San Francisco Bay Area’s Biggest Little Airshow at the Hiller Aviation Museum
The Biggest Little Air Show
Sold Out!
Saturday, June 17, 2023
10:30 am – 12:00 pm
This year’s show will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the museum by matching a thrilling aerobatic performance by airshow pilot Vicky Benzing in her 1940 Boeing Stearman airplane and the Sukhoi West Demo Team along with demonstrations of exceptional radio-controlled models.
Beautifully detailed radio control model aircraft will be on display and perform demonstrations at the Museum from 10:30 AM to 12 PM.
San Carlos Airport will close to regular traffic from 10:30 am to noon to allow realistic jet and propeller-powered model aircraft to roll down the runway and into the sky to take their part in a unique aerial extravaganza including aerobatic helicopters, drones, quadrotors, and more!!
Performers:
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- Airshow pilot Vicky Benzing in her 1940 Boeing Stearman airplane
- Sukhoi West Demo Team
- Parachute Jump
- The RC Flyers model aircraft demonstrations
- Aerobatic gyroscopic routines
- 3D aerobatic helicopters
- Drones
- Quads
- Model Rockets
- And other RC aircraft
Sorry this event is completely sold out.
No tickets will be sold at the door and no passes accepted for this event.
What are my transport/parking options getting to the event?
The museum has FREE parking BUT it is very limited. You will be directed by our parking volunteers to park at the museum or in any of the airport parking lots down Skyway RD. There may be up to a 3/4 mile walk and/or there will be a shuttle bus running to the furthest parking lot at the end of Skyway Rd. Please car pool or better yet – Take Uber or Lyft.
At the conclusion of the air show the traffic light at the corner of Redwood Shores Pkwy and Airport Dr. can back up. We strongly recommend sticking around the show afterwards and talk to the pilots, have lunch, check out the Drone Plex and enjoy the Museum. Shuttle bus runs until 2PM.
Seating:
There is no seating provided. You are welcome to bring your own folding chairs to the show. The gate to the flight line will open approximately 10 minutes prior to the show. Placing your chairs on the flight line is on a first come basis. There is no reserved areas.
Flight Demonstration Schedule*
10:30 am – 12:00 pm
- Parachute Jump – National Anthem
- High Wing STOL Aircraft
- Creations
- 3D Electric
- 3D Edge 540 Gasser
- 3D Helicopter aerobatics
- Drone Race & Freestyle Demo
- EDF Jets
- Foam Man
- Model Rocket Launch
- Combat
- Full size acrobatics by Sukhoi West Demo Team, Randy Howell and Cory Lovell
- Full size acrobatics by Vicky Benzing in her Extra 1940 Boeing Stearman
12:10 pm – 3:00 pm
- Drone flying in the Drone Plex located in the Museum Gallery.
*Schedule subject to change without notice
This is a video from a previous year’s event.
This year’s Biggest Little Airshow is Saturday, June 17, 2023
Vicky Benzing in her 1940 Boeing Stearman
About Vicky Benzing
Born And Raised In California, Vicky Benzing Is An Accomplished Pilot, Skydiver, Aerobatic Performer, And Air Racer. With Over 9500 Hours Of Flight Time And Over 1300 Parachute Jumps, Vicky Has A Passion For Everything Airborne. Her Flying Career Has Spanned Nearly Forty Years, And She Currently Holds An Airline Transport Pilot Rating As Well As A Commercial Rating In Helicopters, Seaplanes, And Gliders.
Vicky Still Remembers Her First Flight In Her Uncle’s Airplane When She Was Just A Small Child. Inspired By That Flight At A Very Young Age, Vicky Learned To Fly In A Family Friend’s Antique Taylorcraft In Her Hometown Of Watsonville, On The California Coast. She Was Thrilled By The Spins, Loops, And Rolls That Her Ex-Military Instructor Taught Her And Subsequently Took Aerobatic Instruction From Legendary Pilot Amelia Reid.
Vicky’s Aerobatic Flying Took A Brief Back Seat While She Earned Her Ph.D. In Chemistry From Uc Berkeley And Began Working In The Silicon Valley High Tech Industry. But Her Passion For Spins, Loops, And Rolls Soon Returned When She Took An Aerobatic Flight With Air Show Legend Wayne Handley.
In 2005, Vicky Began Her Aerobatic Training In Earnest. She Began Competing In Aerobatic Contests Throughout The Us, Working Her Way Up Through The Many Categories. In Between Contests, Vicky Also Began Performing In Local Air Shows. Today Vicky Holds A Surface Level Aerobatic Waiver And Has Flown Hundreds Of Air Show Performances At Venues Across The United States, Including As An Invited Performer At The Greatest Airshow In The World, Eaa Airventure In Oshkosh, Wi.
