Special Olympics Airlift Fly-out Returns 800 Athletes Home from St. Paul | Aviation International News

Special Olympics Airlift Returns 800 Athletes Home

About 130 aircraft volunteered for Textron Aviation’s mission to transport athletes from games

The Special Olympics Airlift, held every four years, returned hundreds of athletes home from St. Paul aboard donated business jets, turboprops, and a Boeing 777. — The Special Olympics Airlift, held every four years, returned hundreds of athletes home from St. Paul on June 27 aboard donated business jets, turboprops, and a Boeing 777. © Amy Wilder

By Amy Wilder • Writer

June 29, 2026

A small air force of roughly 130 aircraft flew Special Olympics athletes home from St. Paul Downtown Airport (KSTP) on Saturday, closing out the ninth Special Olympics Airlift, organized by Textron Aviation. Held every four years in concert with the Special Olympics, the mission brought about 800 athletes to and from the USA Games this year aboard donated business aircraft using the call sign “Dove.” Athletes arrived on June 19, with volunteer crews and aircraft committed across both weekends.

The airlift was conceived by Russ Meyer Jr, former chairman and CEO of Cessna Aircraft, and was originally the Citation Special Olympics Airlift. Every four years, aircraft owners donate flight time, fuel, and crews so athletes can travel to the games without the burden of paying for commercial tickets. For some athletes, like Chris Barnes—a Kansas athlete who flew to and from the Games on Dove 17, a Citation CJ3—the flight is a first ride aboard any aircraft.

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