The world’s largest peacetime airlift will move hundreds of athletes to and from 2026 Special Olympics USA Games
Cartersville, GA ▬ Textron Ground Support Equipment Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, is proud to support the 2026 Special Olympics Airlift. This nationwide mission, organized by Textron Aviation, will give athletes a once-in-a-lifetime VIP experience as they travel on Cessna, Beechcraft and Hawker aircraft to the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, removing financial and logistical barriers so they can focus on competition and celebration.
To make it happen, Textron GSE is providing 16 baggage and cargo tractors to move aircraft, luggage and materials around St. Paul Downtown Airport Holman Field (KSTP) in Minnesota, as athletes and their families travel to the Twin Cities to compete in this year’s competition. The company will provide 14 TUG M1A tractors and two TUG MT tractors to support the airlift.
The Special Olympics Airlift – the world’s largest peacetime airlift – demonstrates the power of industry collaboration, uniting organizations, companies and volunteers around a shared mission that extends beyond business: transporting Special Olympics athletes and coaches to and from the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games. Now in its ninth iteration, the Special Olympics Airlift will operate Friday, June 19 and Saturday, June 27. During the airlift, aircraft will land or depart every three minutes, to ensure athletes nationwide can participate in the USA Games, eliminating travel barriers and reflecting aviation’s power to unite communities.
“Textron GSE is honored to partner with Textron Aviation to help hundreds of deserving athletes travel to and from the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, so that they can enjoy the hard-won opportunity to show their talents and shine in competition,” said Tony LaCorte, Senior Director, Operations for Textron GSE.
Since 1987, volunteer pilots and aircraft owners have transported more than 10,000 athletes and coaches through the Special Olympics Airlift. Each event has grown in scale and impact, fueled by hundreds of volunteers who donate their time, aircraft and expertise to support Special Olympics athletes.
To help enhance the travel experience for athletes, Textron Aviation has launched a nationwide donation campaign supporting Special Olympics. Contributions go directly to Special Olympics to supply travel essentials and provide operational support for the coast-to-coast mission. Support athletes on their journey to the USA Games by visiting airlift.txtav.com.
Media Contact:
Brandon Haddock
bhaddock@textron.com
706.772.5931
About Textron GSE
Textron Ground Support Equipment Inc. is a leading global provider of ground support equipment and service under the TUG™, Douglas™, Premier™, and Safeaero™ brands. Textron GSE offers a diverse product lineup of conventional and towbarless pushbacks, baggage tractors, tow tractors, belt loaders, single and dual operation de-icers, ground power units, and air-starts. These products are built in world-class manufacturing facilities in Cartersville, Ga. and Trelleborg, Sweden, and serviced through airport service locations across the world. Textron GSE is part of Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) and operates as part of the Textron Specialized Vehicles business. To learn more, visit textrongse.com.
About Special Olympics USA Games
The 2026 Special Olympics USA Games—scheduled for June 19-27, 2026, across Minnesota’s Twin Cities with sports competitions at the University of Minnesota and the National Sports Center in Blaine—is a national celebration of inclusivity, changing perceptions and the ability of the human spirit rising above limitations. The USA Games, with co-presenting partners Jersey Mike’s Subs and United Healthcare, will be one of the biggest U.S. sporting events of the year, drawing tens of thousands of fans to celebrate the ability of over 3,000 incredible athletes from all 50 states as they compete in 16 Olympic-type team and individual sports. As a state with a long history of championing inclusion, the USA Games now bring an unrivaled opportunity to Minnesota to spark new energy around the Special Olympics movement and create a lasting legacy of positive change throughout the country.
About Textron Aviation
We have been inspiring the journey of flight for nearly 100 years. Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. company, has empowered our collective talent across the Beechcraft, Cessna, Hawker and Pipistrel brands to design and deliver the best aviation experience for our customers. With a range that includes everything from business jets, turboprops, light and high-performance pistons, to special mission, military trainer and defense aircraft, Textron Aviation has the most versatile and comprehensive aviation product portfolio in the world and a workforce that has produced more than half of all general aviation aircraft worldwide. Customers in more than 170 countries rely on our legendary performance, reliability and versatility, along with our trusted global customer service network, for affordable, productive and flexible flight. For more information, visit www.txtav.com.
About Textron Inc.
Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell, Cessna, Beechcraft, Pipistrel, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, and Textron Systems. For more information, visit: www.textron.com.