Invention Lab
Saturday and Sunday, 10:30 am - 4:00 pm Included with Museum Admission
Also open Monday, February 18, 11 am - 4 pm
Use tools of science to explore aviation, aerodynamics, engineering, assembly and design. Perfect for older children and adults.
Current Invention Lab Activities
February 2, 2019
Flying Football Fun Fest (Ages 3+)
Celebrate the big game by experimenting with footballs in a flow-visualizing wind tunnel, then build and fly paper helicopters!
February 3-24, 2019
Paper Motors (Ages 7+)
Investigate the workings of a four-stroke piston engine by building a simple paper engine model!
Program is included with museum admission and no advance registration is required. Facilitators will be available to help throughout the process. Recommended for ages as indicated for the activities above.
Flight Sim Zone
Saturday and Sunday, 11 am to 2 pm
Also Open
Monday, Feb. 18, 11 am – 2 pm
Take a virtual flight across the Bay and see the world from the unique perspective of a pilot.
Pass Required.
- $4 per Pass (in addition to museum admission).
- Pass is free for Members.
- Two people can fly on one Pass (pilot and co-pilot).
- Obtain Passes at museum Gift Shop.
- Each Pass good for up to 30 minutes of flight time.
- Seating is limited.
Flight Sim Zone workstations consist of the following:
- large 4K screen, 3,840 x 2,160 pixel display
- Saitek flight yoke and throttle quadrant
- Saitek rudder pedals
- X-Plane 11 and Prepar3D v.4 simulation software
How Sessions Operate
We follow a flight instruction model. Our instructors are real pilots and they will show you how to properly control a small aircraft like or Cessna 172 or Mooney Bravo, including the all-important landing procedure. Once proficiency has been achieved in basic procedures, the instructor will help you implement a more advanced real-world flying scenario based on your interests including: cross-country flight, multi-engine and airline procedures, bad-weather flying, instrument procedures and flight plans, among many other possibilities.
The Flight Sim Zone is wheelchair accessible.
FMX Flight Simulator
Saturday and Sunday, 11 am to 2 pm
Purchase your flight ticket at our gift shop.
$10 for 10-minute flight.
$8 for museum Members.
Fly with a pilot instructor in an FAA approved full-motion flight simulator, the kind typically seen only in flight schools and training 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!
Try Flying!
This is a 10-minute flight that gets you into the fun and challenge of aviation. Put your feet into the rudder pedals, take the controls and get ready to fly! Accelerate down the runway at San Carlos Airport and lift off in your Cessna 172. Climb out over the Bay, maneuver in the traffic pattern and then land at San Francisco International Airport.
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.
For Museum Members Only
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
Saturday and Sunday, 10:30 am - 4:00 pm Included with Museum Admission
Also open Monday, February 18, 11 am - 4 pm
Use tools of science to explore aviation, aerodynamics, engineering, assembly and design. Perfect for older children and adults.
Current Invention Lab Activities
February 2, 2019
Flying Football Fun Fest (Ages 3+)
Celebrate the big game by experimenting with footballs in a flow-visualizing wind tunnel, then build and fly paper helicopters!
February 3-24, 2019
Paper Motors (Ages 7+)
Investigate the workings of a four-stroke piston engine by building a simple paper engine model!
Program is included with museum admission and no advance registration is required. Facilitators will be available to help throughout the process. Recommended for ages as indicated for the activities above.
Flight Sim Zone
Saturday and Sunday, 11 am to 2 pm
Also Open
Monday, Feb. 18, 11 am – 2 pm
Take a virtual flight across the Bay and see the world from the unique perspective of a pilot.
Pass Required.
- $4 per Pass (in addition to museum admission).
- Pass is free for Members.
- Two people can fly on one Pass (pilot and co-pilot).
- Obtain Passes at museum Gift Shop.
- Each Pass good for up to 30 minutes of flight time.
- Seating is limited.
Flight Sim Zone workstations consist of the following:
- large 4K screen, 3,840 x 2,160 pixel display
- Saitek flight yoke and throttle quadrant
- Saitek rudder pedals
- X-Plane 11 and Prepar3D v.4 simulation software
How Sessions Operate
We follow a flight instruction model. Our instructors are real pilots and they will show you how to properly control a small aircraft like or Cessna 172 or Mooney Bravo, including the all-important landing procedure. Once proficiency has been achieved in basic procedures, the instructor will help you implement a more advanced real-world flying scenario based on your interests including: cross-country flight, multi-engine and airline procedures, bad-weather flying, instrument procedures and flight plans, among many other possibilities.
