171027 - Pumpkin Chuck

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Sean Gunther, Wright State University captain, and teammate Ann Hill, work on The Green Machine, their team’s catapult, prior to the 13th annual Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, Pumpkin Chuck behind the National Museum of the Air Force Oct. 27, 2017. The competition raises awareness of the annual Combined Federal Campaign and give teams the opportunity to show off their engineering skills. (U.S. Air Force photo by R.J. Oriez)

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Students from Troy Christian High School prepare their catapult on the firing line of the 13th annual Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, Pumpkin Chuck behind the National Museum of the Air Force Oct. 27, 2017. The teenagers earned Class B second-place, hurling a two-pound orange squash 400 feet downrange. (U.S. Air Force photo by R.J. Oriez)

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Aiden Tomlin, left, and Sean Gunther make adjustments to The Green Machine, Wright State University’s catapult Oct. 27, 2017, as Tiffani Pickard looks on in preparation for the 13th annual Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, Pumpkin Chuck behind the National Museum of the Air Force Oct. 27, 2017. The WSU team were members of the American Society of Mechanical Engineering. (U.S. Air Force photo by R.J. Oriez)

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Col. Bradley W. McDonald, 88th Air Base Wing commander, make opening comments at the beginning of the 13th annual Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, Pumpkin Chuck behind the National Museum of the Air Force Oct. 27, 2017. The competition raises awareness of the annual Combined Federal Campaign and give teams the opportunity to show off their engineering skills by hurling various sized gourds downrange. (U.S. Air Force photo by R.J. Oriez)

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Members of Team ETHOS climb over The Phoenix preparing to fire to fire her during the 13th annual Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, Pumpkin Chuck behind the National Museum of the Air Force Oct. 27, 2017. The Phoenix, an experimental torsion hybrid that uses the torqued of twisted ropes for its throwing power, took the Class A title by hurling a 10-pound pumpkin more than 3100 feet. (U.S. Air Force photo by R.J. Oriez)

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Barry Mullins, Air Force Institute of Technology, reaches for the sling tossed to him by Dave Mollenhauer, Air Force Research Laboratory, as they prepare Phoenix to fire in the 13th annual Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, Pumpkin Chuck behind the National Museum of the Air Force Oct. 27, 2017. Mullins and Mollenhauer were part of Team ETHOS in the event designed to raise awareness of the annual Combined Federal Campaign and give teams the opportunity to show off their engineering skills by hurling various sized gourds downrange. (U.S. Air Force photo by R.J. Oriez)

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David Mollenhauer, ETHOS team captain, prepares “The Phoenix” for the annual Pumpkin Chuck Oct. 27, 2017 behind the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. The Phoenix, labeled an “Experimental Torsion Hybrid Onager System” uses the torque of a coiled rope to throw the pumpkin downrange. (U.S. Air Force photo by R.J. Oriez)

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Members of American Chuckers look over their machine after it suffered major damage in their first attempt in the 13th annual Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, Pumpkin Chuck Oct. 27, 2017. (U.S. Air Force photo by R.J. Oriez)

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A member of the Troy Christian High School team loads a two-pound orange squash into the sling of Purple Rain, one of the school’s two catapults competing in the 13th annual Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, Pumpkin Chuck Oct. 27, 2017. The Purple Rain team garnered second-place honors in Class B of the event used to raise awareness of the Combined Federal Campaign. (U.S. Air Force photo by R.J. Oriez)

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A member of the Troy Christian High School team loads a two-pound orange squash into the sling of Purple Rain, one of the school’s two catapults competing in the 13th annual Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, Pumpkin Chuck Oct. 27, 2017. The Purple Rain team garnered second-place honors in Class B of the event used to raise awareness of the Combined Federal Campaign. (U.S. Air Force photo by R.J. Oriez)

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Nate Hunter, Just Send It team captain, fires off his team’s catapult during the 13th annual Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, Pumpkin Chuck behind the National Museum of the Air Force Oct. 27, 2017. Hunter and his team came from Fort Wayne, Ind., to compete in the event used to raise awareness of the Combined Federal Campaign. (U.S. Air Force photo by R.J. Oriez)

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Event staff measure the distance of a pumpkin chuck in the Class B portion of the 13th annual Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, Pumpkin Chuck Oct. 27, 2017. Competitors in three classes competed to see who could throw a pumpkin the furthest using different types of catapult-type machines. (U.S. Air Force photo by R.J. Oriez)