Hiller Aviation Museum

601 Skyway Rd, San Carlos, CA 94070, USA

Address:	601 Skyway Rd, San Carlos, CA 94070, USA
Phone:	+1 650-654-0200
Site:	hiller.org
Rating:	4.5
Working:	10AM–5PM 10AM–5PM 10AM–5PM 10AM–5PM 10AM–5PM 10AM–5PM 10AM–5PM

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 13

Michael Romeyn

Great experience - worth every penny and more! I am not much of an aerophile but this wonderful little museum might have helped to change that. I arrived late morning on a Wednesday. The first pleasant surprise was the "Off the Grid" food trucks circling the front parking lot. Great choices and great food; it was nice to see a lot of the local workforce walking over to have their lunch. Plenty of tables, chairs, good food and camaraderie. My knowledge of the Hiller Aviation Museum was limited to wondering about that funky little plane I would see on top of their building every time I drive North on 101. I thought I might spend an hour or two. Well, over five hours later I walked out with a much greater appreciation of the history of aviation. Highlights for me included the many significant aviation "firsts" that took place in San Francisco, the Bay Area, and California. I could go on; it is a great place for individuals, families and professionals - they even have a research library! Go see this wonderful Bay Area gem for yourself .

A Private User

We went there for dinner around 8pm and were seated underneath an overhead speaker that blared music so I had trouble hearing the person across from me. The table was sticky with old ice cream. We were going to ask to move to a different seat but after 15 minutes we left because we had not heard from our waitress other than when she walked by and said "Ill be with you in a minute". Before we left I stopped at the counter to ask to see a manager and 3 or 4 people (including what looked like a manager) were leaning against a counter in plain view in a very dirt kitchen (food scraps all over the floor - Im glad I didnt eat anything out of that kitchen). They glanced over at me a few times but did not walk over at all. Our waitress even walked by us and didnt even ask where we were going. Grossest restaurant I have ever been in.

Stella Tatola

Small but still lots to see and do despite the closure of the outdoor 747 exhibit for painting. I was bummed they closed on my bday for a private 2 day event. I cant wait for it to expand and get more exhibits. I realized after reading when they opened why Id never been there for a fieldtrip. It opened in 98 after I graduated high school. Since Im having my 2nd childhood now, it seemed perfect to go for my 35th bday weekend. Had a great time. Swear the guys had more fun than me! Lost one to the gift shop. He couldnt decide which helicopter he wanted best lil r big un. Then he wanted gifts for his niece and nephew. Had we gone before 2p we couldve used the flight simulators, but alas we were too late. Next time!

VoidTree

I have gone here many times. It always has kind courteous staff, always inviting you and your kids to learn more about airplanes and experience the museum at its full potential. Also the summer camps are great, because your kids learn much assorted aviation related knowledge. Just awesome. But the only thing is that the flight sims are usually closed when we are there. And we are there during regular weekend daylight hours. I wish they would open the flight sim more often, so we can experience them. But all in all, it is a great museum and I hope you go here to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Brian Holm-Hansen

Great little museum! You can see everything in a couple of hours. The entry fee was $14, but I think it was worth it. The museum provides a very nice snapshot of aviation history. The displays are very well set up with nicely written descriptions of each artifact. Perhaps because its so compact, the museum gives you a very good feeling for the amazing amount of progress that was made in the first 3 or 4 decades of aviation history. I enjoyed some of the early helicopter prototypes, particularly the one powered by ramjets on the blade tips.

Sagar Pathak

This a great place for kids of all ages. They have a great set of hands on displays (because who wouldnt want to fly a flight simulator or a drone?!) and really cool aircraft (I loved the giant seaplane and fighter jet!). The coolest part for me was being able to hop in the cockpit of a real 747 and flip all the switches! I could have sat there for hours. And its location cant be beat, right off the 101 freeway. There is also a stand where you can watch the real planes at San Carlos Airport take off and taxi a few hundred feet from you!

Jukka Laurila

What a delight! I liked a lot the real 747-100 cockpit where you can try sitting in the pilots seat and have a knowledgeable volunteer explain what all the knobs do and what all the dials mean. Ive visited quite a few museums related to aviation, but still there was a lot that was new to me such as the unmanned airship-airplane hybrid Avitor which is quite possibly the most steampunk thing I have ever seen. Recommended for anyone interested in airplanes, helicopters, gliders or jetpacks.

Eric Dudeck

At $16, I found the cost of admission a little steep for a museum of this size, but it was otherwise a very enjoyable way to kill a few hours before catching a flight. The staff was extremely welcoming and knowledgeable. They were glad to point out all kinds of great exhibits that might have otherwise gone unnoticed. Walking around inside the old 747-100 was really neat, and the obsolete cockpit was fascinating. There were a lot of cool reconstructions of early prototypes.

Chad G

This place is honesty the best air museum Ive been to. It shows a lot more history of aviation, and theres a lot more hands on stuff like simulators for kids (and 22 year old kids like myself). Really, if youre even remotely interest in aviation, come here, even if its just to watch the planes take off from the airport next to it. I could spend all day here, and the staff seems to really know a ton of information. Go there!

Erik Beans

This aviation museum had a lot of local information but was actually a bit boring. There were tons of kids running around the place making noise as well. I think there could be more information on each of the planes in the exhibit and some more info on how they are tied together rather than just a random collection. Also, this place is quite pricey for what it is worth.

Liz Lynch

Had such a fun time here with my 5 and 2 year old! Probably would be better for school aged children, but my boys were still thrilled to see the planes and other craft up close. Docents are very sweet and happy to talk about the planes, and they have a great gift shop. Its a smallish museum and you can see all there is in an hour or two.

Saheli Brennan

Very large with a lot of interesting going activities. Even though it was great from a many things to do standpoint, I saw a mother who lost her kid because it was so large. If you have older kids and multiple adults, I would definitely recommend it. If younger kids, you might want to wait a couple of year before going to that museum.

Courtney Power

A local gem. For years we just enjoyed just chasing the kids around the exhibits and having another great place for a rainy day, but when you actually get a bit of time to stop and read the materials, its amazing how much local companies contributed to aviation/aerospace innovation.