Get ready for one of the area's most unusual events -- the 15th Annual Plane Pull is at Dulles International Airport Saturday. Clusters of Loudoun residents and businesses will be among the competitors to pull a 160,000 pound, 727 cargo jet for 12 feet. Whichever team pulls the plane to the line fastest wins.

More than 60 teams will vie for the fastest plane pull Saturday at Dulles.

You may have seen the signs, on your commute to or from work, or while heading to the airport for a trip and wondered, "What is that...looks interesting. Do they really pull a plane?" Why yes, yes they do. And anyone can do it and anyone can come out to watch, free.

The entire concept of a "plane pull" started here at Dulles and was the brainchild of Joe Hurtuk, the Deputy Chief of the Metro Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) Police Department in 1992. Hurtuk has since retired but plane pulls are taking place all over the country and modeled after the Dulles original.

Five teams participated in the first event back in 1992 and raised $10,000. As of Monday, there were 66 teams registered for this year's event.

Only Seconds to Success

In years past, various local sheriff's offices have prevailed as winners, but this year a few local companies are looking to take them down.

Ken Chaletzky, who has been running Copy General in Sterling for 20 years, is fielding his sixth pull team. With a small staff of 35 employees, the team recruits from customers, suppliers and vendors.

"Bulk is important, we want to look good. We don't expect to win, especially when you see the teams from Fairfax County Sheriff's office -- they're huge and strong and look like they pump iron all the time," said Chaletzky. "But we have fun and that is the most important thing."

Competitors, in teams of 20 people, dig in deep for the plane pull.

And think about mental preparation. With 66 teams, each taking between eight and twenty seconds to pull the plane, most of the day is about waiting and waiting some more, then knowing when your team is up so you don't miss your slot. (That is why Cisco donated electronic signage this year so teams can see when they're up.)

Kevin Hanahan at Cisco Systems said they are bringing two teams, 20 for each pull with alternates in case there are no-shows or injuries. "Last year we were the highest fundraiser at $7,000," said Hanahan. "My goal is to win the pull and be the top donator."

Cisco's got some experience in their pocket protectors, and that is what they're looking to leverage this year. "Chuck Schoch, an engineer, is one of our guys who is the backbone of the pull, he got the second fastest time with group last year," said Hanahan.

First timers at Symantec are also trying to field two teams. "We're hoping to bring at least 50 people out there... worst case scenario, we have one team and a lot of cheerleaders," said organizer Kevin Lemmon. "Some people on the team have seen a plane pull before," said Lemmon who will bring a co-ed group and enough kids to field a 10-person bus pull.

Strategy and Style Matter

A couple of team leaders already have counted themselves "out" of the top finishers because they have mixed-gender teams. But they shouldn't because there are some "tricks" to help enhance, in a non-steroidal way, performance.

"There's a whole psychology when pulling the plane," said veteran pull leader Chaletzky. "You don't want to be first out there when the grease (on the plane wheels) is still cold. You want to be 10th or 11th."

Time of day is important, too. You don't want to sit around cooling your heels, or in the case of warmer weather, cooking, while waiting your turn. Chaletzky says teams try to find a balance between where they are in the rotation and time of day. There is always the case for saving the best for last if you have the patience.

Among the style tricks -- try the seemingly simple act of getting all 20 people to pull at the same time. It is not that easy. Ten pulling while ten adjust isn't as powerful as all 20 stroking at the same time. Chaletzky said some teams will have someone call "pull," to get the rhythm as if in a rowing event.

To get the start right, all participants need to hear the airhorn, which can be difficult with so much ambient noise, or see the visual cue of the timer's arm going down.

In this tug-o-war of man against machine, some participants twist the rope, wrapping it around their hands, hoping for extra leverage and control. For others, it is about how their feet are placed.

Kids get in the competition with a 10-team bus pull.

You'll see a pilot in the cockpit of the plane, but his job is only to put on the brakes after the plane crosses the line. Kids can participate in a "bus pull" for $10 each and they'll get a t-shirt. There are also food vendors, a car show and various aircraft on display.

At the end of the day, the plane pull winners walk away with bragging rights, but most of the competitors know the big achievement is raising money for a local charity. "In 15 years, the event has raised more than $1 million for Special Olympics Virginia," said Courtney Prebich of the MWAA.

You can be there to watch all the action (free admission and parking) from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m., just follow the signs at the airport for "event parking" behind cargo building 5.