Media Advisory: 20th Annual Wright-Patterson Pumpkin Chuck launches Oct. 19

  • Published
  • By Air Force Life Cycle Management Center Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio – The 20th Annual Wright-Patterson Pumpkin Chuck will launch orange gourds thousands of feet on the grounds behind the National Museum of the United States Air Force Oct. 19 from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
 
Entry to the event is free and open to all base personnel and the general public through the Spinning Road Gate located at the intersection of Spinning and Airway roads.
Pumpkin Chuck is an Air Force Science, Technology, Engineering and Math event put on annually by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Engineering Directorate. 

The competition is broken into three classes of pumpkin-flinging machines. Class A machines are the largest and most complicated, launching 8 to 10-pound pumpkins several thousand feet, while Class B machines hurl smaller 2-pound orange squashes. Class C are human-powered machines where teams can sign-up onsite to compete on a novice-friendly version, if they don’t want to build their own.

There will also be a STEM-focused area where visitors can learn about the physics of the machines, calculate expected ranges and speeds and then try it out for themselves on kid-friendly versions. Guests can also get hands-on experiences with creating and flying straw rockets as well as learning from local competitive robotics teams.  

Visitors to Pumpkin Chuck can also enjoy music, food trucks & local/CFC (Combined Federal Campaign) vendors and even a pie eating contest.

Below is a proposed agenda for the event: (Start times are subject to change)

1100: Food ready and available
1115: National Anthem
1120: Opening remarks/Class C launch
1130: First round of pumpkin launches
1330: Cease fire/pie eating contest/machine tour
1400: Second round of pumpkin launches
1515: Cease fire/finalize results
1530: Awards
 
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Note for Media – News media are invited to cover the event and must contact the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center Public Affairs at 904-557-1094 no later than 2 p.m. Oct. 18 to RSVP. Media covering the event must meet a Public Affairs escort in the Spinning Road parking lot at the entrance to the chucking field. We are arranging for interviews to take place at/about approximately 1000.