The annual Triple Tree Fly-In and other “full-scale” fly-in events attract 10,000 people every year. However, the larger crowds come from all around the world to South Carolina for Joe Nall Week for radio-controlled model aircraft fun, which brings 30,000 people annually.
“We had 40 years practicing with RC events and this is our 15th full-scale fly-in,” said Triple Tree Founder Pat Hartness during the 2022 fly-in.
Pat and his friend Joe Nall ran radio-controlled aircraft gatherings at a private airfield, Hartness Airport, near Greenville, South Carolina, until locals petitioned them to move the noise elsewhere. In 1997, Pat bought 400 acres near Woodruff, South Carolina.
This became the Triple Tree Aerodrome (SC00), complete with a 7,000-foot grass runway and a World War II air traffic control tower.
More than 800 aircraft flew in for the 2022 fall fly-in. It looked like most of the premium camping spots, complete with electric and water hookups, were rented. Campers were spread out along the two lakes and the riverbank. A group of Boy Scouts camped on site.
The Triple Tree Fly-In is about pilots meeting one another, so there are few vendors.
The fly-in began Monday, Sept. 19, and ended on Sunday, Sept. 25. In between, pilots attend workshops or use the simulators in the air-conditioned Robert Shaw Learning Center by the giant hangar.
By the lower pavilion, people fished in the lake and river, camped near their airplanes, and watched aircraft arrive and perform demo flights.
Favorite events include the Thursday night steak cookout, followed by Friday night’s Taste of Triple Tree, which features more than 10 small, tented food stations. Each one serves something different, from corn on the cob, ham, pork loin, hamburgers, salads, fruit, chili, pasta, cookies, pies, and other dishes.
Warbird Adventures’ Bryan Costa sold a dozen instructional flights in a T-6 Texan for $620 a half hour and a Decathlon for $322 a hour. He also flew demo flights in the P-40. Warbird Adventures is now based on American Dream SkyRanch in South Carolina, which also has a bed and breakfast.
Pilot and Triple Tree volunteer Rob Templeton gave flights in the Triple Tree Air Cam.
Pilot Terri Johnson of Winter Haven, Florida, enjoyed a ride on Saturday.
“I felt like a bird flying,” she said. “I smiled the whole time.”
Terri and her husband Jim have been coming to Triple Tree since 2008 as pilots and volunteers.
“I feel like an ambassador for Triple Tree because I tell everyone how much fun it is,” she said.
Another regular at Triple Tree is Uncle John Hartness who, at 99, is often found driving guests in a golf cart during the September fly-in. There is a fly-in during April named for him.
With 11 big events in 2022 and 5,000 volunteer hours, the Triple Tree Aerodrome has a $1.2 million annual impact on the local area. Through money raised by these events, the non-profit gives $5,000 in scholarships each year and sponsors education programs for eight local high schools.
Some funds go toward maintaining the eight buildings, the 7,000-foot grass strip, and the 100 premium campsites. There are many more campsites available on the site’s 400 acres. The Bermuda grass on the runway and common areas requires two days a week to mow and 80 tons of fertilizer a year.
The Triple Tree board decided earlier this year to sell the P-51 Mustang “Tempus Fugit” and use the proceeds toward Triple Tree’s Aviation Centered Education (ACE) endowment. Once a P-51D, the plane was modified into a two-seat TF-51D trainer painted in the colors of the 9th Air Force, 31st Fighter Group, 308th fighter squadron. The Mustang cost $20,000 a year in insurance and about $10,000 for each annual inspection, according to Triple Tree officials, who say it is now at its new home in Arkansas.
Many of the scholarship recipients were at the fly-in, including Karlee Jordan, who enjoyed her first solo in July, Grace Molloy, who earned her private pilot certificate this year, and Ben Templeton, who flew the Triple Tree Piper Cub to all the lower 48 states in 34 days in 2021.
This summer, Triple Tree also held two kids’ summer camp programs. Campers between the ages of 12 and 15 learned about remote-control aircraft, while the 16- to 19-year-olds had ground school and flight training in full-sized aircraft.
More Fly-In Photos
Triple Tree is the most beautiful aviation facility of its type. My husband & I worked the annual fly-in event a number of years back when we still lived in SC (helped with Pilot Check In & set-up/take down for military appreciation dinner). Both spending over 35 years in aviation (Eastern Airlines, FedEx, American Airlines, FlightSafety Intl & FAA) we thoroughly enjoyed every minute of our time there. The people that own, operate & volunteer there are incredible aviation enthusiasts that truly love aviation just as we do. If we still resided in SC we would continue to be actively involved and drive through every so often as in the past just because it’s such a lovely place to see & experience. Everything about TTA is first class all the way. If you love aviation, aircraft and flying, anything, you simply Must visit at least one time! You will truly be missing out on this incredible, hands on, lifetime experience, if you don’t. Stop in, you’ll never regret having done so. All our best to Pat and the TTA Team! Fly Safe!✈️🛬🛫
My first fly in into triple T was amazing spent 2,5 days hanging out watching planes and camping for the first time ,spending time with friends and making new friends,
Will definitely go again.
A good article on my personal favorite annual aviation event on the planet. I could add much more to this good article, but I fear the event would attract too many people, which would ruin the laid-back atmosphere. Note that there are a number of fly-ins at Triple Tree held each year, including one in the winter.
Really enjoyed being at Triple Tree for this fly in. Beautiful area and well kept. The food was very good and fair prices. Met some new friends and great weather.
Another well written article by Joni. Thanks