Tug of War with Titans: Dulles Plane Pull 2025 Breaks Records and Hearts (in the Best Way!)

September 13, 2025 by CeCe Cogar

On September 13, 2025, the skies over Dulles International Airport weren't just buzzing with jets—they were alive with the roar of human grit, cheers from 10,000+ spectators, and the unmistakable whine of an 82-ton United Airlines Boeing 757 and a FedEx Airbus A320 being dragged across the tarmac by sheer willpower. The annual Dulles Plane Pull, a flagship fundraiser for Special Olympics Virginia, didn't just meet expectations; it shattered them, pulling in a staggering $600,000 and drawing a record 86 teams ready to battle behemoths. This wasn't your average charity 5K—it was a symphony of sweat, strategy, and solidarity, all in service of empowering athletes with intellectual disabilities. Buckle up as we revisit the highlights of this high-octane spectacle.

Team Noblis

The event, now in its 22nd year, has become a cornerstone of community engagement and philanthropy in the DC area. Teams from local businesses, government agencies, and community groups converged with one goal: to pull a plane faster than anyone else while raising funds for a noble cause. The atmosphere was electric, with families, friends, and supporters lining the sidelines, waving banners, and cheering on their favorite teams. The sight of diverse groups—from corporate teams in matching uniforms to spirited community squads—coming together for a common purpose was nothing short of inspiring.

VIP Tuggers and Unforgettable Moments: When Politics Meets Power

Adding star power to the sweat? None other than Vice President JD Vance, who traded the Oval for the oval-ish pull zone, lending his grip to the rope and his grin to the crowd. Snapped mid-pull alongside teams, Vance's cameo injected national buzz into the local love-fest, reminding everyone that even leaders need a good team-building exercise. Other heart-tuggers included unified teams blending Special Olympics athletes with supporters, embodying the event's core mantra: Inclusion through action.

Vice President JD Vance pulling his weight

Vice President JD Vance and his family attended the fundraiser, joining supporters to cheer on participants. Their presence added a touch of political star power to the event, highlighting the importance of community support for initiatives like the Dulles Plane Pull.

Plane-Spotter’s Paradise: What Was on the Ramp

The Dulles Plane Pull 2025 wasn't just about the tug-of-war; it was a feast for aviation enthusiasts. The ramp was alive with a stunning array of aircraft, each telling its own story. From commercial giants to private jets, the lineup was a plane-spotter's dream come true.

This year’s static aircraft display was catnip for avgeeks. On the tarmac:

United Airlines Boeing 757-200 (N14120): The main event, this 82-ton beauty was the star of the show, pulled by numerous teams throughout the day.
FedEx Airbus A320 (N102FE): Another heavyweight contender, this plane added to the challenge and excitement of the pull.
Warbirds & Trainers: Corsair FG-1D, PT-19, T-6, T-6A Texan II (2), L-39
Transports & Jets: C-17 (2), F-16
GA & Classics: Cessna 172, Cessna Skywagon Floatplane, Remos Light Sport, F-24, TBM, L-5, Fuji, plus five biplanes

The presence of these aircraft not only provided a thrilling backdrop for the event but also offered attendees a chance to get up close and personal with some of the most iconic planes in aviation history. For many, it was a rare opportunity to see such a diverse collection of aircraft in one place, making the Dulles Plane Pull 2025 an unforgettable experience for both participants and spectators alike.

Access varied by aircraft, but the big crowd-magnets were the C-17s, where public walk-throughs of the cavernous cargo bay are a perennial Dulles Day tradition, with volunteers and aircrew fielding questions about loadmasters, pallets, and missions. Elsewhere on the line, docents and crews invited guests to peek into cockpits from the stairs, study open panels, and talk shop about engines, avionics, and restoration stories—exactly the kind of “walk among and visit” experience the festival promises each year.

p class="entry-summary">The atmosphere was electric as teams prepared for the main event, with spectators eagerly gathering to witness the spectacle. The camaraderie among participants was evident, as friends and family cheered from the sidelines, creating a vibrant tapestry of support and enthusiasm.

Festival Frenzy: More Than Just Muscle on the Move

The Plane Pull was the headliner, but Dulles Day transformed the airport into a full-blown carnival of community cheer from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Gates swung open to a free-for-all fiesta (yep, entry and parking were gratis, with shuttle buses ferrying folks from lots to the action). Security was airport-tight—no big bags or outside snacks—but once inside, it was game on.

Picture this: Live music pumping through the air, food trucks slinging grub from a Special Olympics-supporting grill station, and games galore for kids and kinetic adults alike. A star attraction? The Enterprise Mobility Car Show, where gleaming rides revved up the excitement alongside static aircraft displays begging for selfies. Airport tours on the iconic Mobile Lounge (those retro people-mover buses) offered behind-the-scenes peeks at aviation magic, while vendor booths hawked everything from branded water bottles to motivational merch.

And let's not forget the heart of the event: the Plane Pull itself. Teams lined up, muscles flexed, and with a collective heave, the planes inched forward, cheered on by a sea of supporters. The camaraderie was palpable, with each tug on the rope symbolizing more than just physical effort—it was a testament to community spirit and the drive to make a difference.

