CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Usually, it takes a pilot in the cockpit to get a Boeing 727 rolling down the runway. But Saturday at Yeager Airport, the ground crew took the aircraft for a spin. 

Strongman Phil Pfister faced off with a 155,000-pound purple and orange FedEx plane to help raise money for Charleston's Ronald McDonald House. He became the first person to successfully pull a plane alone during this type of charity event.

The Charleston native, who won the Met-Rx World's Strongest Man in 2006, moved the plane steadily down the runway for 15 feet using his own strength, to the delight of spectators and fellow participants.

"I was asked to participate and I thought it was an awesome vehicle to fundraiser for the [Ronald] McDonald House," Pfister said.

High school band members, weightlifters and hospital employees also took on the plane during Saturday's event. Teams of 20 members were given two tries to heave the plane 12 feet down the runway in the shortest amount of time. The teams also competed in a separate heat to see how few team members could move the plane.

The Ronald McDonald House raised $10,000 at the plane pull over the weekend, thanks to event and team sponsors.

The money will support the organization's operating budget so it can continue to provide lodging for families who have a loved one in the hospital, said executive director Dewayne Dickens. The Ronald McDonald House in Charleston has 10 rooms, each housing four people.

The organization plans to make the plane pull an annual fundraiser.

"It's going great. We had a few bumps, but everyone who showed up really enjoyed it," Dickens said.

FedEx provides an aircraft, support crew and equipment for free to a variety of charities around the country so they can host plane pulls as fundraisers. All the proceeds from the event go to the charity, said Tina Rodgers, an air show program manager for FedEx.

Rodgers sounded an air horn at Saturday's event, signaling teams from the YMCA, Charleston's FedEx office, Riverside High School Band Boosters, Jackson Kelly and Charleston Area Medical Center to begin pulling the 125-foot rope.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Usually, it takes a pilot in the cockpit to get a Boeing 727 rolling down the runway. But Saturday at Yeager Airport, the ground crew took the aircraft for a spin. 

Strongman Phil Pfister faced off with a 155,000-pound purple and orange FedEx plane to help raise money for Charleston's Ronald McDonald House. He became the first person to successfully pull a plane alone during this type of charity event.

The Charleston native, who won the Met-Rx World's Strongest Man in 2006, moved the plane steadily down the runway for 15 feet using his own strength, to the delight of spectators and fellow participants.

"I was asked to participate and I thought it was an awesome vehicle to fundraiser for the [Ronald] McDonald House," Pfister said.

High school band members, weightlifters and hospital employees also took on the plane during Saturday's event. Teams of 20 members were given two tries to heave the plane 12 feet down the runway in the shortest amount of time. The teams also competed in a separate heat to see how few team members could move the plane.

The Ronald McDonald House raised $10,000 at the plane pull over the weekend, thanks to event and team sponsors.

The money will support the organization's operating budget so it can continue to provide lodging for families who have a loved one in the hospital, said executive director Dewayne Dickens. The Ronald McDonald House in Charleston has 10 rooms, each housing four people.

The organization plans to make the plane pull an annual fundraiser.

"It's going great. We had a few bumps, but everyone who showed up really enjoyed it," Dickens said.

FedEx provides an aircraft, support crew and equipment for free to a variety of charities around the country so they can host plane pulls as fundraisers. All the proceeds from the event go to the charity, said Tina Rodgers, an air show program manager for FedEx.

Rodgers sounded an air horn at Saturday's event, signaling teams from the YMCA, Charleston's FedEx office, Riverside High School Band Boosters, Jackson Kelly and Charleston Area Medical Center to begin pulling the 125-foot rope.

The pull got off to a slow start when the first two teams strained against the rope, but failed to budge the plane at all. The crew had to bring in equipment to move the plane, because it sat too long during the instruction period and the craft's weight settled onto the tires.

After the adjustment, the FedEx team dug in their heels and budged the plane for the first successful pull. 

"Our boss told us not to come back to work Monday unless we won, because our name's on the plane," said Jonathen Lyons, who works for FedEx.

"We're just glad to see FedEx involved in helping the community."

The FedEx team took a third place finish in the event, falling behind the YMCA and CAMC. The YMCA's team of weightlifters hefted the plane 12 feet in 6.392 seconds on their first pull, for the win.

After their pull, the YMCA team members rushed to the clock to check their time and gave teammates enthusiastic high fives. "We just pulled hard and connected together," said Jon McClure, of the YMCA team. "It's for a good cause and that's why we're here."

Dickens said he hopes the community will continue its enthusiasm for the unusual charity event.

Saturday's pull also was a first for Pfister. He said it would be good practice if the city receives permission to include a C-130 cargo plane pull in the 2008 Met-Rx World's Strongest Man competition, to be held in Charleston in September.

After the pull, Pfister posed for pictures and signed autographs for the crowd of spectators and the participants, many still sweating from the exertion.

"So many times, people lose their connection. They push a button to make the window go up and down or do whatever the weight machine has them do," Pfister said. "It's great for people to be physically connected to the world. When they're out here pulling a plane, that's as close as it gets."

Reach Kellen Henry at khe...@wvgazette.com or 348-5179.