Ben Templeton skipped his graduation from J. L. Mann High School in Greenville, South Carolina, to begin a super cross-country journey to the 48 lower states.
After extensive planning and fundraising, he departed June 2, 2021, from Triple Tree Aerodrome (SC00) in Triple Tree’s 1947 J-3C-65 Piper Cub (N88073).
Thirty-four days later, he returned, successful.
Ben’s goals were to challenge himself, as well as promote youth in aviation and the Triple Tree Aerodrome. He earned one of the first scholarships granted by Triple Tree Aerodrome.
As an RC enthusiast, Ben impressed Pat Hartness, who founded Triple Tree and the Joe Nall RC annual fly-in.
“It makes me so proud to see Ben and his family celebrate his cross-country,” Hartness said. “7,500 miles! What an accomplishment.”
Hartness’s son Ryan flew the same J-3 Cub across the country at age 18. He now flies Boeing 777s for FedEx. Ryan’s cross-country and the book “Flight of Passage” by Rinker Buck inspired Ben to fly the lower 48 states. He stopped at 107 predominantly small, uncontrolled airports to support general aviation.
Triple Tree volunteers and Ben’s mother, Christine, served as ground crew.
“We had 12 coordinators tracking his trip,” Hartness said. “Among other things, they’d call ahead to notify the next FBO when he was coming. It was fun to follow him every day.”
Christine Templeton was concerned about Ben’s journey — as any mother would be — so Ben called her every day.
Along the route, airport managers, flight instructors, and other aviators gave him hangar space, food, a place to sleep, and souvenirs like a T-shirt from Ferguson Airport (82J) in Pensacola, Florida.
“Everyone was so nice,” Ben said.
In each state, Ben asked someone to sign the plane’s horizontal stabilizers by the name of the state. He chose the signer because “they were helpful and interesting.”
The fuselage and wings are covered with the names of sponsors and supporters. He raised $20,000 before the trip from individuals and corporate sponsors such as the Experimental Aircraft Association, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Champion Aerospace, Piper Aircraft, Triple Tree Aerodrome, and Don’s Dream Machines.
As a pilot, he learned from this journey that, “You can plan as much as you want, but it won’t go exactly as planned.”
For instance, he had to go around some weather. That threw off his plans to compete in the International Miniature Aerobatic Club competition in Muncie, Indiana. He arrived there several days before the event kicked off on June 16, so he decided to continue flying to allow for other possible weather delays during the rest of the journey. He was able to do a bit of RC flying in Valparaiso, Indiana, with his friend Jason Martin.
Highlights
In early June, Ben flew down the Hudson River for unique up-close views of New York City and the Statue of Liberty. He stopped at Frederick, Maryland, to meet with the AOPA staff. To make the journey officially a coast-to-coast trip, he flew over the coastline of Maine.
By June 9, he was in Nebraska. Like few tourists ever get to, Ben enjoyed sightseeing over Mt. Rushmore, the Crazy Horse Memorial, Devil’s Tower, and Grant’s Pass, Oregon, in mid-June.
On June 16, he met Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award Recipient and air show pilot Julie Clark and flew along with her to an EAA Chapter 512 meeting in Placerville, California. During the meeting he was invited to talk about his journey and answer questions.
The president of EAA Chapter 484, Rick Torres, hosted Ben overnight at Calaveras County-Maury Rasmussen Field (KCPU) in San Andreas, California. The chapter has an active Young Eagles Program.
Ben spent Father’s Day in Las Vegas with his father and friends, who flew out to see him. He also flew by the Hoover Dam.
Later, he taxied on Route 66 at the famous Amboy strip, a closed airfield, to see a town frozen in time, and he taxied down Route 66 to get fuel.
Following Interstate 10 to El Paso, Texas, he avoided flying over the mountains, and then he crossed the central and southern states to see friends in the panhandle of Florida.
Don Wade of Don’s Dream Machines overhauled the Piper Cub’s engine before Ben’s trip. On the way back to Triple Tree, Ben stopped at Bessemer Airport (KEKY) in Alabama at Don’s request to check the engine.
“I had zero maintenance issues,” Ben reports. “Just oil changes.”
As a person, Ben learned from this journey about the need to “talk to more people and how to speak in public.”
He certainly is getting practice at that, giving presentations and interviews at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2021 and the 2021 Triple Tree Fly-In.
Ben returned to Triple Tree Aerodrome on July 5 to a crowd of family, friends, and aviation fans and a celebration dinner.
He and three friends performed a formation fly-by over the field. Alex Kirkland flew a Cessna 150, Matt Tortorelli flew a Cardinal, Josh Epton flew an Ercoupe, and Ben flew the Piper Cub.
Alex, Matt, and Josh are sophomores at Middle Georgia State University studying aviation. Ben began classes there in August, where he is majoring in Aviation Science Management.
With such an accomplishment at 18, imagine what he will accomplish in a career! Aviation needs more young people like Ben Templeton.
Great job Ben; the only airplane I ever owned was a 1942 J-3 Cub with a 46 wing and 85hp engine. Taught my oldest son to fly in that machine and he went on to fly F/A18’s for the Navy. Today he is a pilot for America Airlines and I was a 34 year pilot for TWA. Keep flying and only good things will happen!
Welcome to the world of aviation! Congratulations on your epoch journey, treasured memories, and beginning a new chapter of aviation in school! Blue skies and tailwinds.
In 1962 I flew Tripacer 7002B from Lincoln, Nebraska to the Seattle World’s Fair. A friend and I had a great adventure flying through the mountains. Upon landing, local pilots would advise me regarding my proposed route. When we landed at SEATAC International Airport the fuel truck driver told me that I was the first light plane to land there. Now, at 80 years old, I grounded myself and sold my thoroughly restored 1946 J–3. That was a sad day, but I have a wealth of fond memories of my time in general aviation.
Once a pilot, always a pilot, Joe. Still ways to share your enthusiasm, passion, and wealth of experience. What you have done over your lifetime of living aviation, most others have only dreamed about.
What a wonderful trip, in the summer of 1968 I was passing a small airport and they had a hand written sign about flying lessons. I stopped and this older gentleman had a small office and two J3 cubs out front. I signed up and flew a 2 hour introductory flight that day. One was bright yellow just like the one Ben flew, the other was light blue with trim colors. I chose the yellow one.
No electrical system no radio only 4 instruments on the dash but i loved that plane. I had never been a plane before but had taken a ground school class just for the fun of it at a community college and had the certificate of completion with me. That Saturday we spent 4 hours of flight instruction and mastered the wheel landing and full stall landing. The next day Sunday we spent 4 more hours flight training. When we landed he tapped me on the shoulder and yelled over the roar of the engine not to park. He got out then leaned back into the plane and told me to fly a lap around the field but stay in the pattern. It did not dawn on me until I was back airborne that this was my first solo flight. I put over 800 hours on that plane along with a few Cessna models for more complex flight training. Got my pilets license later that year.
Well done Ben, I would have loved to do something like your trip.
In the above post I meant to say Ben you did a wonderful job but inadvertently use my first flight instructor’s name Matt.
Unbelievable journey, welcome back.
Way to go, Ben! What an adventure!
I’d love to see his route map!
I would like to see the route map as well……
Here is a PDF of Ben’s route: https://tta.aero/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/BenFlies-Route-5.21.21.pdf
For a route map image, email me through my website, and I’ll send it to you.
http://www.jonimfisher.com
Thank you, Joni!
Great article! I’ll be emailing for that route map.
Ken Thompson
06R
Bellville TX