2025 Dulles Plane Pull Winners

Youth Challenge Winner: Mosaic Mustangs
Raising Cane’s Spirit Award (Most Enthusiastic Team): Area 14 Special Olympics
Heaviest Team: Chesapeake Sheriff’s Office
Lightest Team: SAIC 2
Top Unified Team: Fairfax County Police Department
Slowest Pull – United Plane: Patients First
Slowest Pull – FedEx Plane: Gravity Force

Team Fairfax County Police Department

The Fairfax County Police Department team, a perennial favorite, brought their A-game and a whole lot of heart. Their synchronized pull and infectious enthusiasm made them crowd-pleasers, embodying the event's spirit of unity and fun.

Fundraising Winners

3rd Place, Most Money Raised: Bechte
2nd Place, Most Money Raised: GDIT
1st Place, Most Money Raised: Cisco

Fastest Pull – United Plane

3rd Place: L3 Harris 2
2nd Place: Aireon
1st Place: Helix

Team Aireon

Fastest Pull – FedEx Plane

3rd Place: Cisco
2nd Place: World Wide Muscle Club
1st Place: Chesapeake Sheriff’s Office

Top Law Enforcement Team: Chesapeake Sheriff’s Office

A massive shoutout to all the teams, volunteers, sponsors, and supporters who made Dulles Plane Pull 2025 a soaring success. Your dedication and enthusiasm not only powered the planes but also propelled the mission of Special Olympics Virginia to new heights. Until next year, keep pulling for a cause that truly lifts us all.

Team Raising Cane's

Team Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office

Team Leidos

The Dulles Plane Pull began right here in 1992, created by MWAA Police leader Joe Hurtuk. That first tug raised about $15,000—and sparked a global phenomenon of plane-pull fundraisers. Today, Dulles Day remains MWAA Police’s signature community event benefiting Special Olympics Virginia.

As the sun set on September 13, Dulles wasn't just quieter—it was richer in resolve. The $600,000 haul will bankroll year-round dreams for Virginia's Special Olympics athletes, from bowling lanes to bocce courts, fostering fitness, friendships, and fierce independence. In a world that often sidelines differences, events like this spotlight them as superpowers.

From sunrise check-in to the last cone picked up on the ramp, volunteers are the invisible engine of the Dulles Plane Pull. They greet teams, guide athletes, run registration and waiver stations, hand out gloves and water, and keep the flight line safe as 25-person crews thunder past with a jet in tow. Many are Special Olympics Virginia supporters, aviation buffs, corporate groups, students, and off-duty airline and airport staff. You’ll find them everywhere—coaching at the rope, emceeing heat times, staffing the kids’ truck pull, escorting athletes between events, answering “what plane is that?” at the static display, and keeping accessibility services running so every guest can enjoy the festival.

Volunteers are the backbone of the Dulles Plane Pull

Their impact is bigger than logistics. Volunteers turn a charity competition into a community celebration—cheering for the underdog team, snapping photos for families, tracking donation totals in real time, and helping sponsors connect with the cause beyond a logo. They’re the steady hands that keep safety tight on an active airfield and the warm voices that make first-timers feel like regulars. In short: the planes supply the spectacle, but the volunteers supply the soul—and without them, the world’s most joyful tug on the tarmac simply wouldn’t get off the ground.

Mark your calendars for 2026, folks—this pull's just getting started. Until then, channel that Chesapeake speed: Grab a rope (literal or figurative), rally your crew, and pull for something bigger. Because when we all lean in together, even the heaviest loads lift off the ground.

Expect a free, family-friendly airport open house with hands-on experiences, great photo ops, metro-friendly access, and a ramp full of aircraft spanning WWII trainers to modern jets. Bring sun gear and work gloves if you’re pulling—and a loud voice either way.

Micro-Moments You Might Have Missed

Beyond the main event, Dulles Day was peppered with heartwarming and humorous micro-moments that added layers of joy to the experience. From a young child’s awe-struck expression upon seeing a C-17 up close for the first time, to a volunteer’s impromptu dance-off with a Special Olympics athlete, these snippets of human connection underscored the event's deeper impact. The sight of teams high-fiving each other after a successful pull, or the collective gasp as a plane inched forward against all odds, created a tapestry of memories that attendees will cherish long after the last rope was coiled.

Other micro-moments:

Youth energy: Mosaic Mustangs took the Youth Challenge crown.
Big spirit: Area 14 Special Olympics snagged the Raising Cane’s Spirit Award.
Mass & class: Chesapeake Sheriff’s Office was also named Heaviest Team; SAIC 2 was Lightest.
Comic relief: Patients First and Gravity Force owned the “Slowest Pull” superlatives on the United and FedEx planes, respectively—proof that showing up is half the victory.

One particularly touching moment was when a team of Special Olympics athletes, who had been training for months, successfully pulled the plane with the help of their supporters. The pride and joy on their faces were palpable, reminding everyone present of the true purpose behind the event. These micro-moments, though small in scale, were monumental in meaning, encapsulating the spirit of Dulles Plane Pull 2025.