Special Olympics Airlift a Success

Volunteers make it possible for athletes to get to and from the games in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Meg Godlewski

Tuesday, June 30, 2026 at 10:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Zach Vasile

Special Olympics athletes depart from St. Paul Downtown Airport (STP) as part of the 2026 Special Olympics Airlift [Credit: Textron Aviation photo by Kevin Swinicki, provided by the Special Olympics]

Key Takeaways:

Volunteer pilots and over 130 donated aircraft transported more than 800 athletes to and from the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in St. Paul, Minnesota.
The airlift was organized by Textron Aviation, utilizing Cessna and Beechcraft aircraft flown by volunteer crews under the special callsign "Dove," with Signature serving as the exclusive FBO sponsor.
Established in 1987 by former Cessna CEO Russ Meyer, the Special Olympics Airlift tradition has historically transported over 10,000 athletes to the USA Games.

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Volunteer pilots and more than 130 donated aircraft made it possible for more than 800 athletes to get to and from the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in St. Paul, Minnesota.

The airlift was organized by Textron Aviation and involved Cessna and Beechcraft aircraft flying in and out of St. Paul Downtown Airport Holman Field (KSTP).

Signature was the exclusive FBO sponsor of the 2026 Special Olympics Airlift, with Signature locations around the country assisting and the Signature location at KSTP hosting the Champion Center.

According to a spokesperson from Signature, “The Special Olympics Airlift reminds us that aviation is about much more than airplanes. It’s about connecting people to life’s most meaningful moments. We’re honored to help welcome these incredible athletes and their families, and proud that our teams across the country could play a small part in helping them arrive ready to compete and celebrate.”

The flights were flown by volunteer crews who donated their aircraft, time, and resources, flying under the special callsign of Dove as they transported the athletes to and from the Twin Cities for the games, which ran from June 20-26.

The athletes competed in traditional olympic events such as track and field, and individual sports such as competitive cheer, swimming, bowling, and powerlifting, along with traditional team sports such as basketball, flag football, soccer, softball, and volleyball. This year pickleball and corn hole were added to the competition.

The games were held at the University of Minnesota, the National Sports Center in Blaine, Allianz Field in Saint Paul, and the Mall of America in Bloomington.

The Special Olympics Airlift was established in 1987 by Russ Meyer, former president and CEO of Cessna Aircraft. The airlift has transported over 10,000 athletes to and from the Special Olympics USA Games.