Jake Dearden Pulls 3.8-Ton Plane, Supercharges Hyrox Training Debate
Jake Dearden is proving that Hyrox athletes can do far more than run and suffer through conditioning workouts.
The reigning UK Hyrox champion, Red Bull athlete, and recent Men’s Health cover star took on an unusual challenge ahead of the Hyrox World Championships, attempting to pull progressively heavier objects across the tarmac at Red Bull’s Hangar-7 in Salzburg, Austria. What started with standard Hyrox sled pulls eventually escalated into Dearden dragging vehicles weighing several tons, culminating in an astonishing attempt to move a 3.8-ton North American T-28 aircraft.
The challenge was designed to answer a simple question: how much real-world strength does Hyrox training actually build?
Jake Dearden Pulls a 3.8-Ton Plane to Test the Limits of Hyrox Strength
Hyrox has exploded in popularity over the last few years, combining endurance racing with functional strength movements such as sled pushes, sled pulls, rowing, lunges, wall balls, and farmer’s carries. Critics have occasionally questioned whether the sport develops true strength compared to strongman, powerlifting, or Olympic weightlifting.
Dearden’s latest challenge was designed to put that discussion to the test.
The day began with traditional Hyrox sled pulls, including the men’s pro division sled weight of 153 kilograms. The challenge then escalated to a heavily loaded sled weighing 265 kilograms, which Dearden successfully moved despite describing it as “so heavy.”
From there, things got considerably more interesting.
The progression included:
- Formula 1 car
- Extra 300 LX aircraft (656 kg)
- Cessna 337 Skymaster aircraft (1.4 tons)
- Bell 47 helicopter (nearly 2 tons)
- North American T-28 aircraft (3.8 tons)
According to Dearden, the Formula 1 car actually felt easier than expected due to its wheels and aerodynamic design. The aircraft, however, were a different story.
A Different Kind of Pull Than Strongman
What made the challenge particularly unique was the setup.
Unlike traditional strongman truck pulls, where athletes can use bodyweight, anchoring systems, or specialized harness positions to generate leverage, Dearden performed the challenge in a manner more consistent with Hyrox competition. There was no fixed point and no opportunity to lean back and maximize leverage.
Instead, the approximately 80-kilogram athlete relied on constant forward movement and short, powerful steps to generate momentum.
When he finally reached the 3.8-ton T-28 aircraft, Dearden required assistance from his coaching team to find the proper pulling mechanics. After wrapping the rope around his waist and digging in, he managed to get the plane moving and dragged it approximately eight to nine meters.
“It was so slow and felt like an eternity pulling that thing.”
While he wasn’t able to complete a longer-distance pull, simply getting the aircraft moving was an impressive feat considering the size difference between Dearden and the machine he was attempting to move.
What It Says About Hyrox Training
The challenge arrives at a time when Hyrox continues to attract elite endurance athletes, CrossFit competitors, and strength athletes looking for a new test of fitness.
At its core, Hyrox rewards athletes who can sustain high output while repeatedly producing force under fatigue. Events like the sled push and sled pull have become signature movements within the sport, demanding a blend of cardiovascular conditioning and brute strength.
Dearden’s aircraft challenge may not settle every debate about Hyrox versus strongman, but it does provide a compelling example of how the sport’s training methods can translate into real-world displays of strength.
As Dearden prepares for the upcoming Hyrox World Championships, pulling a 3.8-ton aircraft may be one of the more unusual pieces of preparation we’ve ever seen, but it certainly made one thing clear: Hyrox athletes are stronger than many people give them credit for.
Who Is Jake Dearden?
Dearden is one of the top Hyrox competitors in the United Kingdom and has rapidly become one of the sport’s most recognizable athletes. A Red Bull-sponsored competitor and Men’s Health cover athlete, he has built a reputation for combining elite endurance with impressive functional strength.
With Hyrox participation continuing to surge worldwide, challenges like this are helping showcase just how demanding the sport has become at the highest level.
Featured image via Instagram @redbulluk, @jakedearden_
