Airplane To Take Float In Great Raft Race

It was an annual event from 1973 until 1990, and, after a 25 year hiatus, Labor Day brings the return of the Great Raft Race on the Arkansas River.

The race promises a wacky assortment of floating crafts, including an airplane.

Scott Smith's entry in the Great Raft Race isn’t like any other raft, but he plans to put it in the water in Sand Springs and float it down river to Tulsa.

And while you may not think an airplane will float on the water, Smith said it’s been tested.

"Before we decided to enter, we put the wings on it and took it to my neighbor’s pond and five of us - some burly guys - got on and paddled it around and it held air," he said.

Meaning it stayed afloat and didn't leak - no bailing required.

The primary sponsor is the Elote Café, their emblem is an ear of corn so that’s why all the yellow. When he's finished, Smith said it will sort of resemble an ear of corn.

He's also getting a little help from Elder Paints and Southern Sheet Metal - takes a village to float a plane down the river, and on Monday a crew of ten.

His entry really is a plane, it's an Adventurer 333, but come Monday it won’t be flying down the river, only floating.

The Raft Race begins Monday morning at 8:00 in Sand Springs and will run most all day, ending in Tulsa at River West Festival Park.