# Colette Hiller - the pilot in "Aliens" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 26, 2004, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colette-hiller-the-pilot-in-aliens/242030 "2004-04-26T04:28:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colette-hiller-the-pilot-in-aliens/242030/21 "2013-03-08T17:31:59Z")
This thread caused me to do a search on Carrie Hen and was totally surprised that she now looks exactly like my sister. ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colette-hiller-the-pilot-in-aliens/242030/22 "2013-03-08T18:05:05Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > “Five by five” is a reference to military communications, where an operator would report (on a scale of one-to-five) the strength of a signal (1 - weak, 5 - loud) and it’s clarity (1- garbled, 5 - clear). Later on, it was just easier to say “Loud and clear”. In this case, it’s an expression for smooth sailing. > > “In the pipe” means they’re following their intended flightpath. As mentioned 9 years ago, this phrase and “Hang on, we’re in for some chop” from Aliens were used in the video game StarCraft. The character lines in it were full of [Easter Eggs](http://starcraft.wikia.com/wiki/StarCraft_unit_quotations). ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colette-hiller-the-pilot-in-aliens/242030/23 "2013-03-08T19:45:05Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > Also, Hiller seemed inauthentic in the role. It was probably the oversized aviators and/or undersized head – like a girl playing pilot dress up. That’s the reality now. Call [these women](http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/030206-F-0000G-007.jpg&imgrefurl=http://forums.military.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/364190332/m/6490074261001&h=750&w=1000&sz=226&tbnid=jtDjlSxiVGsUTM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=120&zoom=1&usg=__Q6qYppcvUKemcbMmo2cHBUWlyOE=&docid=_t4QLHCELmmxHM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=KT86UZu6NNLPqwGz2YDgBg&ved=0CDYQ9QEwAQ&dur=4607) inauthentic and you’ll get dumped out the cargo ramp 😃 _knows a few military aviatrixes_ _yeah, they talk just like Colette Hiller does, and it’s hot in eral life too_ ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colette-hiller-the-pilot-in-aliens/242030/24 "2013-03-08T20:46:05Z")
> [@GargoyleWB](#): > > _knows a few military aviatrixes_ > > _yeah, they talk just like Colette Hiller does, and it’s hot in eral life too_ Either that’s “real life” or “oral life”. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2013, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colette-hiller-the-pilot-in-aliens/242030/25 "2013-03-08T21:14:44Z")
> [@GargoyleWB](#): > > That’s the reality now. Call [these women](http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/030206-F-0000G-007.jpg&imgrefurl=http://forums.military.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/364190332/m/6490074261001&h=750&w=1000&sz=226&tbnid=jtDjlSxiVGsUTM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=120&zoom=1&usg=__Q6qYppcvUKemcbMmo2cHBUWlyOE=&docid=_t4QLHCELmmxHM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=KT86UZu6NNLPqwGz2YDgBg&ved=0CDYQ9QEwAQ&dur=4607) inauthentic and you’ll get dumped out the cargo ramp 😃 > > _knows a few military aviatrixes_ > > _yeah, they talk just like Colette Hiller does, and it’s hot in eral life too_ I’m calling her performance inauthentic, not her vagina. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colette-hiller-the-pilot-in-aliens/242030/26 "2013-03-09T01:45:21Z")
You’re gonna love this. Be sure to read the whole caption: [http://www.jumbojoke.com/images/missamerica.jpg](http://www.jumbojoke.com/images/missamerica.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2013, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colette-hiller-the-pilot-in-aliens/242030/27 "2013-03-09T02:15:09Z")
It just kills my wife that, if she were 40 years younger, she could run a Vulcan on a AC-130. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colette-hiller-the-pilot-in-aliens/242030/28 "2013-03-12T00:31:21Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > It just kills my wife that, if she were 40 years younger, she could run a Vulcan on a AC-130. [AC-130’s with Vulcans](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGRI92YRgJg) make me feel funny inside. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colette-hiller-the-pilot-in-aliens/242030/29 "2013-03-12T00:53:50Z")
