AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - November 2017 - 64

time for the money shot." Streetlights were
visible on the ground and the aircraft flew
in darkness, yet sunlight was barely visible
in the distance all around. It looked like a
360-degree sunset.
With the total eclipse over, the aircraft
switched leads, the Bonanza flying off the
Eclipse 550's wing. Whyte said the long
series of left turns had given him a strong
sense of vertigo.
Back on the ground, Hirschman asked
Rose whether he had "the shot."
"I won't know for sure until we get
home and I see the images on the computer
screen," Rose answered. "But I think we got
it. In fact, I'm almost sure of it."
'AND THERE'S AIRPLANES HERE'

Campers emerged from their tents at
Triple Tree Aerodrome in Woodruff, South
Carolina, to enjoy a traditional Southern
breakfast of grits, scrambled eggs, bacon,
sausage, and biscuits and gravy. If they
weren't all gathered for the common purpose of observing the total solar eclipse, one
wouldn't even know the natural phenomenon was set to take place a few hours later.
Talk centered mostly around the high temperatures overnight-low 70s with no wind,
making it difficult for many to sleep. Until
1:10 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, when the
moon began to cover a sliver of the sun, perhaps the number one question was, "Is this
your first time to Triple Tree?"
The 7,000-foot grass strip is a popular
destination for camping, fishing, hiking, and
making new friends. Casey Matthews and
his wife, Nicol, flew their neighbors Wayne
and Cheryl Sherrill to Triple Tree in a Maule
with a flight of four that included another

Maule, a Decathlon, and a Warrior, and set
up in the shade under the wing to wait for
the eclipse.
"This is one of the cool spots for it,"
Casey said. "We knew we'd be away from
the trees in the open," he said-adding, "and
there's airplanes here." Casey and his wife are
based at Lincoln County, South Carolina, just
a 30-minute fight north of Triple Tree, and
have camped here multiple times. It proved
to be an unbelievable introduction to the general aviation culture for their neighbors
Although Triple Tree closed for the
roughly two minutes of the solar eclipse,
arrivals continued past 2 p.m. At 2:39 p.m.,
the sky darkened rapidly, and spectators
broke out in cheers and applause. Nearby
clouds were topped in silver from the small
amount of light still coming from the sun,
while their bases darkened to a dark blue
and the horizon turned a pale pink. One aircraft performed a low pass over the field.
Almost seconds after daylight broke,
the first engines came alive as pilots clamored to be among the early departures, a
line forming almost instantaneously. But
diehard Triple Tree fans stayed put for a
barbecue dinner and one more night of
camping. A total solar eclipse is just one of
many excuses to fly to this welcoming aerodrome. Attendees already were making
plans to return, as one called to his friend in
the hot afternoon sun: "Hey, Dale, see ya in
two weeks!"
AOPA

HUNDREDS OF AIRCRAFT line

up near the 7,000-foot grass
runway at the Triple Tree
Aerodrome in advance of the
solar eclipse. Spectators lie on
a hill overlooking the runway
with their protected eyes fixed
on the solar eclipse. Although
departures started immediately
after the total solar eclipse,
many aircraft were still in line
to leave two hours after the
phenomenon.

ALYSSA J. COBB, MIKE COLLINS, SARAH
DEENER, DAVE HIRSCHMAN, AND DAVID TULIS

contributed to this story.

NEAR MOUNT VERNON, ILLINOIS
Streetlights are visible on the ground and the
aircraft fly in darkness, yet sunlight is barely
visible in the distance all around. It
looks like a 360-degree sunset.

1821Z
1:21 P.M.
CENTRAL

1839Z
2:39 P.M.
EASTERN

TRIPLE TREE AERODROME
WOODRUFF, SOUTH CAROLINA

The sky darkens rapidly at the peak of the total eclipse, spectators breaking out in cheers and applause. Nearby clouds are topped
in silver, while their bases darken and the horizon turns a pale pink.
One aircraft performs a low pass over the field. Triple Tree is closed
during the roughly two minutes of daytime darkness.
64 | AOPA PILOT November 2017

AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - November 2017

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