eWeek - 2013/03

This aerial view was taken by Scott
Bland with a GoPro camera mounted
on a Sig Rascal 110 high over the
Triple Tree Aerodrome.
Where do you start when you’re trying to write about something that is
indescribable? Triple Tree Aerodrome in Woodruff, South Carolina, is just
such a place and its owner, Pat Hartness, can be described the same way.
If I were a poet, I would wax poetic about the immaculately groomed surroundings
or the picturesque landscape as one looks down across the lake from the stone patio. If
I were a songwriter, I could go on about the lullaby of the birds and insects one hears
from the patio overlooking the grounds.
A sportsman would carry on about the incredible fi sh being caught and released in
the same lake upon which others were fl ying fl oatplanes. A historian would be in the
hangar because it’s a veritable museum of full-scale and model airplanes.
An RV enthusiast would be talking about the multitude of great campsites with
level ground and great views. All campers appreciate and talk about the bathroom
facilities with showers, granite countertops, and hair dryers that rival any RV resort
amenities.
I’m none of these things and all of these things. Mostly, I’m a devoted electric fl ier
who has had the privilege of traveling to many events across the country. I don’t know
that I’ve ever been to a “bad” event, although some are certainly better than others.
I do know there is only one place on earth where I go to an event, either Joe Nall or
eWeek, where I feel it’s my privilege to be allowed to be there. I feel like an honored
guest, as does everyone who descends upon this place for the enjoyment of fl ying and
hanging out with others of a like mind.
The Atmosphere
Regardless of which event you attend at Triple Tree, everyone comments about the
atmosphere. They aren’t talking about the air quality or the sky color; they’re talking
about the atmosphere of friendship and camaraderie that Pat and his crew ensure
exists at all times.
There were roughly 300 pilots at eWeek, held September 27-29, 2012, but it
doesn’t matter if it’s 300, or more than 1,000 as Joe Nall was. The atmosphere is the
same. There’s something magical about the place.
When a Scale airplane came to the line,
others followed to o er quite a show.
Scenes such as this fatherand-
son team at a flight
station could be seen
throughout the event.
An impromptu gathering of speed demons patiently waited for a
chance to race.
Ron Gaynor’s
Top Flite kit-built
Bonanza was a
Scale masterpiece.
Trent
Williams did
a beautiful
job showing
o Jerry
Strickland’s
scratchbuilt
B-17.
Where else can you go to a brief pilots’ meeting that began
with the Pledge of Allegiance facing the giant American fl ag
that overlooked the site and honored veterans? When Bob
Sadler reviewed the pertinent information regarding the
layout, etc., he followed with some simple rules for the event:
• Don’t be a knucklehead.
• Have fun.
• Be safe.
• Come back and see us; we’re glad you came!
Other notable things that made it a unique event
included:
• No noon demos. This is a fl ying event for the “normal” fl ier.
• There are no generators fouling the air with noise and
exhaust. Power stations are throughout the pit area for
everyone to use.
• No nonstop PA system commentary, only the
sound of electric airplanes fl ying.
• Attendees are treated as guests in every respect.
The Layout
If you’ve never attended an event at Triple Tree,
the venue’s layout may take you by surprise. This
is no small piece of property! The main fl ightline
is a piece of a full-scale runway and the grass is
putting-green grass.
There are separate areas designated for various
types of aircraft, which ensures there are no
confl icts and provides plenty of pilot stations. This
site hosts events that have more than 1,000 pilots, so hosting a
few hundred electric fl iers is no problem.
The main fl ightline is a straightforward, racetrack-style
pattern for all sport and Scale models fl ying that routine.
Aerobatics are allowed, but there was no 3-D-type fl ying over
the fi eld. The 3-D pilots had their own fi eld with its own
camping area and bathhouse.
Between the main fl ightline and the 3-D fl ightline is the
park fl yer area with camping and several pilot stations. The
lake can accommodate any size of fl oatplane. Farther up the
hill is a dedicated helicopter fi eld with multiple stations.
