

Imagination Playground
Temporarily Closed – Alternate Hands-On Exhibits Available
Included with Museum Admission

*Imagination Playground closes periodically for facilitated education events.


Meet Hiller Aviation Museum staff and build an aviation-themed project online in a special Virtual Invention Lab session!
Virtual Invention Lab meets Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 2 PM.
Each session runs 30-35 minutes and includes an introduction, hands-on activity, and exploration of an aircraft or aircraft replica in the Hiller Aviation Museum.
Presented live via Zoom from the Invention Lab studio! No pre-registration required, just drop in!
Virtual Invention Lab topics Winter/Spring 2021
- Prepare for Re-Entry (March 2-4)
- Towers (March 9-11)
- Clouds and Weather (March 16-18)
- Sundials (March 23-25)
Free of charge!
Sponsored by the SAGA Foundation
The Hiller Aviation Museum’s Virtual Invention Lab is presented through the generous support of the SAGA Foundation.
Current Activity

March 2-4
Prepare for Re-Entry
Investigate one of the most challenging parts of human spaceflight – the return to Earth! Construct a paper space capsule model and check out the Hiller Aviation Museum’s 9/10-scale Gemini spacecraft replica in an exciting adventure to the final frontier.
Supply List – Prepare for Re-Entry
- Space Capsule Template
- String
- Tinsel or ribbon (optional)
- Scissors
- Tape
Handouts
Zoom Link
Zoom link active only during scheduled Virtual Invention Lab sessions.
March 9-11
Towers
Discover the exciting world of the engineer while designing and building a tower, then check out the Hiller Aviation Museum’s historic 1940s-vintage rotating airport beacon from San Francisco International Airport!
Supply List – Towers
- 20 dry spaghetti noodles (may substitute 20 plastic or paper drinking straws)
- 20″ of clear or masking tape
- 1 small marshmallow or 1 cotton ball
- 1 piece scratch paper (for design)
- 1 pencil
- Scissors
Zoom Link


Imagination Playground
Temporarily Closed – Alternate Hands-On Exhibits Available
Included with Museum Admission

*Imagination Playground closes periodically for facilitated education events.


FMX Flight Simulator
Temporarily Closed. The tight quarters in the cockpit and close proximity of pilot and instructor makes 6-foot social distancing unachievable in FMX. Keep checking back for information about the reopening of the FMX flight simulator.
$10 for 10-minute flight.
$8 for museum Members.

Try Flying!
The FMX flight simulator’s fully functional cockpit features the latest in “glass cockpit” avionics technology, the Garmin G1000, including a Primary Flight Display (PFD) and Multi-Function Display (MFD) with integrated autopilot.
- 6 screen “wraparound” windshield display.
- Full simulator movement in yaw, pitch and roll.
- Force feedback flight yoke and throttle quadrant.
- Rudder pedals.
- Simulation software: Lockheed Martin Prepar3D.
Museum members can reserve 30-minute blocks of FMX time in advance.
Contact the simulator reservationist via email (jeff@hiller.org) requesting reservation privileges. Provide your name, Museum Member number, contact phone number and email and we will get back to you with instructions including a personal login and password.


Meet Hiller Aviation Museum staff and build an aviation-themed project online in a special Virtual Invention Lab session!
Virtual Invention Lab meets Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 2 PM.
Each session runs 30-35 minutes and includes an introduction, hands-on activity, and exploration of an aircraft or aircraft replica in the Hiller Aviation Museum.
Presented live via Zoom from the Invention Lab studio! No pre-registration required, just drop in!
Virtual Invention Lab topics Winter/Spring 2021
- Prepare for Re-Entry (March 2-4)
- Towers (March 9-11)
- Clouds and Weather (March 16-18)
- Sundials (March 23-25)
Free of charge!
Sponsored by the SAGA Foundation
The Hiller Aviation Museum’s Virtual Invention Lab is presented through the generous support of the SAGA Foundation.
Current Activity

