Teams of 25 will compete to see who can pull the airplane 12 feet the fastest. Photo contributed
The 24th annual Dulles Day Family Festival and Plane Pull will be held Sept. 17, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Dulles International Airport. All proceeds benefit Special Olympics Virginia.
Pull together 25 friends and compete to see who can pull the 164,000+ pound FedEx or United airplane 12 feet the fastest. Teams must raise a minimum of $1,500 - $60 a person – to participate. Will you be able to beat the 2015 fastest time of 4.753 seconds? Have no fear! Prizes will be given to teams who raise the most money, show the most enthusiasm. Spots are going fast; don’t get left on the tarmac.
Does your little one want to pull a plane when they grow up? The Kids Truck Pull provides a fun challenge to youngest fans, prepping them for the main event in future years. Teams of eight will compete to see who can pull the big, red 123JUNK truck 12 feet the fastest. To participate, you must raise or donate a minimum of $10/person. Each participant will receive a Plane Pull T-shirt; a prize will also be awarded to the person who raises the most money.
Want a warm up before the big pull? Go the extra mile at the 4th Annual 5k/10k on the Runway. The Dulles Airport Runway will be closed off for the 2,500 participants to run past airplanes on the landing strip. The cost for the 5K is $40/participant and registration closes Sept. 14, unless spots fill before then. The cost for the 10K is $50/participant and registration closes Sept. 14, unless spots fill before then. Participants can register online athttps://potomac.enmotive.com/events/register/56ec2dc6-da7c-4d6b-a3d8-771ac0a86526.
You can also join as an event sponsor, event exhibitor or as a “fan” of Special Olympics Virginia. The Dulles Day Family Festival and Plane Pull, presented by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, will feature live music, a car show, military and civilian aircraft displays, police K-9 demonstrations, business exhibits and a special Kids Zone. There is no charge to enter the festival, although donations are appreciated. All attendees over the age of 18 will receive a door prize ticket for the chance to win a “weighty” prize.
Since the first-ever Plane Pull was held in 1993 at Dulles International Airport, Special Olympics Virginia has raised more than $2 million for athletes with intellectual disabilities throughout the state, and also started a worldwide plane-pulling phenomenon. Today, similar Plane Pulls are held throughout the year in Colorado, Maryland, Hawaii, Tennessee and Texas. The Plane Pull is a Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Virginia event. The Torch Run, sponsored by the SunTrust Foundation, the Wawa Foundation and Enterprise, unites law enforcement across the Commonwealth to raise funds and awareness for Special Olympics Virginia.
For more information, to register your team, sign up to exhibit or for sponsorship details, visit www.planepull.com or call 703-359-4301.