Because electric fl iers often fl y several types of airplanes or
helicopters, this may seem inconvenient. That was not the case,
because of the ample transportation provided by Pat’s crews,
employing school buses to go to various venues.
I parked my motor home at the beginning of the week and
didn’t bring a car or golf cart, but I never felt as though I was
isolated or couldn’t get to a site where I wanted to fl y. It may
be different from what you’re accustomed to, but there is never
a confl ict between fl iers because of it.
A Day at the Beach!
That’s right—beach! Only Pat Hartness would have the
vision to have a beach that far from the ocean in South
Carolina, but Enoree Beach is located on the western end of
the full-scale runway and will soon open for all to enjoy. It’s
24 Model Aviation MARCH 2013 www.ModelAviation.com
022-026_MA0313_eWeek.indd 24 1/21/13 9:35 AM
Help was everywhere. Here Bobby Poston
helps prepare a new airplane for flight.
Gary Davis flew in with his electric-powered ultralight
from ElectriFlyer.com. Photo by Jerry Smith.
Chris Manns demonstrated extreme skill at
the 3-D site. Watch for Chris at future events!
Jack Fetter demonstrated his SebArt Mythos
125E powered by Thunder Power 6S 5000
mAh batteries, a Castle Creations HV-120
ESC, and spinning an APC 18 x 10E propeller.
Photos by the author unless noted
a source of pride for Pat to offer a sandy beach on the clear
waters of the Enoree River for families to enjoy while visiting
Triple Tree.
The Food
Multiple food vendors were present throughout the week,
but the biggest and best was on Saturday night! That’s the
night the organizers threw a giant barbecue. I’ve never seen
more effi cient feeding of the masses. I only wish that during
my Army career it would have worked this fl awlessly!
This year’s feast included barbecue, turkey, baked beans,
cole slaw, hot dogs, tea, water, or soda, and some great cookies!
There was so much food that we were invited to go through
the line for seconds.
The crew had tables and chairs set up for us outside of the
hangar that allowed us to watch the grounds where some
others continued to fl y while we ate. The sun setting over the
lake and the casual atmosphere of friends sharing a meal made
a fi tting end to the week’s activities.
The Airplanes
A fl y-in requires some fl ying and there was no shortage
of that during eWeek! Aircraft of all types were represented
along with all skill levels. One of the coolest things I saw was
the amount of instruction going on, regardless of which fi eld I
visited.
People were learning to fl y at the park fl yer area, and others
who knew how to fl y were learning 3-D techniques at the
3-D fi eld. Father and son/daughter teams were seen often
at the main fi eld employing buddy boxes and having a great
time.
Aircraft came in all shapes and sizes. The slowest was
probably Dave Thacker’s Wright Flyer, which he fl ew several
times to great response from the crowd. That’s “Radical Dave”
of Radical RC, and I think he sold all of his kits before the
week was out.
The fastest aircraft was a toss-up among several EDFs
ranging from 40mm ducted fans up to 90mm. Dennis
Shrewsbury came from West Virginia with a trailer full of
Giant Scale models that were a hit among the crowd.
A highlight for me was Dennis’s CARF Models 110-inch
Corsair powered by 14S LiPos and a Hacker A200 motor
spinning a big 28 x 14 four-blade propeller. The sound of that
beast as it approached for a speed run
down the runway had to be heard to
be believed. The moniker “whistling
death” was evidenced by its incredible
whistling sound on fi nal. It sounds
like a turbine! The wings folded
electrically as he taxied to the pits.
The save of the week also went
to Dennis as he was wringing
out his CARF Models 112-inch
SIAI Marchetti SF-260. During a
particularly sporty snap, part of the
14S battery pack came loose and blew
out through the canopy while it was
www.ModelAviation.com MARCH 2013 Model Aviation 25
Find more photos in our tablet app!
Our tablet edition features even more photos of this
spectacular event! Visit www.ModelAviation.com/
digital to learn more.
Dave Thacker’s Wright Flyer made an impression and flew beautifully.
Travis Kiel’s Blohm und Voss BV-141B might have looked “wrong,” but it
was perfect!
flying inverted. This caused a sudden deadstick and a huge
change in the airframe as the giant canopy was suddenly an
open scoop in the top of the fuselage.
