The Magic of Triple Tree

By Austin Banttari

The 16th Annual Triple Tree Fly-In is a full-scale celebration of aviation that invites pilots from all over the world to come together. Over the years, this event has become a staple of the aviation community, featuring seminars presented by industry leaders and a wide array of world-class camping and recreational activities – there’s a little bit of something for everyone.

Pilots from across the globe flock to Triple Tree Aerodrome to make use of the world-renowned manicured grass runway, which measures nearly 7,000 feet in length. Upon arrival, you’ll soon find yourself at home among the 400 acres of rolling hills and lakes that make up the Triple Tree campus. Whether you choose to pitch a tent along the banks of the Enoree River or enjoy the premium hookups for travel trailers or motorhomes, it’ll become clear that there’s no such thing as a bad spot here!

Where the magic of Triple Tree begins to shine through is in the experiences that pilots and their guests get to share during their visit. Flanked by one of fewer than twenty Spartan Executives still flying today, much of the excitement takes place in the main hangar. Perched atop one of the many rolling hills of the Piedmont of South Carolina, this living museum serves as the center for much of the week’s excitement. Each evening, friends new and old can break bread together over one of Triple Tree’s classic meals – whether it’s ‘Cook Your Own Steak Night’ or the ‘World Famous’ barbecue dinner, everyone can get a taste of Triple Tree.

Of course, the rest of the week has plenty to offer too! Visitors can get a behind-the-scenes peek of themagic by visiting the Restoration Hangar. Whether it’s recovering a wing for an AirCam or constructing an 85% scale radio-control Piper Cub, Triple Tree’s volunteers are always ready to share a tip or trick with those interested!

Next door at Triple Tree’s Learning Center, guests have the opportunity to hear from speakers from across the aviation industry about the latest news, technology, or experiences that the community has to offer!

The whole week can’t be all work and no play, of course. At Triple Tree’s lower campground, located on the southeast end of the runway, you’ll find the Pilot’s Lounge and Lower Gazebo. Nearly every night of the fly-in, you’ll find something sure to pique your interest down here – live musicians, karaoke performers, storytellers, and astronomers are all frequent guests of the lower gazebo. In the lower campground, you’ll also find ‘Pat’s Fireball’. This one-of-a-kind twist on the campfire is sure not to be missed!

Proceeds from the fly-in go directly towards supporting Triple Tree’s education programs, notably the Aviation Centered Education (ACE) portfolio. The ACE portfolio facilitates infrastructure that supports the next generation of aviators. From scholarships and outreach programs to in-house initiatives that train students from radio-control flight through full-scale mastery, Triple Tree Aerodrome aims to create an endowment that makes reaching new heights a possibility for generations of future aviators to come. Summer camps, reading programs, and teacher training programs are just some of the initiatives featured within the ACE portfolio.