By Barbara A. Schmitz
For Triple Tree Aerodrome (TTA), it’s all about getting young people interested in flying and caring for vintage airplanes. If Ben Templeton and Jack Bengard are any indication, the group is excelling at its mission.
Located in Woodruff, South Carolina, TTA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and home to many full-scale and radio-control aviation events, as well as year-round educational opportunities.
Ben, a 2020 TTA Aviation Centered Education (ACE) scholarship recipient, and Jack, a 2024 fall ACE scholarship recipient, flew Triple Tree’s 1937 Spartan Executive into the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh grounds last Saturday. Until its departure today, the polished airplane is parked in Vintage next to the Triple Tree Foundation tent.
Both Ben and Jack received TTA’s scholarship for flight lessons. But they said the money, while helpful, is less important than the support and mentorship they receive through the program.
“I grew up in a flying family, but the scholarship is what got me started with flying,” Ben said. He has earned his private pilot and airline transport pilot certificates, has logged about 3,500 hours, and eventually hopes to fly for the airlines. For now, he’s flying a Hawker 900XP, as well as everything in the TTA hangar: the Executive Spartan, two Stearmans, a Mooney, a Piper Cub, a Vultee BT-13, a Phantom ultralight, and an AirCam.
Ben worked at TTA while in high school, and now he flies its fleet of airplanes to give rides.
The scholarship application process is rigorous, and recipients are required to volunteer for 50 hours at TTA, but many continue volunteering once those hours are met.
Jack said he never thought he could fly an airplane until he heard of TTA. After taking his discovery flight at 17, he soloed a few months later and then earned his private pilot certificate. He has logged about 85 hours. This fall, he’ll be heading to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University for aeronautical science. He flies TTA’s 1964 Mooney.
TTA holds summer camps, and Jack said he taught a general aviation camp last week. “It helps high schools to get a handle on aviation, and the ones who want to pursue their private pilot license or whatever tend to stay involved.”
The camps are also a great pipeline for those students interested in applying for TTA’s scholarships, he said.
“Triple Tree is putting young people in old airplanes, and trying to keep the passion for this stuff alive,” Jack said. They also hope to inspire other aircraft owners across the country to follow Triple Tree’s blueprint: trusting capable, vetted young people to keep historic aircraft in the air.