Trains and Planes
10 am – 4 pm each day
Saturday April 8 to Sunday April 16
(Museum closed Easter Sunday April 9)
Join us for our annual Spring Model Train Show. This year there will be a number of separate model train layouts set up at the museum.
Advance on-line tickets available HERE (but not required)
Museum Members FREE and do not need advanced tickets
Display dates: Saturday April 8 – Sunday April 16
Diablo Pacific Short Line large G-scale modular railroad. They are known throughout the Bay Area and exhibit at regional parks, museums, train hobby shows and community events. They are one of the oldest and largest modular large-scale clubs in the world.
- Large layouts are low enough for small children to see and be close to the action.
- See a variety of scenic themes with great detail and animation.
- Trains represent late 19th century steam locomotives up to 21th century diesel powered engines.
- Freight and passenger trains.
- Discover the importance of railroads and railroad history.
- Learn from knowledgeable hobbyists in woodworking, electrical and scenic construction techniques.
Display dates: Saturday April 8 – Sunday April 16
The Golden Gate Lionel Railroad Club is a group of train enthusiasts that operate three rail O-scale and classic trains on a 20 ft. by 35 ft. hi rail modular layout with three loops of track.
This is the fourth layout they have built since their founding in 1986 by Gerry Bretshneider in San Francisco. It is now one of five Lionel Railroad Clubs in the U.S. The layout is never finished as their many creative members are continually detailing several areas. Look closely!!
For more information about the club, please see their website at www.gglrrc.org.
Display dates: Friday April 14 – Sunday April 16
The California Central Coast is one of the most active On30 (O scale) model railroad groups in the state. They have one simple goal – To have fun operating their On30 modular railroad and sharing that fun with as many people as they can. Their railroad is freelanced and set in ‘central’ California prior the 1940’s.
In April 2005, a small group of model railroaders with an interest in On30 modules came together to form the group. After exploring various module standards and the practices of other modular groups from other scales, they opted to focus their module design standard after the work done by the Texas Outlaws On30 group with a focus on interconnection and reliable operation. Their first public event was in February 2006 with a modest collection of five modules – some with only the beginnings of scenery in place. Since then, they have displayed at over 90 public and hobbyist events with layouts featuring dozens of nicely designed modules.
For more information about the club, please see their website at On30@CCC-On30.org.
AsiaNRail
Display dates: Thursday April 13 – Sunday April 16
Explore exotic, colorful Asia by rail. Follow trains through scenes of rural rice terraces and waterfalls, ancient mountain temples, and enchanting villages. This layout presents 1/150 Asian N scale models of historic steam and modern diesel and electric trains from Japan, Taiwan, China, Korea, Thailand, Russia and other Asian countries. The setting of the layout features traditional Asian architecture and scenery displayed with informative descriptions of each scene to help viewers learn more about the diverse cultures of Asia as they follow the trains around the layout. First displayed in 2008, the layout has been shown at several local shows, including the annual Train Days exhibition at the Los Altos History Museum, and at several regional and national conventions of the National Model Railroad Association.
Swiss Narrow Gauge
Display dates: Saturday April 8 – Monday April 10
Swiss Narrow H0m Gauge
The Meter Gauge Module Group runs trains that are HO scale (1:87) but with a smaller gauge of 12mm between the rails instead of the standard 16.5mm gauge. There are many meter gauge lines in Switzerland run by private companies such as Rhaetische Bahn (RhB), Furka Oberalp (FO), Brig Visp Zermatt (BVZ), Montreux Oberland Bernois (MOB), and Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn (MGB). We run models of the famous Glacier Express and Bernina Express trains, as well as local passenger trains and freight trains from all these companies.
In addition to the pleasant Swiss scenery our modules, we have two particularly attractive areas, a model of the Chamby station on the MOB line, and a stone arch viaduct that goes into a tunnel reminiscent of the Landwasser Viaduct on the RhB network. We run single track mainlines with sidings in stations, and we also incorporate elevation changes in our track, with one module that has the track cross over itself as it loops around.
