Highly coordinated, the Airlift engages volunteers as early as two years before the games, and the push for volunteer aircraft continues right up to the event. Each aircraft-depending on size- took three to seven athletes and at least one coach from a home base to Orlando Executive Airport (ORL). Each aircraft received a call sign of " Dove " and a number. From each airport and on the return, the slowest aircraft departs first. It's a conga line as aircraft take off or land every two minutes. Participating pilots receive a $1.50 discount per gallon of fuel. Textron looks for approximately 200 aircraft to participate, since there are potentially more than 800 athletes and coaches to transport from as far away as the Dakotas. If there are not enough aircraft, some participants volunteer to fly multiple trips. And many state teams elect to travel commercially, especially if they want to travel together. Some teams have as many as 150 athletes. Textron does the air traffic coordination well-aircraft take off every two to three minutes and pilots are well briefed-but it is the ground-based crew with their red shirts and ebullient spirit that make the event. Driving golf carts with athletes out to the line 62 AOPA PILOT / September 2022