> [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](#): > > [AC-130’s with Vulcans](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGRI92YRgJg) make me feel funny inside. Makes me proud to be a Murrican! ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colette-hiller-the-pilot-in-aliens/242030/30 "2013-03-12T00:58:14Z")
> [@NitroPress](#): > > Yeah, he was soooo up to date, stealing it from a 1958 Heinlein novel, too. (Along with most of the rest of the movie.) What Heinlein novel? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2013, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colette-hiller-the-pilot-in-aliens/242030/31 "2013-03-12T01:04:29Z")
> [@Meatros](#): > > What Heinlein novel? I’m thinking _Starship Troopers,_ which had female pilots. Bald, too. ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2013, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colette-hiller-the-pilot-in-aliens/242030/32 "2013-03-13T01:29:26Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > Actually, I hated that part of Aliens. Cameron was awkwardly forcing his hand saying LOOK it’s the FUTURE see how progressive it is that we have a WOMAN pilot who can jabber in PILOT SLANG. No shit, James, you’re movie already has Ripley and her character is a 100x more subtle - well until you inherited her and and made the entire third act \*overtly \*about motherhood. The thought never crossed my mind, just thought she was another cool character. If that was Cameron’s intention he was about [forty years too late.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_Airforce_Service_Pilots) ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2013, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colette-hiller-the-pilot-in-aliens/242030/33 "2013-03-13T02:46:20Z")
> [@marshmallow](#): > > The thought never crossed my mind, just thought she was another cool character. If that was Cameron’s intention he was about [forty years too late.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_Airforce_Service_Pilots) Admirable service, but non-combat nonetheless. It’s apples and oranges. You might as well claim Earhart. If the WASPS had dropped paratroopers on D-Day or something, then it would be a 1:1 comparison. ---
**Author:** ![Yeszu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/7bcc69/32.png) [@Yeszu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeszu)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2014, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colette-hiller-the-pilot-in-aliens/242030/34 "2014-10-29T19:04:16Z")
> [@wolf\_meister](#): > > Remember her ? I was just wondering if anyone else found her rather attractive and sexy. I don’t think I’m the only one. > Okay, any **Colette Hiller** fans out there? She is my favourite character from the movie. Sadly she has only a few scenes ☹ You cant embed images here? [http://s14.directupload.net/images/141029/w77vnin2.png](http://s14.directupload.net/images/141029/w77vnin2.png) [http://s14.directupload.net/images/141029/neg47bb3.png](http://s14.directupload.net/images/141029/neg47bb3.png) [http://s14.directupload.net/images/141029/t9ohq78s.png](http://s14.directupload.net/images/141029/t9ohq78s.png) [http://s14.directupload.net/images/141029/cjm4inwc.png](http://s14.directupload.net/images/141029/cjm4inwc.png) [http://s14.directupload.net/images/141029/tm4b76ke.png](http://s14.directupload.net/images/141029/tm4b76ke.png) [http://s14.directupload.net/images/141029/c6gyzwib.png](http://s14.directupload.net/images/141029/c6gyzwib.png) [http://s14.directupload.net/images/141029/c365h8j7.png](http://s14.directupload.net/images/141029/c365h8j7.png) [http://s14.directupload.net/images/141029/gheoxhyh.png](http://s14.directupload.net/images/141029/gheoxhyh.png) [http://s14.directupload.net/images/141029/bo6h9fa8.png](http://s14.directupload.net/images/141029/bo6h9fa8.png) [http://s14.directupload.net/images/141029/dr4qda7y.png](http://s14.directupload.net/images/141029/dr4qda7y.png) [http://s14.directupload.net/images/141029/x7kepb4s.png](http://s14.directupload.net/images/141029/x7kepb4s.png) [http://s14.directupload.net/images/141029/josw8xvh.png](http://s14.directupload.net/images/141029/josw8xvh.png) [http://s14.directupload.net/images/141029/graqike8.png](http://s14.directupload.net/images/141029/graqike8.png) [http://s14.directupload.net/images/141029/aiqfgjgc.png](http://s14.directupload.net/images/141029/aiqfgjgc.png) ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2014, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colette-hiller-the-pilot-in-aliens/242030/35 "2014-10-29T21:11:47Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > Actually, I hated that part of Aliens. Cameron