RAF STORY PRESENTED TO HIGH SCHOOL AVIATION COMPETITORS

The RAF was invited to participate in this year’s AviCom event March 13-14 at legendary Triple Tree Aerodrome in Woodruff, SC. RAF South Carolina Liaison Chris Sullivan, RAF Director Emeritus Todd Simmons and his son Clay, a member of the RAF’s Backcountry Etiquette Team, attended the event to introduce the RAF to the group of South Carolina high school students. Todd and Clay spoke about the RAF mission and the rewarding world of backcountry aviation. AviCom is an aviation competition and symposium where teenagers compete for awards in simulated flight that propel their aviation journey. This year’s emphasis was on commercial and backcountry aviation. Sullivan helped serve the RAF-sponsored breakfast to attendees, faculty and program leaders.

Todd Simmons is the President of Customer Experience at Cirrus Aircraft, and an avid backcountry pilot. His son Clay flies the Cub he built, and is aircraft sales associate for Aerista. Sullivan serves with the local Civil Air Patrol squadron, is on the leadership team for the local Upstate Aviation Club, and flies a Grumman Tiger.

Simmons said of the event that someone, “many someones” did this for him when he was their age. “Now I am proof that the very least of us can achieve quite a bit in aviation with a lot of passion, commitment, hard work, a little luck, and perhaps most important, support from those that came before us,” he added.

The event is in its third year, organized by Greenville Technical Charter High School to cultivate the future of aviation through teamwork, innovation, and opportunity, and continues to attract and inspire aviation-oriented high school achievers.

Submitted March 31, 2025