Operations
Dove 1 Flight Named for 2026 Special Olympics Airlift
Owners of Cessna, Beechcraft, and Hawker airplanes donating flights
Omani Carson and Special Olympics athlete Rachel
Omani Carson is donating the use of his Cessna Citation to return Rachel and her fellow athletes home on June 27 after the Special Olympics Games. © Textron Aviation

Omani and Jeanie Carson are donating their Citation and crew to fly the inaugural departure day Dove 1 mission for the 2026 Special Olympics Airlift. The Dove 1 flight is the first time that Airlift organizers Textron Aviation have marked this trip as the honorary departure day flight.

Departure flights leave June 27 from Minneapolis St. Paul Downtown Airport (KSTP) with donated Cessna Citation, Beechcraft, and Hawker airplanes taking off every few minutes to bring athletes home. More than 100 volunteer owners and operators are donating airplanes, crew, fuel, and time for this year’s Airlift. Some 10,000 athletes and coaches have been transported on such donated airplanes since 1987.

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