Photo Opportunities as a Museum Volunteer

By Hayman Tam

Looking for new photo opportunities in your locale?  Have you considered approaching nearby aviation museum to offer your services?

In the San Francisco Bay Area, just south of SFO, lies San Carlos Airport (SQL) which also happens to be the home of the Hiller Aviation Museum. This museum is dedicated to the rotorcraft legacy of its namesake, Stanley Hiller, and also highlights the aviation history of the San Francisco Bay Area. With an emphasis on helicopters it was only natural that there would be a helicopter-themed events put on by the Museum and in 2000 the first Vertical Challenge helicopter airshow was held. This annual show grew each year until it was a victim of its own success (for a variety of issues) and ended after twelve years. At its peak, close to sixty helicopters participated, making this the largest helicopter airshow in the country.

Having been a volunteer with the museum since its opening in 1998 (yes, 25 years ago…), and taking photos whenever I was able to (in conjunction with my normal volunteer tasks), I have been the unofficial Museum photographer for several years now and enjoy the access afforded me to be able to shoot from the other side of the ropes.  The airshows were wonderful and I would love to relive those events with modern gear and techniques.  The Museum also has a variety of helicopter-based events throughout the year that I get to document, along with some event photography mixed in.

Volunteer opportunities like this are a great way to expand your portfolio, add to your experience base and to network with other aviation-minded folks.

A Sikorsky MH-60S Seahawk of the HSC-4 “Black Knights” arrives for the 2016 Hiller HeliFest.

An Open Cockpit Day as viewed from a 1968 Aero Commander 500.

A massive Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion from HMH-462 Hiller Aviation Museum spools up to depart after the 2006 Vertical Challenge airshow.

The 2005 Vertical Challenge airshow had some rarely seen helicopters like this Sikorsky CH-54A Tarhe and Piasecki CH-21B Workhorse.

Arrivals day is always fun at any airshow. Here some Marine assets are arriving for the 2008 Vertical Challenge, Bell UH-1N Twin Hueys from HMLA/T-303 “Atlas” and a Boeing Vertol CH-46E Sea Knight HMM-163, an obvious challenge for this LSO.

Photographing R/C model aircraft at the Hiller Aviation Museum’s, Biggest Little Air Show, a real looking sub-scale Pilatus PC21.

Photographed the Museum’s Aero L-39, one of several images that would later become jigsaw puzzles auctioned off during a Museum fundraiser.

A Coast Guard MH-65D Dolphin visits for a Kid’s Air Faire event, sandblasting this hapless photographer as they taxied by.

Young Museum patrons getting hands-on with a Cessna 177B Cardinal.

Here comes Santa in an Enstrom 280.

An Enstrom 480 gets ready to rotorwash Museum patrons during the annual Hiller Pumpkin Drop activities.

An American Autogyro SP takes off after a day at the 2012 Hiller Vertical Challenge airshow.