More than 100 teams gathered at Chicago O’Hare International Airport on Saturday, October 5, to participate in the annual plane pull, which directly benefits the Special Olympics Illinois (SOI). The team pulled a 48-ton United AirlinesBoeing 737 aircraft, marking the 16th Annual Plane Pull competition.
Moving the aircraft a few feet
Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock
Moving such a large aircraft is all about sheer determination, and while it may not be easy, it’s a pretty awesome experience. As reported by ABC 7 Chicago, the chief of the Algonquin Police Department, Dennis Walker’s shared the following about his experience:
“It’s not easy, that’s for sure. You’ve got to get low and just get at it right away. It’s a cool experience.”
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Have You Ever Participated In A Plane Pull?
This past weekend, 80 teams from across the country gathered at Washington Dulles International Airport to pull an aircraft weighing more than 80 tons 12 feet to raise money for the Special Olympics.The winning team (Chesapeake Sheriff’s Office) completed the challenge in just under 6 seconds and won the title for the fastest pull for the 15th consecutive year. Plane pulls continue to be popular nationwide, with the next Special Olympics plane pull scheduled for September 28th at Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA) in Virginia. Have you ever done a plane pull? If so, what was the experience like, and would you ever do it again? Let us know in the comments below.
Teams of 20
Hosted by the Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run, United Airlines, and the city of Chicago, each team of 20 gathered on the tarmac to pull the 95,000-lb aircraft at least 12 feet as fast as possible. Fundraising was a key factor in the Plane Pull, which aimed to raise over $200,000 for Special Olympics Illinois. SOI Board chair Kathy Schniedwind said:
“If you don’t get very excited when you’re here, then something’s wrong. There’s just so much passion and atmosphere and I love it.”
Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock
Requiring teamwork, coordination, and brute strength saw all kinds of people joining in and taking part. Emmerson Hjort, from Special Olympics Illinois, helped organize the plane pull and stressed that just seeing the number of people participating makes it all worthwhile, and seeing people step out of their comfort zone and test their abilities is what it is all about. Hjort’s mother was there and noted:
“It is all her. She kind of is the person that wants to get in there and take challenges herself, try new things.”
Denver International Airport, in partnership with United, and Special Olympics Colorado, also participated in their own plane pull, in August, which is outlined in the video below:
In fundraising for the Special Olympics, a global organization that aims to empower sport for 21,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities, the Special Olympics offers year-round training and competition across 18 sports. The program empowers those to realize their full potential in sports and general life and encourages families and the community to get involved.
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