The CG remained relatively stable because of the battery
location, but Dennis did a stellar job of recovering and making
it back to the field for a beautiful landing with no further
damage. He was able to get another canopy overnighted to
his hotel so he could fly again, but he never found the missing
battery pack.
Builders Welcome!
The proliferation of ARFs could lead you to think that
there weren’t any builders around, but that was not the case.
Trent Williams came from Salisbury, North Carolina, to fly
his 125-inch B-17 that was scratch-built by his buddy, Jerry
Strickland. The 37-pound airplane was beautifully built and
flew with authority using four Scorpion 4020-16 motors,
Castle Creations HV-80 ESCs, and 6S 5000 mAh LiPos. The
propellers are three-blade Master Airscrew 15 x 10s. Robart
air retracts completed the build.
The builders didn’t forget civilian airplanes. Ron Gaynor
came from Georgia with his 81-inch Bonanza constructed
from a Top Flite kit. He glassed and painted the airplane
along with detailing it with tremendous rivets and a scale
cockpit. The airplane weighed 21 pounds and flew nicely
with an E-flite Power 160 motor spinning a 151/2 x 133/4
three-blade propeller on 10S 4500-mAh LiPos and a Castle
HV-110 ESC.
Some models started as ARFs but were so heavily
modified that they fit somewhere in between the ARF world
and kit builds. Travis Kiel campaigned a Blohm und Voss
BV-141B that started out as a Flyboys Model and he “fixed”
what wasn’t scale.
The 12-pound airplane is slightly less than 1,200 square
inches and spans 80 inches. Powered by an Acme outrunner
and ESC, it pulls 70 amps from the 8S LiPo pack to spin the
18 x 12 three-blade propeller. He further tricked it out by
adding E-flite electric retracts and Robart struts.
Night Flying
There was flying at all of the venues well after dark. If you
had never outfitted your airplane with lights before, After
Dark L.E.D. Systems was there to help you out and plenty
of pilots were willing to teach night-flying techniques. It’s
similar to a quiet fireworks show, watching the beautifully lit
airplanes do aerobatics in the dark.
It’s a Family Affair
Because of the surroundings and amenities, many families
attend this event. It’s particularly attractive because the
bathroom facilities are exceptional—no more having to resort
to porta-pottys!
With shade trees along pit row, it’s comfortable for everyone
to sit and watch the show. This year I even spotted one father
buying a airplane for his daughter. Maybe our future will
include more women flying.
At the 3-D line, each time I saw Kevin Turner start flying
his own-design quadcopter, his 9-year-old son, Evan, took
the controls away from him to fly it. Evan will be someone
to watch. He wowed them down at the 3-D field with
airplanes and the quadcopter. I even spotted him at the main
line flying a sailplane; I had to check to be sure he didn’t
have a twin!
Dozens of youngsters were flying this year. I think the
hobby’s future is secure!
Then It’s Over
How does it happen so quickly? I arrived on Tuesday and
didn’t leave until Sunday, yet it felt as though it blew by in the
blink of an eye. I’m sure the hard-working crew at Triple Tree
was glad to see us go, but you’d never know it. Thanks to Jim
Malek and Mike Gregory for the way they ran the flightline
and oversaw so many things with help from a great crew.
I want to thank Chaz for his help in spotting my motor
home and ensuring I didn’t drag anything getting into the spot.
He was everywhere doing this for everyone who came with an
RV. I don’t think he slept.
Thanks to Pat Hartness
It’s hard to imagine a finer man supporting our hobby. Triple
Tree has set up a charitable foundation to ensure that it will
remain a viable and welcoming venue long after Pat’s gone. I
hate to even think of that possibility, but only someone such as
“Mr. Pat” would put the rest of us before himself.
Triple Tree Aerodrome is a National Flying Site designated
by the AMA. Thanks, Mr. Hartness, for all you do to make us
feel so welcome. It was my privilege to be your guest.
