Textron Aviation launches Signature Special Olympics airlift event in support of 2022 USA Games

Textron Aviation launched the company signature industry endeavor — the Special Olympics Airlift (SOA) — and began its call for Cessna Citation, Beechcraft King Air, Beechcraft Premier, Beechjet and Hawker owners and operators to help transport more than 4,000 athletes and coaches from across the nation to the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games in Orlando, Fla.

“Textron Aviation, along with our many generous customers and supporters, is extremely excited to kick off the eighth Special Olympics Airlift in support of providing athletes and coaches transportation to the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games,” said Ron Draper, president and CEO, Textron Aviation. “This signature event is a unique opportunity that enables everyone, from our employees to our customers, to ignite our shared passion for lifting others up and supporting our communities by giving the athletes the joy of a once-in-a-lifetime aviation experience.”

Since the first Special Olympics Airlift in 1987, nearly 10,000 athletes and coaches from across the United States have been transported to Special Olympics World Games and USA Games. With this eighth SOA, Textron Aviation aims to recruit 228 aircraft owners by Feb. 28, 2022, to help transport a portion of the over 4,000 athletes and coaches invited to Orlando, Fla. on June 4, 2022, and then return them to their home bases on June 12, 2022.

Owners and operators in every state are needed to donate the use of the following aircraft:

• Cessna Citation
• Beechcraft King Air
• Beechcraft Premier
• Beechjet
• Hawker

In addition to aircraft, pilots, fuel and in-kind support are requested for the airlift efforts. While the 2022 USA Games are located in the Southeast, thousands of athletes and coaches will travel from all over the U.S. as well as the Caribbean and Puerto Rico to attend.

“Traveling to Orlando for the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games may be the first time some of our athletes ever leave their hometown, let alone fly on an airplane,” said Tony Wyllie, regional president, Special Olympics North America. “The travel experience provided by Textron Aviation and its customers will be the ultimate bookends for one unforgettable week.”

For more information and/or to register to be a part of this monumental nationwide aviation event, visit www.txtav.com/airlift.

Learn more about the Games at https://www.2022specialolympicsusagames.org/.