SC00 opinions from a somewhat "local"
Anyone planning to fly-in/camp at Triple Tree (SC00) for the Triple Tree Fly-In in a few weeks? I'm hoping to go as a first-timer. I've flown into OSH for EAA one time, so hopefully the inbound won't be too problematic. I'm planning to go on Friday morning (9/22) and stay until Sat afternoon. My 8-yr old grandson who lives 15 minutes away from SC00 will be joining me Friday afternoon after school and we'll tent camp by the airplane overnight. Love to meet up with any VAF'ers that will be there. Also I'd love any tips from others that have been to this event in the past.
Disclaimer: I was part of some of the original planning sessions on this YEARS ago and know and am friends with the person who basically "built it". He won't take any credit but he funded it **AND** drove the caterpillars to make it work with the help of MANY volunteers. It is now a wonderful endeavor that have MANY top notch aviation events throughout the year. This is one of the largest ones.
With that in mind, here is my OPINION.
This has to be one of the BEST aviation fly to places you can find. It is at least 7000 feet of some of the best turf you will find. It is 7000 feet long "because there was a river in the way". It has a river, a lake, (long enough for amphibs), a pond, and a stream. Many trees where you can park you plane and set up a tent (along the river). Really nice shower and bathroom facilities.
I encouraged the management of EAA to visit this to see what I was talking about when I was on the Board pushing for the pavilion. THIS was the model I had hoped we would follow.
As mentioned, just follow the procedure. It is NOT too difficult. MUCH easier than OSH or SnF.
The arrival procedure has you approaching the first visual waypoint of a Walmart Distribution Center ("Wally World") from the west. It now has a database entry of "VPWLW".
From there you go to the town of Enoree, visual waypoint of "VPENO".
At that waypoint you basically make a roughly 90 degree left turn to SC00, the airport.
Now, my Garmin GTN650 does NOT show SC00, so be aware. BUT(!!!!) my EFIS does, and as soon as you make the turn as specified in the procedure, you look for the LAKE and just to the left of it a clump of trees with a tower sticking up through it. You are about to cross midfield in a minute or two!
If you are landing on RWY03 you will feel VERY CLOSE to some trees. Don't worry about trying to land at the end of the runway (the river is right below where the trees stop). Go to the "marker" that you will see and that the "advisors" will mention on the radio. Remember, you will STILL have over 5000 feet UPHILL to roll out. People land Caravans and Jets there!
If you don't have a GPS with SC00, VPWLW, nor VPENO in it, find your way to Laurens County airport (KLUX) and head north. You will IMMEDIATELY see "Wally World". Follow the HEADINGS mentioned in the procedure from there.
Every now and then someone will arrive without having read the procedure (as is the case with OSH and SnF as well). But if you are in line, the line will often times wake them up and cause them to amend their ways.
One downside with great weather, the PRIME airplane camping spots (trees along the river), get taken very soon in the week.
