Pistons and Props

Classic cars and classic airplanes are an unbeatable combination. Park them together on the fairway-smooth turf at Triple Tree Aerodrome (SC00) in South Carolina, and you have a world class event.

That was the scene on June 6, 2026, at the inaugural Triple Tree “Pistons and Props” car show. More than 1,000 spectators turned out, while nearly 200 show vehicles and 18 aircraft were on display.

Triple Tree founder Pat Hartness attributes the venue’s popularity to the atmosphere and the people, noting, “The people who come here unwind and they enjoy it. We feel like it is so special that we needed to invite the public out.”

So Pistons and Props was born to open the door to everyone, not just aviators.

As always, at Triple Tree you meet some mighty fine folks, including many who were gracious enough to share their stories.

USAF Colonel (retired) Bob Dorrough looks every bit the fighter pilot — tall and lean with a commanding presence that says “Been there, done that.”

Bob began his career in the F-100 Super Saber, then flew combat in the F-105 Thunderchief in Vietnam. As a “Wild Weasel” pilot, his job was to seek out enemy Surface to Air Missile (SAM) sights, and destroy them.

“Our motto is first in, last out, because we went in ahead of the strike guys, so the Weasels could get shot at by the missiles, instead of the bombing guys,” he explains. “My toughest mission, I had to dodge 18 missiles in one mission. I got hit by Triple-A (Anti-Aircraft Artillery) but I made it back.”

I found Bob admiring a J-3 Cub, recalling, “That’s what I soloed in, what I got my private pilot’s license in while I was in college.”

He ultimately retired from Piedmont Airlines as a captain on the Focker F-100.

“Would you believe I flew the F-100 fighter in the Air Force and then I flew the F-100 at Piedmont,” he says with a laugh.

Down the line, I found Rick Maury and his majestic 1943 Howard DGA-15P. Rick, from Rock Hill, South Carolina, purchased the Howard in 2024 from its restorer, Presley Melton. Presley spent 10 years on the restoration, which won an Antique Reserve Grand Champion-Silver Lindy award in 2010 at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh.

“When I was a kid, there was one of these in the weeds at just about every airport,” he says. “Because they were working airplanes, they flew them until they were no longer needed, then abandoned.”

Rick flew gliders when he was 13, then worked towing banners, dusting crops, and hauling night freight before landing an airline job, eventually retiring from American Airlines.

When asked what stands out about the Howard, Rick replies, “It’s very stable. I mean, it’ll fly hands off. And it’s comfortable.”

In keeping with its award-winning history, N9125H won the Piston and Props “People’s Choice-Aircraft” trophy.

Nearby I spotted Scott Seiler helping two young brothers in and out of his 1983 Christen Eagle. Watching intently, the boys were totally absorbed as Scott explained the flight controls. Scott, a pilot of 59 years, has flown in air shows and taught aerobatics. Now, he flies just for pure enjoyment. He bought the Eagle in 2017, restored it, and has been flying it ever since.

“It’s a great airplane,” he says. “The guy who designed it, Frank Christen, was 6 foot, 4 inches. He designed the airplane around him, so it’s very roomy.”

Scott, who has been coming to Triple Tree for more than 20 years, remarks, “It’s just a great place to hang out and the people are great. It’s all good experiences at Triple Tree. How many places can you go where you could say that?”

Standing beside his J-3 Cub, David Deel from Tazewell, Virginia, remembers flying as a five year old in his uncle’s Comanche-250. David earned his pilot’s certificate right out of high school and later went back and forth between jobs in automotive engineering and aviation. Aviation won out, and he retired from NetJets in 2025.

“I’ve just been enjoying giving first flights in the Cub, introducing people to aviation,” he says.

He recalls one young passenger: “The girl had been on an airline trip and that was her one and only other flight. And her second flight was handling the controls flying around in a J-3 Cub. She had a big smile on her face.”

Nearby, Thomas Mann’s bright yellow North American SNJ-5 was a standout. A captain with American Airlines, he bought the Texan in 2025, building on his experience flying other warbirds.

When asked what type of flying he does with the Texan, he cheerfully exclaims, “Anything I want! When I need to ground myself and actually feel what it’s like to be a pilot again — and fly an American legend like the SNJ — it’s just really great to be able to do that again.”

Behind the Texan, Paul Mercandetti enthusiastically answered questions about his 1946 Globe GC-1B Swift.

His aviation journey began as a UH-1 Huey pilot in Vietnam, flying “Dustoff” medevac missions, saving more than 1,500 lives. After the Army, Paul worked his way up in civilian flying, eventually retiring as a captain with US Air. He acquired the Swift in 2000 as a project, and after four years working alongside Swift “guru” Jim Thomason, he brought it back to life.

“We took a basic airframe and found a wing from one airplane, a wing from another, tail feathers from another,” he recounts. “We found an engine in a box, pulled it out, mounted it up, and used it to set all the baffling and cowling, and built an instrument panel.”

Paul surely had faith in his work: “The first trip I did was from Plymouth, Massachusetts, to the Golden Gate Bridge and back.”

And how about those who made this whole thing tick?

Triple Tree Aerodrome runs on volunteers and one in particular caught my attention. Standing beside an olive drab Beech-18, Andy Burleigh just exuded character and experience, which he has in spades. Andy was an Army helicopter pilot in Vietnam, where he was wounded twice. After leaving the Army he joined the Georgia Air National Guard, flying the T-33, F-100, and F-105. He was also an air traffic controller for eight years and an airline pilot for 23 years. Now retired, he gets his hands dirty beautifying the grounds at Triple Tree.

“If it blooms, I planted it,” he says. “Sometimes I just put it in the ground and it’s in God’s hands.”

Since Piston and Props was a fundraiser for Triple Tree’s Aviation Centered Education (ACE) programs, its only fitting that several ACE scholarship recipients orchestrated the event.

“We reached out to all the local car clubs and businesses, and put the word out of what we wanted to do, what we’re about, giving back to kids who want to fly airplanes and giving out scholarships to them,” says John Davidson. “By mixing cars and airplanes, it taps into a whole new interest group.”

Autumn Holliday, who enjoys track racing in a C-8 Corvette, handled the advertising and photography.

“Whenever I’m not doing car stuff, I tend to be flying somewhere out in the middle of nowhere,” she says, noting she’s been flying for about two years and aims to be a cargo pilot.

Will Cornish is this year’s spring ACE scholarship recipient.

“None of my family is in aviation, but I have a great desire to fly with this scholarship,” he says.

He’s five hours into flight training and aspires to attend West Point and fly helicopters.

Jack Bengard, another student volunteer, is bound for Embry Riddle on a scholarship.

“I got my ACE scholarship in the fall of 2024,” he says. “I’ve been flying ever since, and recently earned my private pilot certificate. I’ve been coming here for years, and I’m in awe of this operation. It’s incredible. I mean, there’s really nothing like it. Nobody does things like this. I always say it’s the coolest place that you’ve never heard of.”

As for that last observation, I’ll have to break the news to Jack that the word’s out.

Thanks to founder Pat Hartness, executive director Robb Williams, and their staff and volunteers, Triple Tree continues to live up to its motto, “The Home of Fun, Fellowship, and Hospitality.”

For more information: TTA.aero