The BBF&FRR (Bob Burke Family & Friends RR)
Display dates: Friday April 7 – Saturday April 8
The BBF&FRR (Bob Burke Family & Friends RR) is an O gauge 3 rail layout with many operating accessories. It was designed for family fun and is displayed in an open area for 360* viewing. All the accessories Ice loader, Log loader/unloader, Barrel loader, Culvert loader/unloader, Operating milk car, Operating freight car and Magnetic crane work.
E-Waste Recycling
Saturday, April 22
10 am – 1 pm
The Golden State Hauling and Demolition truck will be under the big Hiller Aviation Museum sign.
Delete all sensitive data from devices before recycling. Please note that full-size appliances will not be accepted.
This is a free event sponsored by the Rotary Club of Peninsula Starlight, the San Mateo Area Chamber of Commerce, Hiller Aviation Museum, and Jessica Govea, owner of Golden State Hauling and Demolition.
Kids’ Carnival
Sunday, April 23, 10 AM – 12 PM
Sunday, May 14, 10 AM – 12 PM
Sunday, June 25, 10 AM – 12 PM
Sunday, July 30, 10 AM – 12 PM
Sunday, August 27, 10 AM – 12 PM
Event included with Museum admission. No charge for Museum Members.
Join the excitement with special activities just for kids! Aircraft checkouts, cockpit exploration, glider and helicopter construction and more are just some of the activities available at each Kids’ Carnival.
Advance tickets available on VBO Tickets
Kids’ Carnival Activities
Outdoor Kids’ Carnival
March – November 2023 (February 2023 Weather Permitting)
- Paint-a-Plane Cessna Cardinal
- Scorpion Helicopter Checkout
- Paper Helicopter Construction
- Penguin Airplane Assembly
- Open Cockpit Aircraft
Indoor Kids’ Carnival
December 2022 – February 2023
- Vertical Wind Tunnels
- Paper Helicopters
- Scorpion Helicopter Checkout
- Glider Construction
- Penguin Airplane Assembly
- Rig-a-ma-Jig Construction
Sponsored by
Water Rocket Rally
Upcoming dates:
Sunday, April 30, 11 am – 12 pm
Sunday, May 21, 11 am – 12 pm
Wednesday, June 21, 11 am – 12 pm
Sunday, July 2, 11 am – 12 pm
Wednesday, July 26, 11 am – 12 pm
Sunday, August 13, 11 am – 12 pm
Event included with Museum admission. Free for Museum Members.
Advanced tickets for Sunday events available on VBO Tickets
Discover the world of rockets!
Bring along a recycled 1- or 2-liter soda bottle or purchase a new water rocket body in the Museum’s Gift Shop ($1.50/bottle) and join the rocket workshop! Use a variety of common craft materials to convert a bottle into a high performance rocket vehicle, then test fly it across the Museum’s Courtyard on a fountain of compressed air and water.
Event is included with Museum admission.
Participants must bring a clean, empty soda bottle (water bottles are not suitable for this activity), or may purchase one in the Museum’s Gift Shop on the day of the event.
Helicopter Adventure
Upcoming dates:
Sunday, May 7, 11 AM – 12 PM
Sunday, June 11, 11 AM – 12 PM
Sunday, July 9, 11 AM – 12 PM
Wednesday, August 23, 11 AM – 12 PM
Event included with Museum admission. Free for Museum Members.
Advanced tickets available on VBO Tickets
Discover the world of vertical flight!
Each Helicopter Adventure starts with an introduction to the development of rotary-wing aircraft and explanation of the parts of the helicopter using a real Scorpion aircraft. Then, participants build and fly their own paper helicopters and climb aboard the cockpit of the Scorpion for themselves!
Event is included with Museum admission.
Kids’ Carnival
Sunday, April 23, 10 AM – 12 PM
Sunday, May 14, 10 AM – 12 PM
Sunday, June 25, 10 AM – 12 PM
Sunday, July 30, 10 AM – 12 PM
Sunday, August 27, 10 AM – 12 PM
Event included with Museum admission. No charge for Museum Members.
Join the excitement with special activities just for kids! Aircraft checkouts, cockpit exploration, glider and helicopter construction and more are just some of the activities available at each Kids’ Carnival.
