Pat Hartness-the founder of Joe Nall 2012/07

When I made a call to the
founder of Triple Tree
Aerodrome, Mr. Pat Hartness,
he was in Woodruff, South Carolina,
grooming the main line in preparation
for the 30th anniversary of the world’s
largest outdoor RC event: Joe Nall 2012.
Pat was nice enough to take a break
in the shade and talk to me about the
history of the Joe Nall event and to give
me some big news that means good
things for the entire RC community.
JG: Pat, you started this event in 1983 at
your house. I assume you wanted to have
your own event so you could have all of
your friends over to fly.
PH: I used to go to fly-ins with my best
friend, Kirby McKinney. We would find
out that the people there seemed to be
more interested in telling us what to do,
where to park, and how to behave than
they did trying to make us have a good
time. So we decided we should have our
own event. We thought if we had the
right attitude, pilots would come back
and bring more people. We felt like all
we had to do was make sure everyone
was going to have a really good time.
JG: Let’s talk about the person the event
is named after, Joe Nall.
PH: Joe was one of the more exceptional
students that Furman University ever
had, and he was an exceptional person.
He had a photographic memory, was
very bright, and was on a full ride to
Furman. He loved airplanes and wanted
to be a preacher. I introduced him to
RC and full-scale flying. We were good
friends and roommates at Furman.
As the emcee at the event, he could
remember everyone’s name. He used his
humor and knowledge to keep everyone
entertained.
Ultimately, Joe became a lawyer and
decided he wanted to become a member
of the National Transportation Safety
Board (NTSB). His goal was to take
computers and avionics and create a
better central controlling system for the
FAA. His other aspiration was to become
the chief of the FAA.
President Reagan liked him so much
he made Joe (a Democrat) an NTSB
member. He was on official business in
Venezuela and died in an airplane crash.
After his death, we changed the name of
the event to Joe Nall in his memory.
JG: What is it like to go from having
a few people at your house in 1983 to
hosting the world’s largest outdoor event
in 2012?
PH: Fortunately, it happened slowly.
We had 33 people at our first event and
then maybe 150 the second year. As it
has grown, we have learned how to run
it. Each year we just get more people to
help us.
Over the 30 years we have been doing
this, we have taken pride in being able
to handle the
number of people
that show up. We
have a barbecue
each year, and we get everyone through
the line in 30 minutes, whether there are
1,000 or 1,200 people.
We had to move from where I used to
live to where we are presently. Having
400 acres has really helped. We are using
a third of that acreage now, and we think
we have enough to take care of anything
we might need as we grow in the future.
JG: Tell me about some of the other
features of the Triple Tree property.
PH: There is a 50-acre lake that we fly
water planes off of. Geographically, it’s
right about the center of the property.
We have the full-scale hangar. The fullsize
planes are mine.
Some of the models in there have
been gifted to us from the families of
deceased RC pilots. We honor that, and
they will stay in that building unless we
have someone help us fund a museum.
We will be asking for that at the Nall
this year, since we have been granted
foundation status.
JG: That is huge news! Let’s talk about
the foundation status and how that will
affect Triple Tree and all of us as RC pilots.
PH: This has been four years in the
making. I started visiting my lawyers
trying to figure out how it would affect
the family. We decided that if we gifted
the property we would do it together.
So my family and I are gifting the Triple
Tree property.
After my death, we are gifting my
airplanes and the buildings so that it all
becomes part of the property. There will
be a rotating board of aviation people
who are crazy about RC and full-scale.
We are really excited about being able to
do this.
Our whole host group in Greenville,
South Carolina, is beginning to
understand that this is for real. There
have been other RC events like this
which meant a lot to people.
People would take their holidays to
attend them, but then the host would
pass away and the event would no
longer happen. This happened with the
Tournament of Champions. It became
very important to the RC world. After
Mr. Bennett died a lot people thought
it would continue, but as we found out,
there was nothing in place to keep that
event going.
The Nall has had 30 years to build
up steam. People have come to love it
and it seems ridiculous that it should
end if I conk out. My family would
have to scramble to pay taxes and try
to keep it going. By gifting the Triple
Tree property, we solve all of these
problems and everything we have at
Triple Tree will be here permanently
for the future.
All we have to do is make sure we
can fund this thing and keep a
couple of people out here to
mow and maintain the grounds
so in the future we can all
continue to enjoy Triple Tree
and even teach our children
and grandchildren how to fly
RC there.
I want everyone who is
reading or listening to this, to
these words, to dream about
what we can do if we can keep
it going. This is for real. It has
happened. It’s ours to keep and
ours to enjoy.
JG: Essentially, what you are
saying is Triple Tree will belong to
the RC community, and it will be
our responsibility to financially
and physically keep it going.
PH: That is the total truth. We will
announce where to go to donate money
at Joe Nall this year.
JG: You have been doing this for a long
time and have known a lot of modelers. Is
there any advice you would like to give to
people?
PH: I think you come out here and
meet the nicest people that you have
ever met, who have a common interest.
I have been modeling since I was 7 and
flying since I was 10. During Joe Nall
week, I try to unwind and sit back and
talk to people and get to know them.
That’s what it is really all about. It’s not
about engines and radios; it’s about the
common bond.
Our motto is “fun, fellowship, and
hospitality” and we want that to be
contagious with every person who
attends Joe Nall. We tell pilots to say
hello to the person next to them. They
might end up being a good friend or even
a best friend in two or three years. It’s
almost corny, but it’s absolutely so true.
JG: I’ve made many of my closest friends
at RC events across this country. When
I go to Joe Nall, I know most of them
will be out there, and that is the thing I
look forward to, as well as the beautiful
grounds of Triple
Tree and the
airplanes.
PH: It takes
it all. It really
does. That was
a great question
and I really look
forward to it like
I used to when
I was 7 years
old, waiting to
get my little
airplane with a
fuel engine on
it. I just cannot
wait. I’m excited
beyond belief
and always have
been.
Do I fly? Yeah,
I have been a
member of the
AMA since 1956.
I’m a lifetime
member. I fly
models and full-scale. I’m 70 years old
and I’m working out so I can be here
with you guys 50 more years (joking).
It’s the fun thing in life. It’s the bond
that my uncle and my dad taught me
when I learned to fly with them, to just
have a good time with it.
JG: We appreciate you taking time to talk
to us and also creating this event that
means so much to so many of us.
PH: I really have enjoyed talking with
you. I look forward to getting in your
golf cart and driving and dreaming with
you, and sharing some time together
when you are here.