cruising speed of 110 mph and a range exceeding 90 miles with reserves, it is well-suited for short to medium-distance hops within cities, or connecting suburbs to urban centers. additionally, wisk boasts a remarkably fast recharge time of only 15 minutes, minimizing downtime between flights. the potential benefits of widespread air taxi adoption are significant. urban traffic congestion could be significantly reduced, leading to shorter commutes and increased productivity. on-demand air taxis could provide accessible transportation in underserved areas or serve as a critical resource during emergencies. some challenges remain; regulatory frameworks for autonomous evtols need to be established to ensure public safety, and successful integration of air taxis into urban environments will depend on public perception and acceptance. the wisk gen 5 air taxi represents a groundbreaking advancement in urban transportation. with its focus on safety, sustainability, and efficiency, the gen 5 paves the way for a future where autonomous flying vehicles become a viable and accessible mode of transportation, ushering in a new era of urban mobility Wisk Gen 5 air taxi space ship one winner of the $10 million ansari x-prize for the first successful flight of a privately financed commercial spacecraft, spaceshipone took its first test spaceflight on june 21, 2004, reaching an altitude of over 100 kilometers (62.14 miles) which is the officially designated edge of space aka the “kármán line.” the hybrid rocket-motor powered vehicle was developed by mojave aerospace ventures, which was a collaborative project between well-known aircraft designer burt rutan of scaled composites, and microsoft co-founder paul allen. all flights took place at the newly christened mojave air and space port in southern california. it was flown by longtime rutan test pilot, mike melvill, who subsequently became the first ever licensed commercial astronaut. carried aloft from the runway attached to a customized turbojet aircraft called “white knight,” spaceshipone was released at an altitude of 14.3 km (47,000 ft), where its rocket engine was ignited and 76 seconds of thrust propelled it to a speed of 2150 mph, reaching mach 2.9 at an altitude of 54.9 km (180,000 ft). after rocket burnout, the aircraft coasted upward on a ballistic arc, exiting the densest part of the earth’s atmosphere and ultimately reaching 100.12 kilometers (62.21 mi) and making spaceshipone the first privately built vehicle to fly in space. the whole test flight took 24 minutes. at the height of its trajectory, spaceshipone was configured for high drag mode, rotating its tail booms into an upright position to provide stability in its gliding descent, similar to a badminton “shuttlecock.” the coasting parabolic flight path produced a few minutes of zero-g weightlessness. melvill took a moment to do an experiment with what he had on hand: “i reached into my pocket and i took out some m&m’s, all different colors, and let them go in front of my face and they just spun around like little sparkling things. i was so blown away… i got another handful and threw them out as well.” after his flight, candy manufacturer mars, inc. signed on to become one of the sponsors of the ansari x prize. since this one test flight did not meet the requirements to qualify for the ansari x prize (make two successful competitive flights within 14 days, have a payload equivalent of two passengers, etc.), it was not considered for the competition. however the next two flights of space ship one on september 29, 2004 and october 4, 2004 qualified mojave aerospace ventures for the coveted trophy and $10,000,000 x prize. there were 26 teams from around the world competing, but only one with burt rutan!   artifact details: title: full-scale model of spaceshipone model: scaled composites model 316 artist/maker: scaled composites country of origin: united states medium: metal frame and fiberglass skin dimensions: height: 91″ width: 26’10” length: 27’11” weight: 4000 pounds accession no. l2017.03 Space Ship One colomban cri-cri the colomban cri-cri, also spelled cricri, is the smallest twin-engined manned aircraft in the world, designed in the early 1970s by french aeronautical engineer michel colomban. colomban designed the aircraft to be easy to build and fly, and the closeness of the two engines to each other, around the centreline, meant that it flew very much like a single-engined aircraft. the cockpit canopy was carefully designed to direct effective airflow over the tail surfaces in this situation. the plans-built aircraft was also designed to be easy to store in a garage and tow on a trailer, with assembly and disassembly each taking only five minutes.   