The Special Olympics Airlift is the largest peacetime airlift in the world with an aircraft landing every two minutes. [Courtesy: Dick Karl]
Key Takeaways:
The author volunteered their private jet to transport Special Olympics athletes from New Orleans to Orlando as part of a massive, coordinated airlift organized by Textron Aviation.
The journey involved meticulous planning, navigating challenging weather conditions and complex air traffic control, ultimately described as an "awesome, amazing, and uplifting" experience.
Despite the initial successful transport, the planned return flight was canceled after the athletes tested positive for COVID-19.
A bowling ball can weigh up to 16 pounds. A Bocce ball weighs 2 pounds. Bocce balls come in eight packs, so 16 pounds. Why would you want to know this?
When I signed up at a Citation Jet Pilots (CJP) meeting to provide support for the Special Olympics Airlift in the Cessna CJ1 that my wife, Cathy, and I own, I had no idea that I’d be looking up bowling ball weights.
CREATE A FREE ACCOUNT
Sign up to keep reading
Create a free account to continue. Already a member? Sign in below.
Dick Karl is a cancer surgeon who appreciates the beauty and science involved in both surgery and flying. Dick’s monthly Gear Up celebrates the human side of flying. He writes about his enthusiasm for both the machines and the people who fly and maintain them.