—Greg Gimlick
[email protected]
SOURCES:
Triple Tree Aerodrome
www.tripletreeaerodrome.com

This aerial view was taken by Scott
Bland with a GoPro camera mounted
on a Sig Rascal 110 high over the
Triple Tree Aerodrome.
Where do you start when you’re trying to write about something that is
indescribable? Triple Tree Aerodrome in Woodruff, South Carolina, is just
such a place and its owner, Pat Hartness, can be described the same way.
If I were a poet, I would wax poetic about the immaculately groomed surroundings
or the picturesque landscape as one looks down across the lake from the stone patio. If
I were a songwriter, I could go on about the lullaby of the birds and insects one hears
from the patio overlooking the grounds.
A sportsman would carry on about the incredible fi sh being caught and released in
the same lake upon which others were fl ying fl oatplanes. A historian would be in the
hangar because it’s a veritable museum of full-scale and model airplanes.
An RV enthusiast would be talking about the multitude of great campsites with
level ground and great views. All campers appreciate and talk about the bathroom
facilities with showers, granite countertops, and hair dryers that rival any RV resort
amenities.
I’m none of these things and all of these things. Mostly, I’m a devoted electric fl ier
who has had the privilege of traveling to many events across the country. I don’t know
that I’ve ever been to a “bad” event, although some are certainly better than others.
I do know there is only one place on earth where I go to an event, either Joe Nall or
eWeek, where I feel it’s my privilege to be allowed to be there. I feel like an honored
guest, as does everyone who descends upon this place for the enjoyment of fl ying and
hanging out with others of a like mind.
The Atmosphere
Regardless of which event you attend at Triple Tree, everyone comments about the
atmosphere. They aren’t talking about the air quality or the sky color; they’re talking
about the atmosphere of friendship and camaraderie that Pat and his crew ensure
exists at all times.
There were roughly 300 pilots at eWeek, held September 27-29, 2012, but it
doesn’t matter if it’s 300, or more than 1,000 as Joe Nall was. The atmosphere is the
same. There’s something magical about the place.
When a Scale airplane came to the line,
others followed to o er quite a show.
Scenes such as this fatherand-
son team at a flight
station could be seen
throughout the event.
An impromptu gathering of speed demons patiently waited for a
chance to race.
Ron Gaynor’s
Top Flite kit-built
Bonanza was a
Scale masterpiece.
Trent
Williams did
a beautiful
job showing
o Jerry
Strickland’s
scratchbuilt
B-17.
Where else can you go to a brief pilots’ meeting that began
with the Pledge of Allegiance facing the giant American fl ag
that overlooked the site and honored veterans? When Bob
Sadler reviewed the pertinent information regarding the
layout, etc., he followed with some simple rules for the event:
• Don’t be a knucklehead.
• Have fun.
• Be safe.
• Come back and see us; we’re glad you came!
Other notable things that made it a unique event
included:
• No noon demos. This is a fl ying event for the “normal” fl ier.
• There are no generators fouling the air with noise and
exhaust. Power stations are throughout the pit area for
everyone to use.
• No nonstop PA system commentary, only the
sound of electric airplanes fl ying.
• Attendees are treated as guests in every respect.
The Layout
If you’ve never attended an event at Triple Tree,
the venue’s layout may take you by surprise. This
is no small piece of property! The main fl ightline
is a piece of a full-scale runway and the grass is
putting-green grass.
There are separate areas designated for various
types of aircraft, which ensures there are no
confl icts and provides plenty of pilot stations. This
site hosts events that have more than 1,000 pilots, so hosting a
few hundred electric fl iers is no problem.
The main fl ightline is a straightforward, racetrack-style
pattern for all sport and Scale models fl ying that routine.
Aerobatics are allowed, but there was no 3-D-type fl ying over
the fi eld. The 3-D pilots had their own fi eld with its own
camping area and bathhouse.
Between the main fl ightline and the 3-D fl ightline is the
park fl yer area with camping and several pilot stations. The
lake can accommodate any size of fl oatplane. Farther up the
hill is a dedicated helicopter fi eld with multiple stations.
Because electric fl iers often fl y several types of airplanes or
helicopters, this may seem inconvenient. That was not the case,
because of the ample transportation provided by Pat’s crews,
employing school buses to go to various venues.