was awkwardly forcing his hand saying LOOK it’s the FUTURE see how progressive it is that we have a WOMAN pilot who can jabber in PILOT SLANG. No shit, James, you’re movie already has Ripley and her character is a 100x more subtle - well until you inherited her and and made the entire third act \*overtly \*about motherhood. Actually I thought the opposite. I think it gave more of a sense of a progressive future by having a female solider who A) wasn’t Ripley, the Princess Leia of the Aliens universe (that is to say, the only woman) B) wasn’t an over the top she-Rambo (like Vasquez) and C) didn’t look like she would be more appropriate as a character painted on the nose of the dropship. Speaking of Vasquez, I was legitimately surprised that she was the same actress who played John Connor’s stepmom in Terminator 2. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2014, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colette-hiller-the-pilot-in-aliens/242030/36 "2014-10-29T22:00:05Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Speaking of Vasquez, I was legitimately surprised that she was the same actress who played John Connor’s stepmom in Terminator 2. Right, right. Somebody said “alien” she thought they said “illegal alien” and signed up! True story. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2014, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colette-hiller-the-pilot-in-aliens/242030/37 "2014-10-30T00:58:41Z")
Zombie aside, for me the greatest thing about Colette Hiller’s character in \*Aliens \*was how she died. She’s of course shocked at her first site of an alien appearing right behind her in the cockpit, but does she scream & panic like a woman? Hell no! [She immediately goes for her sidearm like a true Marine would](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odE3uchCxzU&feature=player_detailpage#t=127). Just wasn’t fast enough. I always felt that was a classic ‘Cameron touch’ of realism you see in his films. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2014, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colette-hiller-the-pilot-in-aliens/242030/38 "2014-10-30T01:10:00Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > Zombie aside, for me the greatest thing about Colette Hiller’s character in \*Aliens \*was how she died. She’s of course shocked at her first site of an alien appearing right behind her in the cockpit, but does she scream & panic like a woman? Hell no! [She immediately goes for her sidearm like a true Marine would](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odE3uchCxzU&feature=player_detailpage#t=127). Just wasn’t fast enough. I always felt that was a classic ‘Cameron touch’ of realism you see in his films. Hmm. I always thought she was going for the ejection handles. That makes her smart if she’d been keeping up on current events, knowing a sidearm won’t save her life. Run away and live to fight another day. Why she even landed in a hot zone, I have no idea. Tactically that was a stupid move. But, the Marines made a whole shipload of tactical errors. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2014, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colette-hiller-the-pilot-in-aliens/242030/39 "2014-10-30T01:57:14Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Hmm. I always thought she was going for the ejection handles. > > That makes her smart if she’d been keeping up on current events, knowing a sidearm won’t save her life. Run away and live to fight another day. > > Why she even landed in a hot zone, I have no idea. Tactically that was a stupid move. But, the Marines made a whole shipload of tactical errors. Well, it was just supposed to be a bug hunt, after all. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2014, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colette-hiller-the-pilot-in-aliens/242030/40 "2014-10-30T02:18:34Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > I think Hiller more than made up for any deficiencies with her final moments, when she turns around and sees an Alien coming, she doesn’t scream or shriek or faint like a helpless woman, she immediately goes for her sidearm and almost survives!! I always thought it was weird that her death scene seemed to show that the vehicle she was piloting had windshield wipers on the inside of the windshield. Note the blood being ‘shooshed’ back and forth after the alien got her. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colette-hiller-the-pilot-in-aliens/242030.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colette-hiller-the-pilot-in-aliens/242030.md?page=3)