Colomban Cri-Cri pepsi skywriter (travel air) the travel air manufacturing company was an aircraft manufacturer established in wichita, kansas in the united states in january 1925 by clyde cessna, walter beech, and lloyd stearman. the company initially built a series of sporting and training open-cockpit biplanes, including the model a, model b, 2000, 3000 and 4000. travel air then produced a series of five and six-seat high-wing cabin monoplanes for wealthy private owners, and for airline use. in 1928, national air transport operated the type 6000 on their mail and passenger routes from chicago to dallas, kansas city and new york. Pepsi Skywriter (Travel Air) ar-5 sport monoplane this amateur designed moldless composite homebuilt airplane set a world speed record for aircraft with 65 hp, weighing less than 661 lbs. the record run was 213.18 mph which was for the fai (federation aeronautique international) 3 km course for class c1a0 (land plane, piston engine, propeller driven, under 661 pounds--300 kilograms--gross weight) aircraft. this is a remarkable example of design progress when compared to aircraft of the same approximate weight and power that flew prior to the first world war at only 30 – 40 mph. the ar-5 is an extremely efficient, streamlined design, built of space age materials by master craftsman mike arnold of sacramento, california. it is powered by a rotax 582 two cycle, liquid cooled engine. AR-5 Sport Monoplane uh-4 commuter a helicopter in every driveway?  this low-cost helicopter built in the post-world-war-two years and introducing new rotor technology was created to fulfill that dream. the commuter was configured to carry two passengers about 100 miles. it was designed for private rather than commercial or military use, but the market never materialized for this concept of an everyman’s aircraft. a 125-horsepower lycoming engine powered a coaxial rotor system.  the commuter’s new system of chemically bonding the blade structure to the hub mandrel anticipated developments of the next thirty years.  this aircraft is the sole survivor of the three constructed. UH-4 Commuter
VISITOR GUIDE
ACTIVITY HIGHLIGHTS
history of the museum the hiller aviation museum was founded by helicopter pioneer stanley hiller jr. and opened to the public in june 1998. the museum can trace its origins to the 1970s. a group of eclectic aircraft, collected by stanley, was gathered in a warehouse in redwood city but only accessible to the general public by special appointment. the growing collection consisted of unique early aircraft, one-of-a-kind prototypes, and cutting-edge test vehicles, some of which came from the hiller aircraft company between 1944-1964 and other manufacturers. the importance of an adventurous and innovative spirit is evident in the aircraft collection. these traits were stanley’s hallmark over decades of invention as a helicopter manufacturing pioneer. they reflected stan’s own participation in northern california aviation history in which he produced innovative aircraft the world had never seen, from personal flying platforms to ramjet tipped rotorcraft. stanley hiller jr. understood that progress in solving global transportation issues, with aviation as a key element, required a relentless capacity for innovation. he recognized the strength the bay area possessed in harboring the talent, science, progressive attitudes, and capital resources needed to develop science and aviation in the 21st century. a museum devoted to communicating the richness of this legacy and its promise for the future was stanley’s vision. to fulfill this dream, the museum’s board of directors built a structure with the flexibility to house and display inspiring examples of aviation technology, to tell the stories of adventurous aviation pioneers, and to provide facilities that allow the community to gather and explore science and technology through the gateway of aviation. the museum was opened in june 1998 and has thrived ever since. History of the Museum flight shop located at the hiller aviation museum in san carlos, the museum flight shop contains one of northern california’s largest selections of aviation-themed items. books, toys, clothing, posters, models, rc aircraft, drones, and more! museum members receive 25% off in-store sales all holiday shopping season–black friday (the day after thanksgiving) through december 24. - clothing (jackets, shirts and hats for all ages.) - model kits (classic models to assemble for the crafty.) - books (histories, biographies and stories of aviation across time.) - airliner models (models of airlines, in airline colors and livery, at many scales.) Flight Shop flight sim zone with expert help from one of our volunteer pilots, discover how airplanes move in three dimensions with your hands at the controls. take a virtual flight across the bay and see the world from the unique perspective of a pilot. pass required. $5 per pass (in addition to museum admission). pass is free for members. obtain passes at the museum gift shop. saturday and sunday, 11 am – 3 pm Flight Sim Zone fmx flight simulator fly with a pilot instructor in the fmx flight simulator. it’s an faa-approved full-motion flight simulator, typically seen only in flight schools and academies used in real-world flight training. the cockpit is fully functional, and the sensations of flight are amazing. this is the most realistic experience possible, short of flying a real airplane! pass required. - $10 for a 10-minute flight. (in addition to museum admission). - $8 for museum members. - tickets can be purchased at the museum gift shop. museum members receive additional discounts at the pilot, barnstormer, and all premium levels. saturday