Amy Wilder is a private pilot with more than two decades of experience as a writer and editor in a career spanning journalism, marketing, and communications. 
She has worked in aviation journalism since 2023, combining a lifelong passion for flight and a love of the aviation community with a penchant for storytelling. As a licensed pilot, she brings firsthand insight to the stories she covers, lending an authentic, on-the-ground perspective to industry coverage.
She holds a Master of Arts in Eastern Classics and a Master of Arts in Liberal Arts, both from St. John&#039;s College in Santa Fe, New Mexico, along with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Culture.

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Amy Wilder

The 2026 Special Olympics Airlift has delivered more than 800 Special Olympics athletes and coaches to St. Paul Downtown Airport (KSTP) on Friday, with roughly 130 “Dove” missions flown by volunteer pilots from 26 locations nationwide ahead of this week’s Special Olympics USA Games. The <a href="https://airlift.txtav.com/">airlift</a>&nbsp;coordinated by Textron Aviation includes Cessna Citations, Beechcraft turboprops, and Hawkers.
A Cessna Citation Latitude operated by Prent Corp., given the call sign “Dove 1,” was the first to land at St. Paul on Friday, carrying athletes and delegation members.&nbsp;
“The arrival of Dove 1 is always a powerful moment,” said Textron Aviation president and CEO Ron Draper. “It represents months of planning, the generosity of the aviation community, and most importantly, the excitement and anticipation of athletes arriving ready to compete.”
Dove 1 pilot Chris Clawson said the mission carries personal significance for participating crews. “This is one of the most meaningful missions we fly,” he said. “The airlift brings together aviation and purpose in a way that creates unforgettable experiences for these athletes and reminds all of us we’re part of something much bigger than ourselves.”
Aircraft continued arriving throughout the day at intervals of three to four minutes in a complex operation involving pilots, air traffic controllers, airport authorities, and Special Olympics staff. Total round-trip distance covered by the operation was expected to reach nearly 300,000 nm.
Textron has organized the airlift since its inception in 1987, and is conducting it for the ninth time this year. More than 10,000 Special Olympics athletes and coaches&nbsp;have been transported to competitions over that timeframe. The company describes the effort as the world’s largest cumulative peacetime airlift.
The 2026 Special Olympics USA Games run from June 20 to 26 across Minnesota’s Twin Cities, with competitions held at the University of Minnesota and the National Sports Center in Blaine. More than 3,000 athletes from all 50 states are competing in 16 Olympic-type sports.

Airlift Transports 800 Athletes to Minnesota for Special Olympics USA Games

Special Olympics USA Games run June 20 to 26 across Minnesota’s Twin Cities

Volunteer pilots flying Cessna, Beechcraft, and Hawker aircraft delivered more than 800 Special Olympics athletes and coaches to St. Paul for the 2026 Games.

Special Olympics Airlift Delivers Athletes to Twin Cities

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