Muscle up and pull a plane

Mary Jacobson of Stanford, Va., tries to pull a jet last October while Dulles police officer Joe Carroll helps keep the rope straight. (Richard A. Lipski / The Washington Post)

What better way to spend the first Saturday of autumn than pulling a plane -- or watching others do it. The annual Dulles Day Family Festival and Plane Pull is scheduled for Saturday, and imagine the stories you'll be able to tell.

Fifty-two teams of about 25 people each will play tug-of-war with a Boeing 757 to raise money for Special Olympics Virginia.

Last year about 58 teams competed, and one woman, Mary Jacobson of Stanley, Va., attempted to pull a cargo plane across the tarmac at Dulles International Airport all by herself. (Read last year's plane pull story here).

In addition to the plane pull, the day will include a kids' school bus pull, live music, a car show and aircraft on display, including military, civilian and vintage planes.

Admission and parking are free for the event, which runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (There should be signs directing you to a parking lot for the event, and free shuttles will take you to the entrance gate).

Airports officials say the event will take place rain or shine. The Capital Weather Gang says there's a chance of a late-day shower, but otherwise it should be a great day for pulling planes.