A full day of activities, including free flights aboard a variety
of privately owned aircraft, an opportunity to pull a 150,000-pound
jet aircraft 12 feet in the fastest time and a classic car display
will be featured at Moffett Field on Saturday, June 16.
Sponsored by the Santa Clara County Law Enforcement Torch Run, the
third annual "Airplane Pull" will begin with registration
at 8 a.m. Approximately 4,000 participants and spectators are
expected to attend the Airplane Pull, which benefits Special Olympics
in Santa Clara County. Last year, more than $20,000 was raised
from the one-day event. Twenty-three-member Plane Pull teams
compete against each other to pull a United Airlines Boeing 727 a
distance of 12 feet in the shortest amount of time. The
competition will begin at 9 a.m. and continue until 2 p.m.
Starting at 10 a.m., the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA)
Aviation Foundation’s Young Eagles will offer free flights over
Moffett Field for youths ages 8 to 17. The event is designed to
educate young people about airplanes and help them discover career
opportunities in aviation. EAA pilots volunteer their time to
support this activity and bring with them 35 aircraft for the youths
to ride. The flights, which are designed to provide a motivational
aviation experience for the youths, will continue until 3
p.m."The Young Eagles
program is trying to reach out to children who want to spread their
wings and conquer the sky. This event will provide Bay Area kids with
a unique opportunity to fly on small and medium-sized airplanes
side-by-side with real pilots," said Young Eagles program
coordinator Ron Palermo. "The local EAA chapter is excited about
the opportunity to hold this Young Eagles event at an historic place
like Ames, so well known for its aviation research and strong
community ties." NASA Ames Research Center is
hosting the events as part of its community outreach program.
Also featured during the day will be a display of approximately 50
classic cars representing several local car clubs, demonstrations and
displays of law enforcement equipment, musical entertainment and
refreshments. Gates will open at 7:30 a.m.
Admission is free to all events and no pets will be allowed. Visitors
are urged to enter Moffett Field via the Ellis Street gate and
proceed to Hangar 1, where free parking will be
available.
Further information about the Young Eagles is available at
www.eaa62.org, and about the Plane Pull by calling Tiffany Lloyd
Lofton or Sgt. Danny Acosta at (408) 267-2734.
