A World War II B-25 bomber called Yellow Rose is flying into Wichita for Saturday's Pull a Plane fundraiser, giving kids a warbird of their own to haul across the tarmac.

The annual event, organized by B-29 DOC and the WSU Tech Foundation, returns Saturday, Oct. 17, to the B-29 DOC Hangar, Education and Visitors Center. Adult teams of 25 will race to pull Doc, a fully restored B-29 Superfortress weighing roughly 80,000 pounds, across 25 feet of concrete. Kids' teams will pull the smaller B-25 Yellow Rose, according to WSU Tech.

Yellow Rose will also offer ride flights Friday through Sunday, Oct. 16-18. The aircraft is operated by the Commemorative Air Force Central Texas Wing out of San Marcos, Texas. Tickets are available through the wing's Thundertix page.

Josh Wells, chief executive officer of B-29 DOC, said the two aircraft share a wartime connection. "It was the B-25 via the Doolittle Raiders that delivered the first U.S. and Allied Forces attack on mainland Japan during World War II," Wells said. "Then, a few years later, the B-29 delivered the final attacks that led to the end of World War II."

Doc is one of only two airworthy B-29s still flying and one of 1,644 built in Wichita during the war.

Teams also compete to raise money. The individual who raises the most donations wins a ride aboard Doc. Net proceeds are split between the WSU Tech Foundation, which supports student-focused initiatives including scholarships, and B-29 DOC, which funds the hangar's displays and education programs. Since 2021, the event has raised more than $600,000 for the two organizations, according to B-29 DOC.

Courtney Sendall, executive director of the WSU Tech Foundation, said the B-25 adds a new draw for younger participants while connecting aviation history to scholarship fundraising. Robb Gudgel, development officer for the CAF Central Texas Wing, said ride flights give the public a chance to experience the aircraft firsthand.

Team and individual registration remains open at PullAPlane.com. A few sponsorship slots are also still available.

Coming up in Wichita:

  • Saturday, Oct. 17 — Pull a Plane, B-29 DOC Hangar, Education and Visitors Center
  • Through Oct. 24 — BOOtanica festival at Botanica Wichita (weekends)