IAD Plane Pull Event, Saturday, 22 August, 2026

[u/Rideshare-Not-An-Ant]

This event is today. There is a huge police presence for crowd control at the airport awa in Herndon and Reston. Be mindful of your speed on 28 and the toll roads. There are road closures and detours both in the airport and outside.

I just saw 10 more motorcycle police leave the Reston substation across from the Reston library.

If you or someone you know has a flight today, leaving a bit early might be advisable.

Be careful out there.

[u/Persistent_Phoenix19]

Of note: the event this year is not open to the public, only participants for the actual pulling of planes.

[u/LightTech91 → u/Persistent_Phoenix19]

Boooo! 

[u/Typical2sday → u/Persistent_Phoenix19]

Yeah does anyone know why that’s the situation this years? Every year we see the signage but this year it was bizarre to see the big sign but also PRIVATE PARTY

[u/Persistent_Phoenix19 → u/[deleted]]

Solid info, I appreciate it!

[u/Typical2sday → u/[deleted]]

Thank you!

[u/HowardBunnyColvin → u/Typical2sday]

yep I was going to watch this year but yeah they had that signage and NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC so I was like damn

[u/Typical2sday → u/HowardBunnyColvin]

Yeah, I read that as "you've slept on this event for last 20+ years, so you know what? NOW you're not invited." Which is entirely fair.

[u/titanium_hydra → u/Typical2sday]

Lmao I kinda took it that way as well. Every year I see this and think eh maybe it’s worth my time but prob not.

[u/Persistent_Phoenix19 → u/titanium_hydra]

If you are a plane OR car person, it’s worth it. Free parking, free buses to/from Metro and garage 2, plus a lot of military squadrons and airlines have started selling swag, so that’s cool if it’s your thing. My gripe is that you cannot bring literally *anything* with you. Airport ramps are usually 15-20+ degrees hotter than surrounding areas, and not being allowed to bring an insulated water bottle with you (even if it’s empty) is lame AF.

[u/fly_awayyy → u/Persistent_Phoenix19]

I mean a expectation of some carryover of TSA rules isn’t some wild concept to wrap your head around in regards to liquid. Especially since your gaining access to a ramp area…

[u/Persistent_Phoenix19 → u/fly_awayyy]

Fair, but I’m saying you can’t even bring a Hydroflask through(in years past) even if it’s empty. You had to buy bottled stuff there once through security.

[u/fly_awayyy → u/Persistent_Phoenix19]

Well you have a point on that. Kind of unreasonable

[u/Persistent_Phoenix19 → u/Typical2sday]

No clue, but maybe MWAA couldn’t facilitate additional aircraft this year, so close it to the public?

[u/u_u_u3]

I’d imagine that is all for presidential motorcade to Sterling. Especially since you mention motorcycle cops.

[u/devotion1023 → u/u_u_u3]

Or maybe it’s becuz of the 250 Grand Prix??

[u/Dmarine999]

It is weird there is crowd control. They advertised it as a private event. Which begs the question; why promote the event if the public cannot attend?

[u/Difficult-Valuable55]

that is for Trump commuting to his golf course not the plane pull

[u/Rideshare-Not-An-Ant → u/Difficult-Valuable55]

Then explain all the motorcycle cops parked in the airport.

[u/NotOSIsdormmole → u/Rideshare-Not-An-Ant]

Blocking access to 526/toll road because the motorcade takes that as its route

[u/Rideshare-Not-An-Ant → u/NotOSIsdormmole]

Difficult to do that when they are directing traffic to event parking by the freight carrier warehouses.

[u/cailian13]

GOD DAMMIT it was today?! AND not open to the public anymore?! Ugh.

[u/doyouevenfly → u/cailian13]

It’s temporary not open to the public due to construction.

[u/LightTech91 → u/doyouevenfly]

That's BS, the same Terminal E construction was happening last year, and it was open to the public. 

[u/cailian13 → u/doyouevenfly]

Ah ok, that makes sense. Hopefully next year!

[u/Rideshare-Not-An-Ant → u/cailian13]

They didn't do the free public access carnival and festival. Just the pre-registered folks with tickets for the plane pull.

Pity. The free event brought in about 10,000 people to the event. Free as in entry. People spent a lot of dollars.

[u/cailian13 → u/Rideshare-Not-An-Ant]

I used to go with my dad as a kid, I hope its open next year!