[Newburgh, IN – June 22, 2026] Ciholas, Inc., a high-tech engineering firm based in Newburgh, Indiana, participated in the first leg of the Special Olympics Airlift to transport athletes and coaches from Indianapolis to Minneapolis for the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games.
The Special Olympics Airlift eases travel efforts for the athletes and creates an exciting and empowering experience for participants. Organized by Textron Aviation, the manufacturer of Cessna and Beechcraft business aircraft, the event is the world’s largest peacetime airlift, with approximately 120 aircraft landing at the St. Paul Downtown Airport. Companies, like Ciholas, donate their aircraft, pilots, and fuel to transport more than 800 Special Olympics athletes and coaches to the Special Olympics USA Games in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
“Our aircraft is a Cessna Citation V, a small business jet, that we use to support our projects around the country,” says Mike Ciholas, pilot and President of Ciholas, Inc. “It’s been an incredibly rewarding experience to use the plane to support these athletes as they prepare for the Games. They were very excited to be traveling in our plane.”
The athletes arrived on Friday, June 19, and will participate in the competition through Friday, June 26. Ciholas and other airlift volunteers will provide travel back to their home cities on Saturday, June 27.
“We’re looking forward to assisting in the return trip for the athletes. We hope that their experience has been life-changing, and we’re thankful that we have been able to be a part of it,” adds Ciholas.
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ABOUT CIHOLAS
Ciholas, Inc is a contract engineering firm based in Newburgh, Indiana. Since 1999, Ciholas has been committed to using innovative technology to find creative solutions to difficult problems. With extensive experience in UWB technology, Ciholas has developed and implemented specialized location tracking solutions for clients worldwide and launched the CUWB Real-Time Location System at cuwb.io. Custom engineering is available from Ciholas for CUWB and other technologies. Ciholas.com
ABOUT SPECIAL OLYMPICS AIRLIFT
The Special Olympics Airlift, organized by Textron Aviation and its customers in collaboration with the Special Olympics USA Games, is a powerful demonstration of the aviation community and its impact. Since the Airlift's inception in 1987, this remarkable initiative has brought together the aviation community to transport over 10,000 athletes and their families to the Special Olympics USA Games, helping ensure that everyone has the opportunity to participate. airlift.txtav.com
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