130 Aircrafts Soar for a Noble Cause: Transporting 800 Special Olympics Athletes
In a heartwarming annual tradition of general aviation, Textron Aviation masterminded the 2026 Special Olympics Airlift on June 19. The operation mobilized approximately 130 Cessna, Beechcraft, and Hawker aircraft, each flying under special “Dove” call signs, to transport over 800 Special Olympics athletes and coaches to the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in Minnesota’s Twin Cities.
Described as the world’s largest cumulative peacetime airlift with roots stretching back over 40 years, the operation launched from 26 departure cities across the United States. These included:
- Orlando
- Houston
- Phoenix
- Nashville
- Washington D.C.
- Grand Rapids
Dove 1, a Cessna Citation Latitude operated by Prent Corporation, was the first to land at St. Paul Downtown Airport (KSTP). This kicked off a meticulously choreographed sequence of arrivals every three to four minutes throughout the day. By the end of the round-trip operation, the fleet is projected to cover nearly 300,000 nautical miles.
The 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, running from June 20–26 across the Twin Cities, will feature over 3,000 athletes from all 50 states competing in 16 sports. Former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning serves as Honorary Chair, while country music artist Dierks Bentley is among the program’s ambassadors. For many athletes, the Airlift represents their very first time aboard an aircraft. Since the program’s inception in 1987, more than 10,000 athletes and coaches have been transported through this remarkable volunteer effort.
Source: BusinessWire / Textron Aviation – June 19, 2026