Pumpkin Chuck Raises Money for Fund Drive

  • Published
  • By Brian Brackens
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  Teams from across the country travelled to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, to compete in the 11th annual 2015 Pumpkin Chuck event Oct. 16.

Sponsored by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, the Pumpkin Chuck raised money for the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), an annual fundraiser that provides federal employees an opportunity to contribute to local, national and international non-profit charitable organizations.

Hundreds of spectators attended the event and were able to view various competitions including a pie eating contest, a pumpkin pie baking contest and the popular pumpkin chuck; in which teams competed (with machines they built) to see who could launch their pumpkins the farthest.

During the pumpkin chuck competition, a wide range of launching devices were used, including human-powered machines, trebuchets (a launching device that uses the energy of a counterweight to launch), and torsion devices (a catapult that launches after being pulled back tightly and then released).

Teams were organized into three classes, based on the size of the pumpkin that was being launched. Class A represented 8-pound pumpkins, Class B launched 2-pound pumpkins and Class C with human-powered launchers.

Team Ethos won the Class A division, launching their pumpkin 3,225 feet.
PunkWorks won the Class B division launching their pumpkin 480 feet and VA Smashers won the Class C division launching a pumpkin 12 feet.

Col. Steven Beyer, IMA to the Chief, Development & Integration Division, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Fighters and Bombers Directorate, said that the event was successful.

"Today's event was the biggest and best we have ever hosted," Beyer said. "A special thanks to the teams that competed."

Susy Himelhoch, executive director for the Miami Valley Combined Federal Campaign thanked volunteers for their support.

"The Pumpkin Chuck's success is the direct result of the numerous volunteers, including the chucker teams, who dedicate untold hours organizing this terrific day," said Himelhoch. "The event has grown significantly in recent years which show the vested interest our community has in engineering, science, technology and innovation."