WICHITA, Kansas — A fundraiser that involves teams pulling the B-29 DOC will be held April 19, 2026.
Organized by the WSU Tech Foundation, the event will raise funds for WSU Tech student initiatives and B-29 DOC operations and sustainment, according to officials.
Since its inception in 2021, the event has raised more than $600,000 to support both organizations and brought the Wichita community together for a unique, one-of-a-kind event, according to foundation officials.
“At WSU TECH, our mission is to provide accessible, career-focused education — and scholarships make that mission possible,” said Courtney Sendall, WSU Tech Foundation executive director. “These scholarships and our educational programs empower students to step confidently into career pathways that transform not only their futures, but the future of our region.”
The event showcases teams of 25 people competing to pull B-29 DOC, an airworthy B-29 Superfortress, the fastest across 25 feet of concrete. Teams also compete to see who can raise the most money for the event.
The 2026 event was originally scheduled for March, but due to DOC’s annual maintenance activities and program, the event has been pushed back one month to ensure the historic warbird meets its maintenance schedule and work that is being completed to ensure DOC’s long-term sustainability is completed.
“If we want to keep this aircraft flying for future generations, we have to responsibly integrate modern technology where it matters most,” said Josh Wells, B-29 DOC executive director. “Updated avionics and advanced monitoring systems give us the data and insight needed to protect the engines and critical systems, ensuring long-term operational health without compromising the aircraft’s legacy. At the same time, we are taking great care to preserve the historical look and feel of DOC’s cockpit interior so that it maintains World War II historical integrity. This attention to detail, along with engine maintenance, takes time to be done properly, hence the need to reschedule the Pull a Plane event.”
“DOC isn’t just an aircraft — it’s a living piece of Wichita and American history,” Wells continued. “The Pull a Plane event is a unique way for the community to come together to honor the legacy of those who served our nation and put Wichita on the map as the Air Capital of the World. Not only does this event play an important role in keeping DOC flying for years to come, it provides opportunities for the next generation of aviation and technical workers who will drive the next level of innovation in aerospace technologies.”
Team and individual registration remain open via PullAPlane.com.
Leave a Reply