March 2-4
Prepare for Re-Entry
Investigate one of the most challenging parts of human spaceflight – the return to Earth! Construct a paper space capsule model and check out the Hiller Aviation Museum’s 9/10-scale Gemini spacecraft replica in an exciting adventure to the final frontier.
Supply List – Prepare for Re-Entry
- Space Capsule Template
- String
- Tinsel or ribbon (optional)
- Scissors
- Tape
Handouts
Zoom Link
Zoom link active only during scheduled Virtual Invention Lab sessions.
March 9-11
Towers
Discover the exciting world of the engineer while designing and building a tower, then check out the Hiller Aviation Museum’s historic 1940s-vintage rotating airport beacon from San Francisco International Airport!
Supply List – Towers
- 20 dry spaghetti noodles (may substitute 20 plastic or paper drinking straws)
- 20″ of clear or masking tape
- 1 small marshmallow or 1 cotton ball
- 1 piece scratch paper (for design)
- 1 pencil
- Scissors
Zoom Link

Hiller Hangar Talk
Presentations, exploits, research and even some tall tales from aviators and flying enthusiasts.
Each talk is about 20-30 minutes with time for Q&A.
Presented via Zoom. Pre-registration required.
See the “Next Talk” and “Upcoming Talk” schedule for specific dates and times.
Free of charge!
Sponsored by:
Next Talk!
Wednesday, March 3, 7:00 pm
Bush Flying in Alaska
With only one major highway, the primary mode of transportation in Alaska is the airplane so if you like to fly, Alaska is definitely the place to be. From landing ski planes on the glaciers of Mount McKinley, to mapping tundra fires, the flying in Alaska provides an unparalleled flying experience. Join 7,000 hour pilot Darren Pleasance describing his days as an Alaskan bush pilot.
Upcoming Talk
Wednesday, March 17, 7:00 pm
Lincoln Beachey: Greatest Aviator of All Time!
The Man Who Owned the Sky, Alexander of the Air, The Divine Flyer!!! Who and why would an aviator get (and deserve) such accolades? Consider his firsts: the inventor of stall recovery, first man to fly upside down, first man to achieve terminal velocity (and live), first to master the loop, the Father of Aerobatics, the first to pick up a handkerchief with his wingtip, who played for the largest crowds in U.S. history … the list goes on and on. Step right up, come and see the Master Flyer!
Upcoming Talk
Wednesday, March 31, 7:00 pm
The Reno Air Races
With 14 years of experience flying the Reno Air Races as a pilot in the Biplane Class, Marilyn Dash now announces the Reno Air Races both in person and via live internet streaming. Marilyn takes us on a tour of one of world’s last remaining, and most famous, aviation racing events and her work producing similar pylon air races around the world.


Imagination Playground
Temporarily Closed – Alternate Hands-On Exhibits Available
Included with Museum Admission

*Imagination Playground closes periodically for facilitated education events.


Meet Hiller Aviation Museum staff and build an aviation-themed project online in a special Virtual Invention Lab session!
Virtual Invention Lab meets Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 2 PM.
Each session runs 30-35 minutes and includes an introduction, hands-on activity, and exploration of an aircraft or aircraft replica in the Hiller Aviation Museum.
Presented live via Zoom from the Invention Lab studio! No pre-registration required, just drop in!
Virtual Invention Lab topics Winter/Spring 2021
- Prepare for Re-Entry (March 2-4)
- Towers (March 9-11)
- Clouds and Weather (March 16-18)
- Sundials (March 23-25)
Free of charge!
Sponsored by the SAGA Foundation
The Hiller Aviation Museum’s Virtual Invention Lab is presented through the generous support of the SAGA Foundation.
Current Activity

March 2-4
Prepare for Re-Entry
Investigate one of the most challenging parts of human spaceflight – the return to Earth! Construct a paper space capsule model and check out the Hiller Aviation Museum’s 9/10-scale Gemini spacecraft replica in an exciting adventure to the final frontier.
Supply List – Prepare for Re-Entry
- Space Capsule Template
- String
- Tinsel or ribbon (optional)
- Scissors
- Tape
Handouts
Zoom Link
Zoom link active only during scheduled Virtual Invention Lab sessions.
March 9-11
Towers
Discover the exciting world of the engineer while designing and building a tower, then check out the Hiller Aviation Museum’s historic 1940s-vintage rotating airport beacon from San Francisco International Airport!
Supply List – Towers
- 20 dry spaghetti noodles (may substitute 20 plastic or paper drinking straws)
- 20″ of clear or masking tape
- 1 small marshmallow or 1 cotton ball
- 1 piece scratch paper (for design)
- 1 pencil
- Scissors
Zoom Link


Imagination Playground
Temporarily Closed – Alternate Hands-On Exhibits Available
Included with Museum Admission

*Imagination Playground closes periodically for facilitated education events.