Hiller Aviation Museum Spring 2015

Blog Post 1: March 2, 2015

My name is Daniella Lubey.  I am a Senior Business Administration student with a major in Marketing at the University of San Francisco (USF).  With the help of the Public Service Internship Program (PSIP) I am developing skill sets to enhance my resume and develop a career path.  I am partnered with the Hiller Aviation Museum in San Carlos, CA and am working with VP of Development, Lauren Weston and Program Specialist and Registrar, Katie McGee as a Research and Communication Intern.

The Hiller Aviation Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate museum, was opened to the public in 1998 by helicopter designer and inventor Stanley Hiller Jr. and features over 50 aircraft from more than a century of aviation history. The museum is visited by 85,000 people each year including over 10,000 children from regional K-12 schools. The Hiller Aviation Museum is a 501(c)(3) California non-profit Public Benefit organization.

During my time as an intern I hope to provide a beneficial service to the organization while learning in the process. Being that I know very little about aviation I have already significantly increased my knowledge while touring the museum and speaking with their many weekly volunteers. All the volunteers are dedicated to the mission of the museum and are more than willing to share their knowledge.  Aside from my new knowledge, I hope to develop my research and writing skills. I would also like to enhance my knowledge in non-profit organizations and specifically museum dynamics.

The Hiller Aviation Museum serves all age groups, but specifically caters to K-12 to interactively educate about aviation. They address the need for curriculum in science related subjects for young students in order to innovate, create, and inspire today’s youth with hands-on activities and exhibits.

Hiller Aviation Museum Mission Statement: “We use aviation as a gateway for people to embrace adventure and innovation while using tools of science to explore how the physical world works and how the dream of flight is made into reality.”

Website: Click Here

Main Tasks: 1. Research and Write Short Articles:

• Research for a “Careers in Aviation” Webpage
  • Basic Job Description
  • Duties and Responsibilities
  • Training, Education and Certification
  • Wages and Benefits
  • Compile other relevant material including photographs and videos
• Develop Text Content for Exhibits

Main Tasks: 2. Digitization of Exhibits:

• Create Digital Scans and Edits of Current Exhibit Images and Library Materials
  • For physical, online and mobile application based platforms

Main Tasks: 3. Help in the Progression and Future of the Organization

• Take a look at the Hiller Aviation Museum’s impact on the future: Click Here

Here you can take a glimpse at the museum’s library and many aircraft models!

Blog Post 2: March 23, 2015

Progress Report #1:

During my time at the Hiller Aviation Museum I have had the opportunity to speak with employees, tour guides and volunteers. Every week I can personally say I learn something new. I even had the opportunity to be given a personal tour to see and learn about the many aircrafts and famous individuals in the air industry. One thing in particular that I enjoy about the layout of the museum is its implementation of interactive exhibitions.

I started on a couple of projects during these past few weeks. One includes my research about aviation careers. A link to one career in particular can be found here.

My biggest project is the digitization of exhibit images. I have been able to complete this project and start on some digital exhibition designs. With this I will continue to conduct research on specific aviators and images in the exhibition.

Because of these projects I have had the opportunity to expand and deepen my researching and design skills. I am using my organizational and business skills that I have been taught during my time at USF  as I keep full communication with the Program Specialist and Registrar.

Every week I enjoy coming to the museum full students and eager volunteers looking to educate anyone like myself willing to learn.

Blog Post 3: April 13, 2015

While working and researching at the museum library, I have also witnessed some events that the Hiller Aviation Museum has hosted. Some of these include displays of Science Fair Projects from hundreds of students. There was also a large traveling model train exhibition in the lobby. For Easter, they celebrated with a flying Easter Bunny taking off in an aircraft and coming down to take pictures with children. That must be how the Easter Bunny delivers eggs so quickly! It is clear that Hiller has a dedication to education and informing children that education can be fun and interactive.

I have continued to work on my digitization project and started to understand what kind of wording is important to create articles appropriate for younger and older readers. I will soon begin digitization of images in the “Women in Aviation” and “Adventures in Aviation” sections.

Below you will find a few pictures of different aircrafts displayed in the museum.

Blog Post 4: May 4, 2015

My time as a Research and Communication Intern at the Hiller Aviation Museum is quickly approaching its end! I have started the last part of my projects this past week. Currently, I am working on the Women in Aviation image and article exhibit. Some of the weekly volunteers have come up to me to tell me they appreciate the work I’m doing because this important exhibit needed to be updated. They have talked with me about their personal knowledge about the people I am researching. It is nice being able to come in every Tuesday with such nice people and those who are always willing to teach me something new! Coming here every week is something completely different than my busy week as a student and student worker on campus. I enjoy being able to come out each week and learn something new.

I have also learned some cool things about the extraordinary women that were pioneers in the field of aviation. Through my research and from talking with the volunteers I feel like my service at the Hiller Aviation Museum has been beneficial to my knowledge and has helped the staff, volunteers, and overall museum aesthetics.

Florence Lowe “Pancho” Barnes (July 22, 1901 – March 30, 1975) was a pioneer aviator, the founder of the first movie stunt pilots’ union. In 1930, she broke Amelia Earhart’s air speed record.

Summary & Reflection: May 15, 2015

This is a great museum to take children of all ages! The docents know their stuff and are passionate about teaching all visitors at the Hiller Aviation Museum. The staff and volunteers that I worked amongst have been incredibly nice and are always willing to teach me something new. Even on my last day, I am still impressed by the exhibits. It is clear that they have extensively planned and worked hard to engage and educate children and adults of the community.

Founders, employees, volunteers, and visitors are dedicated to the dreams of flight from the accomplishments of men and women throughout history. The Hiller Aviation Museum has over a century of aviation history and provides a great learning supplement for those of all ages. It has been a pleasure to work with them these last few months. Thank you for enhancing my knowledge in the realm of research, communication, museum operations, public service, and aviation. It has been a great pleasure to be an intern at the Hiller Aviation Museum.

I recommend taking a tour of the museum or  you may take a virtual tour of the museum here!