About Sukhoi West Demo Team 
The Sukhoi West Demo Team brings together two highly accomplished pilots with the best aerobatic aircraft in the world. Sukhois have been flown by the top World Aerobatic pilots year after year in competitions and air shows.
Randy Howell is the Patriots Jet Team Owner and recently started flying the Sukhoi SU-26 in addition to leading the Patriots 6-ship jet team. Randy has accumulated more than 27,000 hours of flight time and took early retirement as a 747-400 Capt. He’s an advanced instructor in aerobatics, formation, and UPRT, as well as a Check Airman in a multitude of aircraft. He has flown air shows for 24 years and raced in three different classes at the Reno Air Races. He holds an ATP with 24 different type ratings from MiG-17s to the Boeing 747.
Cory Lovell’s experience comes from taking to the sky at the age of 12, followed by years of training with some of the best pilots in the world, including Sergei Boriak, Elena Klimovich, and Bill Stein. Cory’s also an aerobatic instructor in the San Francisco Bay Area and is Type Rated in the L-39 as well as several other unique aircraft. The Sukhoi West Demo Team spends much of their time working with aspiring pilots in the local community to help them realize their dreams.
Sukhoi West Demo Team website click here.
Sponsored by
Glider Discovery Day
11 AM – 12 PM
Upcoming dates:
Sunday, September 17, 2023
Tuesday, December 26, 2023
Event included with Museum admission.
Free for Museum Members.
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.
Helicopter Adventure
Upcoming dates:
Wednesday, August 23, 11 AM – 12 PM
Sunday, September 3, 11 AM – 12 PM
Sunday, October 1, 11 AM – 12 PM
Sunday, December 3, 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.
Narrow Gauge Trains and Railways
25th EuroWest Model Train Show
Saturday, July 15, 2023 10 am – 5 pm
Sunday, July 16, 2023 10 am – 4 pm
Event included with Museum admission.
One of the Bay Area’s premiere model train expos.
- Multiple Operating European Model Train layouts
- Clinics and Lectures
- Fun Contests for Young and Old
- Sales Tables
- Children’s Activities
- Raffle Prizes
- Manufacturer and Distributor Displays
Tickets available online through VBO Tickets
Kids’ Air Fair Participants
Join the fun at the Hiller Aviation Museum’s annual summer celebration of flight! Local aviation and public safety professionals bring their aircraft and vehicles to the Museum for a special show-and-tell session, while the museum opens the doors of many of its most popular aircraft! Kid-friendly activities abound, including balsa glider construction, paint-a-plane, paper helicopter construction and so much more!
Wednesday, July 19, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Event included with Museum admission.
Pre-purchase tickets available on VBO Tickets
Emergency Service Vehicles*
- Redwood City Fire Engine
- San Mateo County Sheriff Patrol Car
- California Highway Patrol Car
* Emergency Service participation is subject to change
Food Truck and Hot Dog vendor
Kids’ Activities
- Paint-A-Plane
- Open Cockpits (747, HU-16 Albatross, L-39 Jet, Scorpion Helicopter, Aero Commander)
- Exhibit Scavenger Hunt
- Glider Construction Station
- Whirly-Twirly Construction Station
- Penguin Build-a-plane
- Obstacle Course Bounce House
- San Mateo County Library Van
- Drone Plex Flight Simulation
- And More!
Aircraft
- Charger – Experimental Bi-Plane
- San Carlos Flight Center Cessna 172
- Aero Commander 500U
- BD-5 mini plane
- Vahana Urban Air Mobility aircraft
- US Coast Guard Helicopter (subject to availability)
Happy Birds
Upcoming dates:
Wednesday, August 9, 2023
Thursday, December 28, 2023
11 AM
Event included with Museum admission.
Online tickets available Click Here
Join a feathered frenzy with the Happy Birds! This elite team of parrots, macaws and cockatoos takes wing for a dazzling performance featuring wild and trained behaviors of all sorts. Arrive early for best seating and take flight on the wild side with these popular parrots and their friends.
These avian performers have been featured on The Tonight Show, Pet Star and The Ellen Show. Their repertoire includes: animal impersonations, singing opera, crying like a baby, and even a song called Clementine!
You will see fantastic birds showing incredible skills, including:
- RIDING A BIKE
- THE SHELL GAME
- RIDING A SCOOTER
- TALKING AND SINGING SONGS
- PLAYING BASKETBALL
- ANIMAL IMPERSONATIONS
- RAISING THE FLAG
- 360 DEGREE SWING
- SKATEBOARDING
- FLYING TRICKS
- OPENING DRINKS
- AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION
- AND MUCH MORE!
