Explore Aviation History at the Hill Aerospace Museum

Hill Aerospace Museum | Austen Diamond

The Hill Aerospace Museum honors the enduring legacy of 85 years of American air power.

For over 85 years, Hill Air Force Base has been a cornerstone of America’s air power. Its story is preserved and celebrated at the Hill Aerospace Museum. From its origins as Hill Field in 1940, supporting WWII through depot supply and aircraft maintenance, to its enduring role in national defense, Hill’s mission lives on.
Located just north of Salt Lake City, the museum showcases more than 75 historic aircraft, military vehicles, munitions and artifacts that honor the extraordinary contributions of Airmen past and present. What began in 1981 as a vision to preserve Hill’s aviation heritage has grown into a dynamic campus of galleries, including the newest addition that opened in 2024 and is 90,000 square feet.

Beyond exhibits, the museum offers immersive educational programs and inspiring events. It’s not just a museum — it’s a launchpad for learning, reflection and awe.

Powered flight came to Utah for the first time in 1910 when an Aviation Carnival was held in Salt Lake City, which included a Wright Model F Flyer in the first flight races in Utah. The flyer had a top speed of 45 mph and a range of 110 miles.

1911 BURGESS-WRIGHT MODEL F FLYER (Rex Hadley Gallery)

Photo: Courtesy of Hill Aerospace Museum

On July 28, 1976, the SR-71 set a world speed record of 2,193.167 mph, making it the world’s fastest and highest-flying manned aircraft. It was able to fly from Washington DC to Los Angeles in just over one hour.

LOCKHEED SR-71C “BLACKBIRD” S/N 61-7981: This specific SR-71 aircraft was the only “C” model built. It was nicknamed “The Bastard” since it included the rear fuselage of an YF-12A and the forward fuselage of a SR-71A static unit. Decades ago, Hill Air Force Base was the calibration point for the US Air Force sensitometers and densitometers used in reconnaissance aircraft like the SR-71. (L.S. Skaggs Gallery)

Photo: Courtesy of Hill Aerospace Museum

The Mighty Eighth Exhibit highlights the contributions of the Eighth Air Force during World War II, primarily daylight precision bombing tactics in Europe against the Nazi regime. Hill Field was responsible for maintaining and overhauling aircraft associated with the Mighty Eighth and their missions.

The Mighty Eighth Exhibit (Rex Hadley Gallery)

Photo: Courtesy of Hill Aerospace Museum

BOEING B-17G “FLYING FORTRESS” S/N 44-83663: Defined by its weapon and equipment improvements, the B-17 bomber could withstand intense hits under enemy fire and was known for its use in the strategic bombing of German industrial targets during World War II. Hill Field, later renamed to Hill Air Force Base in 1948, performed a significant amount of repair and maintenance on B-17s during and after World War II. (Rex Hadley Gallery)

Photo: Courtesy of Hill Aerospace Museum

BOEING B-29 "SUPERFORTRESS": Designed as a replacement for the B-17 and B-24 in 1940, this aircraft was the pinnacle of allied bomber engineering with its pressurized cabin, electronic fire-control system and remote-controlled machine-gun turrets. During World War II, the 509th Composite Group practiced secret B-29 bombing maneuvers in Utah at Wendover Field to prepare for the atomic missions in Japan. (Rex Hadley Gallery)

Photo: Courtesy of Hill Aerospace Museum

This stained glass depiction of a B-17, which is housed in the Historic Mazer Chapel on the Museum’s campus, memorializes the 384th who trained at Wendover Field to prepare for World War II. The Historic Mazer Chapel was a vital part of the base and its community for decades, constructed in the early 1940s. (Historic Mazer Chapel)

Photo: Courtesy of Hill Aerospace Museum

LOCKHEED P-38J “LIGHTNING” S/N 42-67638: During the North African campaign of World War II, the German Luftwaffe (aerial warfare branch) nicknamed the P-38 “The Forked-Tail Devil” for its unusual split-engine design and prowess in combat. While never stationed at Hill Field, the installation performed maintenance on this aircraft’s engines. (Rex Hadley Gallery)

Photo: Courtesy of Hill Aerospace Museum

CURTISS P-40N “WARHAWK” S/N 42-105270: Used as a fighter-bomber, the US Air Force utilized the P-40N in 1944 during World War II. Curtiss-Wright manufactured a total of 13,738 of these aircraft within four years of production with airframe maintenance operations occurring at Hill Field. (Rex Hadley Gallery)

Photo: Courtesy of Hill Aerospace Museum

Shortly after World War II, the United States developed nuclear-capable missiles to defend against, or more importantly, to deter an enemy attack during the Cold War.

Hill Air Force Base is home to the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center’s ICBM Systems Directorate, and its role is focused on the engineering, logistics, and sustainment of the Air Force’s intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). (Lindquist-Stewart Gallery)

Photo: Courtesy of Hill Aerospace Museum

NORTH AMERICAN F-100A “SUPER SABRE” S/N 52-5777: The F-100A was the US Air Force’s first operational aircraft capable of flying faster than the speed of sound (760 MPH) in level flight – setting the world speed record in 1955. In 1960, a small number of F-100As were assigned to Hill Air Force Base, mainly to assist in munitions testing. (Lindquist-Stewart Gallery)

Photo: Courtesy of Hill Aerospace Museum

CONVAIR F-102A “DELTA DAGGER” S/N 57-833: The F-102A was the first supersonic, all-weather jet interceptor that served during the Vietnam War. In 1956, Hill Air Force Base was designated as the Western Zone Weapons System Storage Site for the F-102 aircraft, meaning Hill stored nuclear materiel for the Air Force. Years later, the Ogden Air Materiel Aera performed maintenance and modernization for the F-102 program. (Lindquist-Stewart Gallery)

Photo: Courtesy of Hill Aerospace Museum

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Considered the backbone of the US Air Force’s fighter fleet for more than three decades, the F-16 has, and continues to play an important role in air superiority.

GENERAL DYNAMICS F-16A “FIGHTING FALCON”: The first operational F-16A was delivered in January 1979 to the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. This unit flew the F-16 for almost 40 years. (L.S. Skaggs Gallery)

Photo: Courtesy of Hill Aerospace Museum

LOCKHEED F-117A “NIGHTHAWK” S/N 82-799: The F-117A was the first operational military aircraft designed to exploit low-observable stealth technology to evade detection by enemy radar or sensors. Hill Air Force Base’s depot, through its 649 Combat Logistics Support Squadron (CLSS), provided F-117 battle damage repair and expeditionary field support. (L.S. Skaggs Gallery)

Photo: Courtesy of Hill Aerospace Museum

LOCKHEED MARTIN F-22A “RAPTOR” S/N 91-4002: Even after 20 years in service, the F-22 continues to serve the US Air Force as one of its premier fighters, outmatching opponents around the globe. Hill Air Force Base is the sole depot for repair, maintenance, and modernization for the F-22 fleet. (L.S. Skaggs Gallery)

Photo: Courtesy of Hill Aerospace Museum

FAIRCHILD-REPUBLIC A-10A “THUNDERBOLT II” S/N 73-1666: The A-10 was the first US Air Force aircraft designed specifically for close air support of ground forces. Due to its somewhat homely appearance and its aggressive capability against ground targets, it was nicknamed the “Warthog.” Since the 1990s, the Ogden Air Logistics Complex has performed maintenance and overhaul activities for the A-10. (L.S. Skaggs Gallery)

Photo: Courtesy of Hill Aerospace Museum