I parked my motor home at the beginning of the week and
didn’t bring a car or golf cart, but I never felt as though I was
isolated or couldn’t get to a site where I wanted to fl y. It may
be different from what you’re accustomed to, but there is never
a confl ict between fl iers because of it.
A Day at the Beach!
That’s right—beach! Only Pat Hartness would have the
vision to have a beach that far from the ocean in South
Carolina, but Enoree Beach is located on the western end of
the full-scale runway and will soon open for all to enjoy. It’s
24 Model Aviation MARCH 2013 www.ModelAviation.com
022-026_MA0313_eWeek.indd 24 1/21/13 9:35 AM
Help was everywhere. Here Bobby Poston
helps prepare a new airplane for flight.
Gary Davis flew in with his electric-powered ultralight
from ElectriFlyer.com. Photo by Jerry Smith.
Chris Manns demonstrated extreme skill at
the 3-D site. Watch for Chris at future events!
Jack Fetter demonstrated his SebArt Mythos
125E powered by Thunder Power 6S 5000
mAh batteries, a Castle Creations HV-120
ESC, and spinning an APC 18 x 10E propeller.
Photos by the author unless noted
a source of pride for Pat to offer a sandy beach on the clear
waters of the Enoree River for families to enjoy while visiting
Triple Tree.
The Food
Multiple food vendors were present throughout the week,
but the biggest and best was on Saturday night! That’s the
night the organizers threw a giant barbecue. I’ve never seen
more effi cient feeding of the masses. I only wish that during
my Army career it would have worked this fl awlessly!
This year’s feast included barbecue, turkey, baked beans,
cole slaw, hot dogs, tea, water, or soda, and some great cookies!
There was so much food that we were invited to go through
the line for seconds.
The crew had tables and chairs set up for us outside of the
hangar that allowed us to watch the grounds where some
others continued to fl y while we ate. The sun setting over the
lake and the casual atmosphere of friends sharing a meal made
a fi tting end to the week’s activities.
The Airplanes
A fl y-in requires some fl ying and there was no shortage
of that during eWeek! Aircraft of all types were represented
along with all skill levels. One of the coolest things I saw was
the amount of instruction going on, regardless of which fi eld I
visited.
People were learning to fl y at the park fl yer area, and others
who knew how to fl y were learning 3-D techniques at the
3-D fi eld. Father and son/daughter teams were seen often
at the main fi eld employing buddy boxes and having a great
time.
Aircraft came in all shapes and sizes. The slowest was
probably Dave Thacker’s Wright Flyer, which he fl ew several
times to great response from the crowd. That’s “Radical Dave”
of Radical RC, and I think he sold all of his kits before the
week was out.
The fastest aircraft was a toss-up among several EDFs
ranging from 40mm ducted fans up to 90mm. Dennis
Shrewsbury came from West Virginia with a trailer full of
Giant Scale models that were a hit among the crowd.
A highlight for me was Dennis’s CARF Models 110-inch
Corsair powered by 14S LiPos and a Hacker A200 motor
spinning a big 28 x 14 four-blade propeller. The sound of that
beast as it approached for a speed run
down the runway had to be heard to
be believed. The moniker “whistling
death” was evidenced by its incredible
whistling sound on fi nal. It sounds
like a turbine! The wings folded
electrically as he taxied to the pits.
The save of the week also went
to Dennis as he was wringing
out his CARF Models 112-inch
SIAI Marchetti SF-260. During a
particularly sporty snap, part of the
14S battery pack came loose and blew
out through the canopy while it was
www.ModelAviation.com MARCH 2013 Model Aviation 25
Find more photos in our tablet app!
Our tablet edition features even more photos of this
spectacular event! Visit www.ModelAviation.com/
digital to learn more.
Dave Thacker’s Wright Flyer made an impression and flew beautifully.
Travis Kiel’s Blohm und Voss BV-141B might have looked “wrong,” but it
was perfect!
flying inverted. This caused a sudden deadstick and a huge
change in the airframe as the giant canopy was suddenly an
open scoop in the top of the fuselage.