The Flight Sim Zone is wheelchair accessible.
FMX Flight Simulator
Saturday and Sunday, 11 am to 2 pm
Purchase your flight ticket at our gift shop.
$10 for 10-minute flight.
$8 for museum Members.
Fly with a pilot instructor in an FAA approved full-motion flight simulator, the kind typically seen only in flight schools and training 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!
Try Flying!
This is a 10-minute flight that gets you into the fun and challenge of aviation. Put your feet into the rudder pedals, take the controls and get ready to fly! Accelerate down the runway at San Carlos Airport and lift off in your Cessna 172. Climb out over the Bay, maneuver in the traffic pattern and then land at San Francisco International Airport.
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.
For Museum Members Only
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
Saturday and Sunday, 10:30 am - 4:00 pm Included with Museum Admission
Also open Monday, February 18, 11 am - 4 pm
Use tools of science to explore aviation, aerodynamics, engineering, assembly and design. Perfect for older children and adults.
Current Invention Lab Activities
February 2, 2019
Flying Football Fun Fest (Ages 3+)
Celebrate the big game by experimenting with footballs in a flow-visualizing wind tunnel, then build and fly paper helicopters!
February 3-24, 2019
Paper Motors (Ages 7+)
Investigate the workings of a four-stroke piston engine by building a simple paper engine model!
Program is included with museum admission and no advance registration is required. Facilitators will be available to help throughout the process. Recommended for ages as indicated for the activities above.
Flight Sim Zone
Saturday and Sunday, 11 am to 2 pm
Also Open
Monday, Feb. 18, 11 am – 2 pm
Take a virtual flight across the Bay and see the world from the unique perspective of a pilot.
Pass Required.
- $4 per Pass (in addition to museum admission).
- Pass is free for Members.
- Two people can fly on one Pass (pilot and co-pilot).
- Obtain Passes at museum Gift Shop.
- Each Pass good for up to 30 minutes of flight time.
- Seating is limited.
Flight Sim Zone workstations consist of the following:
- large 4K screen, 3,840 x 2,160 pixel display
- Saitek flight yoke and throttle quadrant
- Saitek rudder pedals
- X-Plane 11 and Prepar3D v.4 simulation software
How Sessions Operate
We follow a flight instruction model. Our instructors are real pilots and they will show you how to properly control a small aircraft like or Cessna 172 or Mooney Bravo, including the all-important landing procedure. Once proficiency has been achieved in basic procedures, the instructor will help you implement a more advanced real-world flying scenario based on your interests including: cross-country flight, multi-engine and airline procedures, bad-weather flying, instrument procedures and flight plans, among many other possibilities.
The Flight Sim Zone is wheelchair accessible.
FMX Flight Simulator
Saturday and Sunday, 11 am to 2 pm
Purchase your flight ticket at our gift shop.
$10 for 10-minute flight.
$8 for museum Members.
Fly with a pilot instructor in an FAA approved full-motion flight simulator, the kind typically seen only in flight schools and training 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!
Try Flying!
This is a 10-minute flight that gets you into the fun and challenge of aviation. Put your feet into the rudder pedals, take the controls and get ready to fly! Accelerate down the runway at San Carlos Airport and lift off in your Cessna 172. Climb out over the Bay, maneuver in the traffic pattern and then land at San Francisco International Airport.
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.
For Museum Members Only
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
Saturday and Sunday, 10:30 am - 4:00 pm Included with Museum Admission
Also open Monday, February 18, 11 am - 4 pm
Use tools of science to explore aviation, aerodynamics, engineering, assembly and design. Perfect for older children and adults.
Current Invention Lab Activities
February 2, 2019
Flying Football Fun Fest (Ages 3+)
Celebrate the big game by experimenting with footballs in a flow-visualizing wind tunnel, then build and fly paper helicopters!
February 3-24, 2019
Paper Motors (Ages 7+)
Investigate the workings of a four-stroke piston engine by building a simple paper engine model!
Program is included with museum admission and no advance registration is required. Facilitators will be available to help throughout the process. Recommended for ages as indicated for the activities above.
