Special Olympics Airlift Delivers Athletes to Twin Cities

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 airlift 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. 

“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 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.