stanley hiller. >> reporter: stanley hiller jr. is an aviation pioneer whose influence was felt the world over but began here in the bay area. a vivid confirmation of that is the museum which hiller has develop. at the age of 19 he built his first helicopter in the midst of world war ii. hiller's team of fellow pioneers included a jack of all trades mechanical wizards. a naval architect, a welder and a paver. working in oakland and in the best tradition of flying by the seat of their pants, they took their first steps towards this uncharted horizon. >> of course we had known to talk with. there was no one on the west coast had ever seen a helicopter fly. and none of us had experience in creation of an aircraft and aircraft development. >> reporter: in 1943 stanley hiller rented space in an auto repair shop that used to be located here on college avenue near claremont. well, he fired up the rotors on his experimental helicopter and promptly blew out all of the window in the garage. well, they knew it worked, but now the next questio