Explore the world of flight from the comfort of your own home! Check out the links below to access at-home activities in flight for kids, information about aircraft on exhibit at the Hiller Aviation Museum, a virtual tour of the main exhibit Gallery and even an at-home Mars rover simulator!
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 upcoming schedule for specific dates and times.
Free of charge!
Sponsored by…
Virtual Invention Lab
Join a live Zoom session with Hiller Aviation Museum educators broadcasting from the Invention Lab! Learn about an exciting topic in flight and participate in a flight-themed activity. Sessions available Tuesday and Thursday afternoons – no pre-registration required!
Aviation Trivia Quiz
Challenge your aviation knowledge with a short, fun quiz! Participants may enter their contact information at the end of the quiz to have their name and score posted on the scoreboard, or simply select “skip” to complete the quiz anonymously. Good luck!
Activities from Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum and NASA
Coloring Books, Puzzles and Mazes
Try at Home
Enjoy an aviation-themed STEM adventure in your own home! Color through a guide to the parts of an airplane, explore experimental aircraft, build and fly a paper helicopter and more!
- Aircraft Identification Guide – NEW!
- Marshmallow Mars Helicopter
- Mars Helicopter Parts
- NASA Ring Wing Glider
- NASA Rover Coloring
- NASA Space Station Coloring
- HIller Aircraft ID Silhouettes
- JPL Straw Rocket
- NASA High Flyer Glider
- Parts of an Airplane (Coloring Sheet)
- Paper Helicopters (Print, Cut, Fold and Fly!)
- NASA Experimental Aircraft Dodecahedron
- Apollo Capsule Lander
- Paper Helicopter – Multi-Size
- Sled Kite (Full Lesson)
- Sled Kite (Template Only)
- Star Wheel – NEW!
- Sundial (Template Only)
Aircraft Stories
Each aircraft in the Hiller Aviation Museum’s collection has a unique story of its own! Visit our Aircraft on Display page for a complete list, or check out the links on some of the Museum’s most popular air vehicles below!
Virtual Tour
Explore the Hiller Aviation Museum’s collection of innovative and historic aircraft without leaving home! The virtual tour puts each visitor in command with the ability to move through the collection and visit exhibits of interest.
NASA Simulations
Program and drive a simulated Mars rover, control the powerful antennae of NASA’s Deep Space Network, or manage a resupply mission to the International Space Station! No download required, simply visit the NASA web pages linked below for immersive and interactive simulation experiences.
Hiller at Home generously sponsored by
Videos
Additional Heads Up at Hiller Videos
Color and Share
Join the Hiller Aviation Museum community in a fun, shareable at-home project! Download, color, return and share a special aircraft! Print and color at home or use an electronic painting app to make a creative design, then review a gallery of collected artwork!
Event Template 1
Upcoming dates:
Wednesday, July 6, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Wednesday, August 31, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Event included with Museum admission.
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.
Invention Lab
INVENTION LAB REOPENS JUNE 27
Take-and-Make Activities Available 11 AM - 4 PM Saturdays & Sundays
Included with Museum Admission
During the current COVID-19 situation, the Invention Lab (and the Hiller Aviation Museum) is closed.
Click here for our response to Novel Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19)
Take simple materials to build an amazing project in flight!
Virtual Invention Lab
Join the Invention Lab from home! Broadcasting via Zoom live from the Invention Lab each Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 2 PM, the Virtual Invention Lab brings a hands-on experience in flight into your own home! Basic school supplies and access to a printer required for most activities. Visit the Virtual Invention Lab page to see the materials list, download the handouts, and join the live Zoom link!
Virtual Invention Lab
Weekend/Holiday Invention Lab Activities
June 27 – July 26
Paper Helicopters
Build a paper helicopter to investigate the science of rotary-winged flight! Suitable for ages 3 and up, take-and-make from the Invention Lab 11 AM – 4 PM Saturdays and Sundays.
Imagination Playground
Temporarily Closed – Alternate Hands-On Exhibits Available
Included with Museum Admission
*Imagination Playground closes periodically for facilitated education events.
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!
Programs meets Tuesdays 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 Fall 2020
- Straw Rockets / SpaceShipOne (September 29-October 1)
- Cosmic Comets / L-39 (October 6-8)
- Amazing Aircraft / Penguin (October 13-15)
- Mars Helicopter / XH-44 (October 20-22)
- Halloween Ghosticopter / Scorpion (October 27-29)
Free of charge!
Current Activity
September 29 – October 1
Straw Rockets
Investigate Newton’s Third Law of action and reaction while constructing and launching a simple air-powered rocket, then get an up-close look at rocket-powered vehicles in the Hiller Aviation Museum’s collection!
30-minute craft activity begins at 2 PM. Spacecraft exploration and question/answer session follows at approximately 2:30 PM.
Supply List – Straw Rockets
- Drinking straw (paper, plastic or reusable are all OK)
- Straw Rocket template
- Scissors
- Clear tape
Zoom Link
Zoom link active only during scheduled Virtual Invention Lab sessions.
October 6-8
Cosmic Comets
Learn about the giant, dirty iceballs that haunt our solar system and build a fun comet model, then check out the L-39 jet trainer!
30-minute craft activity begins at 2 PM and is repeated at 3 PM. Aircraft exploration and question/answer session follows at approximately 2:30 and 3:30 PM..
Supply List – Comets
- Scissors
- Tinsel or Streamers
- Clear tape
Zoom Link
Zoom link active only during scheduled Virtual Invention Lab sessions.
Imagination Playground
Temporarily Closed – Alternate Hands-On Exhibits Available
Included with Museum Admission
*Imagination Playground closes periodically for facilitated education events.
Imagination Playground
Temporarily Closed – Alternate Hands-On Exhibits Available
Included with Museum Admission
*Imagination Playground closes periodically for facilitated education events.