and sunday, 11 am – 3 pm FMX Flight Simulator invention lab the invention lab uses tools of science to explore aviation, aerodynamics, engineering, assembly, and design. perfect for children and adults. free with museum admission. saturday and sunday 11 am – 3 pm Invention Lab imagination playground exercise your imagination! open daily. time: 10 am – 5:00 pm create and construct magnificent structures using our innovative foam blocks. with their safe and easy-to-maneuver design, children can unleash their creativity to build anything they can imagine. these foam blocks are perfect for young children, providing a fun and engaging way to develop their motor skills while expanding their imagination. *please note that imagination playground occasionally closes for special education events, offering facilitated learning experiences. Imagination playground sky portal this interactive exhibit uses the real-time power of google earth to observe any place on the earth, to view it from miles above the ground right down to the earth’s surface. in addition to the unique thrill of finding your neighborhood and house as seen from orbiting satellites and exploring exotic destinations around the world, you can investigate aviation from a sky-high perspective. included are airports, airspace, and routes of famous flights across the country and the world, such as the flight of the vin fiz in 1911, the 1929 women’s air derby, the final flight route of amelia earhart in 1937, and the recreation of her flight by reid dennis and linda finch in 1997. Sky Portal women in aviation the stories of 29 women from different countries and ethnic backgrounds who achieved their dreams of flight are told in words and pictures spanning over one hundred years of aviation history. among those featured are pioneering aviatrixes, including bessie coleman, the first african-american male or female to receive a pilot license in 1921, and martha mcsally, the first american woman to fly in combat.   the accomplishments of these brave pioneers and their colleagues have inspired millions worldwide with personal examples of how to follow a dream and, in the words of amelia earhart, “just do it.” Women in Aviation flying destinies ambitious endeavors unfolded uniquely, putting california into the spotlight of aviation history. this exhibit features stories about aviation pioneers like lincoln beachey, robert fowler, the loughead brothers, shaesta waiz and jack northrup. the lore of aviation milestones includes the 1927 dole air race, the 1929 women’s air derby, and many others. Flying Destinies storm making aviation’s working world is the earth’s atmosphere.   the workings of weather are explored here, including the opportunity to creating your own weather by manipulating a simulation of atmospheric conditions, including temperature and humidity, to make clouds, fog, rain, sleet, snow and thunderstorms. Storm Making beginnings of flight the surprising amount of aviation activity in california at the beginning of the last century reflects the region’s hallmark status as a center of innovation and “out-of-the-box” thinking.   this display tells the story of early aircraft designs, including george cayley, rufus porter, frederick marriot, john montgomery and many others Beginnings of Flight real time air traffic large displays show, in real-time, the complexity of air traffic in the san francisco bay area and flights en route to sfo from around the world. online platforms featured are flight aware and flightradar24. Real Time Air Traffic sfo airport beacon the crouse-hinds type dcb-36 beacon displayed here was originally mounted around 1945 on the san francisco airport administration building and control tower. restored by skilled museum volunteers, the beacon is now illuminated and rotates continuously while dominating the center of the museum’s gallery. SFO Airport Beacon paper airplane launcher complete amazing hands-on projects in flight! the paper airplane launcher is open every day. everyone has endless fun launching paper airplanes. the paper airplane launcher is a popular activity at the hiller aviation museum, next to the drone zone. activities are available 10 am – 5 pm, 7 days a week. Paper Airplane Launcher drone plex try flying a drone! - discover the fun and challenge of drone flight with instruction. each 25-minute program includes: - preflight briefing - practice with a drone flight simulator - flight time with a real quadcopter within the drone plex drones are one of the most significant advances in aviation of the 21st century. get a “taste” of flying them in a safe arena with an instructor who will show you techniques for safe drone piloting, including rules, regulations, and “do’s and dont’s” practices for responsible drone flight. saturday and sunday, 10:30 am – 12:00 pm + 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm drone plex is closed for lunch between 12:00 pm and 1 pm   for ages 7 and up purchase your flight ticket at our gift shop. $5 for 25-minute experience. free for museum members Drone Plex wright “vin fiz” – exhibit and simulator complementing the museum’s flyable replica of the wright model ex “vin fiz”, this exhibit tells the story of the attempt to claim the first flight across the transcontinental united states in pursuit of the $50,000 hearst prize in 1911.  