Kids’ Carnival
10 AM – 12 PM
Upcoming dates:
Sunday, August 27
Sunday, September 24
Saturday, October 21
Sunday, October 22
Sunday, November 26
Friday, December 29
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
- Paint-a-Plane Cessna Cardinal
- Scorpion Helicopter Checkout
- Paper Helicopter Construction
- Penguin Airplane Assembly
- Open Cockpit Aircraft
Indoor Kids’ Carnival
December 2023 – February 2024
- Vertical Wind Tunnels
- Paper Helicopters
- Scorpion Helicopter Checkout
- Glider Construction
- Penguin Airplane Assembly
- Rig-a-ma-Jig Construction
Sponsored by
High Flying Family Fun
Members-only Aviation Party
Sunday, August 6, 10 am – 12 pm
Free to Members!
Come Celebrate Summer With Us at this Outdoor Members-only Aviation Party!
- Bounce House
- Explore Hiller Helicopters With an Exclusive Open Cockpit
- Exclusive Starlab Planetarium Shows
- Glider and Helicopter Stations
- Spin the Prize Wheel
- Free Ice Cream from Mister Softee
- 25% off in the Flight Shop
Hiller Helicopters – Special Open Cockpit
Check out an exceptional collection of Hiller helicopters! These aircraft, on temporary display outside the museum throughout the summer, represent all eras of manufacturing at the Hiller Aircraft Corporation. Members will have an exclusive opportunity to explore the interiors of these unique aircraft.
Starlab Planetarium Shows
The giant inflatable Starlab dome provides a remarkable re-creation of the stars, planets and constellations visible in the night sky. 20 minute members-only presentations are available 10:15 AM – 11:45 AM.
For more information about Museum Membership, please visit our Membership page. Become a member or renew your membership today!
Happy Birds
Upcoming dates:
Wednesday, August 9, 2023
Thursday, December 28, 2023
11 AM
Event included with Museum admission.
Online tickets available Click Here
Join a feathered frenzy with the Happy Birds! This elite team of parrots, macaws and cockatoos takes wing for a dazzling performance featuring wild and trained behaviors of all sorts. Arrive early for best seating and take flight on the wild side with these popular parrots and their friends.
These avian performers have been featured on The Tonight Show, Pet Star and The Ellen Show. Their repertoire includes: animal impersonations, singing opera, crying like a baby, and even a song called Clementine!
You will see fantastic birds showing incredible skills, including:
- RIDING A BIKE
- THE SHELL GAME
- RIDING A SCOOTER
- TALKING AND SINGING SONGS
- PLAYING BASKETBALL
- ANIMAL IMPERSONATIONS
- RAISING THE FLAG
- 360 DEGREE SWING
- SKATEBOARDING
- FLYING TRICKS
- OPENING DRINKS
- AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION
- AND MUCH MORE!
Planes, Trains, and Cool Cars at the Hiller Aviation Museum
Planes, Trains, and Cool Cars
Saturday, August 12, 2023
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Come check out Unique Aircraft, Garden Steam Model and Lionel Model Trains, and Cool Cars featuring cars from car clubs and individual owners.
Unique airplanes in the museum and two different model train layouts including the Bay Area Garden Steam Trains.
Display car registration is now full. Thank you to all those who registered early. It’s going to be a great show.
Please purchase general admission tickets and come enjoy Planes, Trains, and Cool Cars!
Get your Tickets Online
General admission tickets are available now!
Admission:
$21 Adults (18-64)
$14 Youth (5-17)
$14 Senior (65+)
Free (Children 4 and under)
What are my transport/parking options for getting to the event?
The museum has FREE parking
T-Mo Food Truck: Has got those all American classics on lock, serving up a full bodied menu built to satisfy. At T-Mo Food Truck, you’re getting big ol’ burgers, crispy chicken wings and fries to curb your cravings on the curb. Each burger takes inspiration from different cities all across America. From the spicy Denver burger topped with provolone cheese, ham, onion, avocado and jalapeno to the Jacksonville burger with jack cheese and mushrooms, each is a surefire way to tantalize your taste buds. But that’s not all. T-Mo Food Truck’s also got gourmet sandwiches, burritos, plates full o’ meat and homemade sides, plus fried chicken wings in a myriad of mouthwatering sauces. Drool-worthy? Absolutely.
Mister Softee sells soft serve ice cream sundaes, soda floats, cones, cups, banana boats, and shakes from a brand new state of the art Ice Cream truck.
There will also be a hot dog vendor onsite.