The CG remained relatively stable because of the battery
location, but Dennis did a stellar job of recovering and making
it back to the field for a beautiful landing with no further
damage. He was able to get another canopy overnighted to
his hotel so he could fly again, but he never found the missing
battery pack.
Builders Welcome!
The proliferation of ARFs could lead you to think that
there weren’t any builders around, but that was not the case.
Trent Williams came from Salisbury, North Carolina, to fly
his 125-inch B-17 that was scratch-built by his buddy, Jerry
Strickland. The 37-pound airplane was beautifully built and
flew with authority using four Scorpion 4020-16 motors,
Castle Creations HV-80 ESCs, and 6S 5000 mAh LiPos. The
propellers are three-blade Master Airscrew 15 x 10s. Robart
air retracts completed the build.
The builders didn’t forget civilian airplanes. Ron Gaynor
came from Georgia with his 81-inch Bonanza constructed
from a Top Flite kit. He glassed and painted the airplane
along with detailing it with tremendous rivets and a scale
cockpit. The airplane weighed 21 pounds and flew nicely
with an E-flite Power 160 motor spinning a 151/2 x 133/4
three-blade propeller on 10S 4500-mAh LiPos and a Castle
HV-110 ESC.
Some models started as ARFs but were so heavily
modified that they fit somewhere in between the ARF world
and kit builds. Travis Kiel campaigned a Blohm und Voss
BV-141B that started out as a Flyboys Model and he “fixed”
what wasn’t scale.
The 12-pound airplane is slightly less than 1,200 square
inches and spans 80 inches. Powered by an Acme outrunner
and ESC, it pulls 70 amps from the 8S LiPo pack to spin the
18 x 12 three-blade propeller. He further tricked it out by
adding E-flite electric retracts and Robart struts.
Night Flying
There was flying at all of the venues well after dark. If you
had never outfitted your airplane with lights before, After
Dark L.E.D. Systems was there to help you out and plenty
of pilots were willing to teach night-flying techniques. It’s
similar to a quiet fireworks show, watching the beautifully lit
airplanes do aerobatics in the dark.
It’s a Family Affair
Because of the surroundings and amenities, many families
attend this event. It’s particularly attractive because the
bathroom facilities are exceptional—no more having to resort
to porta-pottys!
With shade trees along pit row, it’s comfortable for everyone
to sit and watch the show. This year I even spotted one father
buying a airplane for his daughter. Maybe our future will
include more women flying.
At the 3-D line, each time I saw Kevin Turner start flying
his own-design quadcopter, his 9-year-old son, Evan, took
the controls away from him to fly it. Evan will be someone
to watch. He wowed them down at the 3-D field with
airplanes and the quadcopter. I even spotted him at the main
line flying a sailplane; I had to check to be sure he didn’t
have a twin!
Dozens of youngsters were flying this year. I think the
hobby’s future is secure!
Then It’s Over
How does it happen so quickly? I arrived on Tuesday and
didn’t leave until Sunday, yet it felt as though it blew by in the
blink of an eye. I’m sure the hard-working crew at Triple Tree
was glad to see us go, but you’d never know it. Thanks to Jim
Malek and Mike Gregory for the way they ran the flightline
and oversaw so many things with help from a great crew.
I want to thank Chaz for his help in spotting my motor
home and ensuring I didn’t drag anything getting into the spot.
He was everywhere doing this for everyone who came with an
RV. I don’t think he slept.
Thanks to Pat Hartness
It’s hard to imagine a finer man supporting our hobby. Triple
Tree has set up a charitable foundation to ensure that it will
remain a viable and welcoming venue long after Pat’s gone. I
hate to even think of that possibility, but only someone such as
“Mr. Pat” would put the rest of us before himself.
Triple Tree Aerodrome is a National Flying Site designated
by the AMA. Thanks, Mr. Hartness, for all you do to make us
feel so welcome. It was my privilege to be your guest.
—Greg Gimlick
[email protected]
SOURCES:
Triple Tree Aerodrome
www.tripletreeaerodrome.com