The Dulles Day Plane Pull is an annual event sponsored by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police Department. Joe Hurtuk, a retired Deputy Chief with MWAA PD, created the first Plane Pull competition in the world in 1992 at Dulles. The event was held to benefit Special Olympics Virginia at Dulles International Airport, with eleven teams participating. Those teams, led by MWAA law enforcement volunteers who were looking for a new and unique way to raise money and awareness for Special Olympics athletes, raised almost $15,000 – and started a  phenomenon.

Since then the Plane Pull has raised more than $1,000,000 in the past fifteen years for athletes with intellectual disabilities throughout the state. There are similar Plane Pulls held throughout the year in Colorado, Maryland, Hawaii, Tennessee, and Texas that benefit Special Olympics programs in those states.The event is so popular in fact, that Special Olympics has the registered trademark on all Plane Pulls ® that take place throughout the country and world.

The Plane Pull is a fun team competition to see which group can pull a jet airplane the fastest. The Plane Pull pits teams of 25 people against a 150,000 pound aircraft provided by FedEx. Participants line up along a huge rope attached to the aircraft. The starter signals the team, then starts the stopwatch. After the team pulls the aircraft 12 feet, the elapsed time is recorded as the team score. Each team is then weighed (as a group) and assembles  to have their team photo taken.

Each team donates $1,250 to

Special Olympics Virginia.

Please visit Dulles Day Plane Pull website: http:/www.planepull.com 

President and CEO Jack Potter presents a $160,000.00 check to Special Olympics VA on behalf of the MWAA Police Department.

(Below) Aerial view of various aircraft displays at the Dulles Day Plane Pull