Dulles Day Plane Pull Promises Bigger, Better Event

Help Dulles International Airport set another record during the 2011 Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Last year, more than 20,000 people turned out to watch teams compete for the best pull while raising money for the Special Olympics of Virginia.

According to organizers, Dulles became the first airport to host a plane pull with the inaugural event in 1993. Since then, the annual event has raised more than $1.1 million. The following highlights mark this year’s pull:

• Bigger teams – participation has been increased from 20 to 25 people per team.
• Bigger plane – teams will wrestle an 82-ton FedEx Airbus A310, versus the 55-ton Boeing 727 of past plane pulls.
• Better food options – fans can enjoy Chick-fil-A sandwiches, Merone’s Italian food, Famous Famiglia Pizza, grill-cooked burgers and hotdogs, and more.
• More locations – Take a break from the weather or buy a bottle of water for $1.
• New fan highlights – pizza eating contest (2 p.m.), door prize drawings for air travel and hourly airfield tours aboard the airport’s signature “mobile lounges.”
• More for the kids – The kids’ zone (including a kids’ school bus pull) has grown each year to include more activities, such as moon bounces and dunk tanks. Kids can also see snow removal trucks and public safety vehicles up close.

The plane pull pits more than 60 teams against each other to pull a FedEx Express plane a distance of 12 feet in the fastest time, calculated with precision equipment. The trophy for the fastest pull is a coveted prize, claimed the last four years by the Chesapeake Sheriff’s Office – which defends its streak in the final pull of the day. Teams will be assessed in other categories as well.

Admission and parking are free. Donations to Special Olympics Virginia are welcome. The festival and plane pull will take place rain or shine.