Football Hall of Famer to Again Serve As Honorary Chair for the Event

Textron Aviation has once again recruited one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time to serve as Honorary Chair of its iconic airlift effort, which will mobilize hundreds of volunteer pilots to carry athletes and coaches to the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games. The event is scheduled for June 19-27, 2026, in Minnesota’s Twin Cities.

“I’m honored to once again serve as the Honorary Chair for the Special Olympics Airlift,” Manning said. “This event is about more than just transportation – it’s about lifting spirits and celebrating the incredible determination of these athletes. I’m proud to support this mission and encourage Cessna, Beechcraft, and Hawker aircraft owners across the country to join us in making a difference.”

The Special Olympics Airlift brings together Cessna, Beechcraft, and Hawker aircraft owners from across the country to volunteer their time, aircraft, and fuel. It’s an operation of scale that could make an airline blush: hundreds of general aviation pilots (with a few big names sprinkled in) ferrying athletes across the nation in what Textron calls the world’s largest peacetime airlift. The first flights are scheduled for June 19, 2026, with athletes returning home on June 27.

Participating aircraft fly under the call sign “Dove,” granting them special priority from the FAA. Doves are expected to land or take off at the St. Paul Downtown Airport (STP) every three minutes for nearly ten hours straight, creating a steady stream of business aircraft delivering competitors from all fifty states.

The Special Olympics Airlift has been a Textron tradition since 1987, moving over 10,000 athletes to various USA Games since its inception. Despite the event’s scale, it runs like clockwork, thanks to months of coordination between the FAA, volunteers, and Textron’s operational teams in Wichita.

“Peyton Manning’s return as Honorary Chair brings powerful momentum to the Special Olympics Airlift, helping amplify awareness and drive participation among aircraft owners nationwide,” added Ron Draper, President and CEO of Textron Aviation. “His leadership helps elevate the mission and ensures more athletes experience the joy and dignity of arriving at the Games like true champions.”

FMI: https://airlift.txtav.com