Advance tickets available on VBO Tickets
Kids’ Carnival Activities
Outdoor Kids’ Carnival
March – November 2023 (February 2023 Weather Permitting)
- Paint-a-Plane Cessna Cardinal
- Scorpion Helicopter Checkout
- Paper Helicopter Construction
- Penguin Airplane Assembly
- Open Cockpit Aircraft
Indoor Kids’ Carnival
December 2022 – February 2023
- Vertical Wind Tunnels
- Paper Helicopters
- Scorpion Helicopter Checkout
- Glider Construction
- Penguin Airplane Assembly
- Rig-a-ma-Jig Construction
Sponsored by
Open Cockpit Day
Upcoming dates:
Saturday, May 20, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Event included with Museum admission.
Online tickets available on VBO
Join us for a unique opportunity to gain a pilot’s eye perspective on many of the Hiller Aviation Museum’s aircraft. The McDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawk, Boeing 747 and Hiller H-12 cockpits are always open, but on Open Cockpit Days the doors and canopies of many additional aircraft in the Museum’s collection swing open to allow visitors a special chance to sit inside and explore the controls and instruments needed to fly these aircraft.
Sit in the cockpits of the following aircraft:
- Grumman HU-16 Albatross
- Fokker Dr.1 Red Baron
- Aero Commander 500U
- Boeing 737-100
- Boeing 747
- Cessna 177 Cardinal
- Aero L-39 Albatross
- Bell 47D
Scout Day
Scout Day Dates 2022-2023
Sunday, January 8, 2023
Sunday, May 21, 2023
No admission charge for Scouts in uniform!
The Hiller Aviation Museum provides complimentary admission to all BSA Scouts and Girl Scouts in uniform on Scout Days! Visit the Museum’s collection of over 50 different historic aircraft, discover flight with a range of interactive exhibits, and join the fun with hands-on explorations in the Invention Lab, Drone Plex and Flight Sim Zone (additional fee applies for flight simulation and some Drone Plex activities). Explore historic airplanes and helicopters and find out more about the special programs offered at the Hiller Aviation Museum for BSA Scouts and Girl Scouts throughout the year.
No reservations are necessary, simply arrive in uniform for an exciting day of aviation discovery. Adult leaders in uniform or with Scout ID are also admitted at no charge. Standard admission fees apply for parents and siblings (no charge for Museum Members and children ages 0-4). Don’t miss the chance to join a high-flying adventure!
Water Rocket Rally
Upcoming dates:
Sunday, April 30, 11 am – 12 pm
Sunday, May 21, 11 am – 12 pm
Wednesday, June 21, 11 am – 12 pm
Sunday, July 2, 11 am – 12 pm
Wednesday, July 26, 11 am – 12 pm
Sunday, August 13, 11 am – 12 pm
Event included with Museum admission. Free for Museum Members.
Advanced tickets for Sunday events available on VBO Tickets
Discover the world of rockets!
Bring along a recycled 1- or 2-liter soda bottle or purchase a new water rocket body in the Museum’s Gift Shop ($1.50/bottle) and join the rocket workshop! Use a variety of common craft materials to convert a bottle into a high performance rocket vehicle, then test fly it across the Museum’s Courtyard on a fountain of compressed air and water.
Event is included with Museum admission.
Participants must bring a clean, empty soda bottle (water bottles are not suitable for this activity), or may purchase one in the Museum’s Gift Shop on the day of the event.
Glider Discovery Day
Upcoming dates:
Sunday, March 26, 11 AM – 12 PM
Sunday, May 28, 11 AM – 12 PM
Sunday, June 18, 11 AM – 12 PM
Wednesday, July 12, 11 AM – 12 PM
Event included with Museum admission. Free for Museum Members.
Event dates and/or format subject to change if required by public health orders.
Advanced tickets available on VBO Tickets
Discover the world of flight in a special outdoor family event!
Learn the names of the different parts of the airplane, then join in the fun the help build a full-size Penguin airplane! Then, assemble a balsa wood glider and join a fun festival of flight outdoors in the museum’s Courtyard. Each child receives a glider to take home!
Event is included with Museum admission.