you can fly a simulation of a wright model b aircraft, very similar to the first aircraft fly cross-country. Wright “Vin Fiz” – Exhibit and Simulator parachute launch tower endless fun launching and watching parachutes drop. the parachute launch towers is open every day. everyone has endless fun launching, watching, and catching parachutes. the parachute launch towers are a popular activity at the hiller aviation museum, next to the albatross display aircraft. activities are available 10 am – 5 pm, 7 days a week. Parachute Launch Tower aircraft engines discover the heart and soul of aviation with our fascinating exhibit on aircraft engines. from state-of-the-art turbines to iconic radial engines, delve into over a century of aviation history and explore the incredible machines that make airplanes soar through the skies. unleash your curiosity as you learn about the evolution of engine technology, witness the engineering marvels that power modern aircraft, and gain a deep appreciation for the powerhouses behind the “zoom” we all love in airplanes. Aircraft Engines library the michael king smith research library at the hiller aviation museum contains more than 5,400 books and other works – including instructional materials, technical manuals, audio/video, and serial publications. the collection is non-circulating but open to both researchers and the public. we also display a collection of model airplanes and special collection artifacts. library entry is included with your museum admission. if the library is not open during your visit, ask for a ‘rain check’ and return when you can. the library is open tuesday – thursday from 10 am to 3 pm and by appointment. please email the librarian at library@hiller.org for appointments. you may browse our entire book catalog online at https://www.librarything.com/catalog/hilleraviationmuseum if you have a research request, please get in touch with the librarian via email at library@hiller.org. if you make an appointment in advance, we can prepare materials for your visit. photocopies are available for 10 cents a sheet, although you are welcome to take photos of materials free of charge. Library restoration shop restoration shop  work primarily on tuesdays and thursdays from 9/9:30 am – 2pm.  Restoration Shop doyle conference room this versatile room can host meeting space for 50 theater style, 50 sit down, or 42 classroom style. the room is wireless enabled and includes conference style tables, chairs, along with a 85″ smart tv and video conferencing capable. it is located at the rear of our facility with views of the san carlos airport. this room is adjacent to the caterer’s kitchen. contact us: events manager lanie agulay lanie@hiller.org (650) 654-0200 x205 (650) 654-0220 fax Doyle Conference Room hall of fame room the hall of fame room is a room that recognizes unique individuals and their contribution to the air show industry. our hall of fame room can host meeting space for 50 theatre style or 40 sit down style. this wireless enabled room comes equipped with tables, 20 unique airline style seats, a pull down screen and an overhead projector for the user’s convenience. this room is great for small meetings, and both children and adult birthday parties. the hall of fame room is located at the rear of our facility with a great view of the museum’s favorite attraction, the boeing 747! contact us: events manager lanie agulay lanie@hiller.org (650) 654-0200 x205 (650) 654-0220 fax Hall of Fame Room 1898 baker electric car prototype the baker motor-vehicle company, located at 63 west 80th street in cleveland, ohio, specialized on vehicles for the commercial market. by october 1912, the company had a commercial car department and had dealers situated in several leading cities around the united states in 1901 the first production baker vehicle was a two seater with a selling price of $850. 1898 Baker Electric Car prototype courtyard patio time to book your outdoor event at the hiller aviation museum’s courtyard patio. our courtyard is a perfect place for hosting your private or corporate event, wedding, bbq, reunion…. day or night! the newly renovated courtyard has fresh paint with the museum dazzle design, new picnic style tables and umbrellas and lighting has been added for evening events. contact our facility rental manager lanie agulay for more information on booking the courtyard or any other space in the museum. contact us: events manager lanie agulay lanie@hiller.org (650) 654-0200 x205 (650) 654-0220 fax Courtyard Patio
PRIVATE EVENTS
The Hiller Aviation Museum is the perfect place for your next party, wedding, sales meeting, or conference!
Atrium
Bar in Museum Gallery
Flight Sim Zone
Doyle Conference Room
Hall of Fame Room
Courtyard Patio
Boeing 747
AIRCRAFT COCKPIT
Boeing 747 Cockpit
Boeing 737-200 Cockpit
Aero L-39C Albatros Cockpit
Grumman HU-16 Albatross Cockpit
Fokker Dr.1 Triplane Cockpit
Blue Angels A-4M Skyhawk Cockpit
360 AERIAL PANO
CONTACT
Hours of Operation
Open 10 am – 5 pm, 7 days a week
(650) 654-0200
Hiller Aviation Museum, 601 Skyway Rd., San Carlos, CA 94070