The 2010 Special Olympics USA National Games are still more than 5 months away.

But as you can imagine, crews have been planning for years.

One of the big tasks: getting all the athletes to Lincoln.

The project is called Cessna 2010 Special Olympics Airlift and directors hope to fly 3,000 athletes here for the Games.

From volunteers on the ground to hundreds of pilots in the air and even an A-list celebrity, organizers are pulling out all the stops to make it happen.

Sarah Leeth, VP of Marketing and Public Relations for the Games, says, "It's like an airshow. We compare it to LaGuardia with the amount of air traffic."

LaGuardia air traffic, only here in Lincoln. Hard to imagine but it will soon be a reality.

Doyle Garrett, Project Manager at Duncan Aviation, says, "The FAA air traffic control have their plans already in place and I think the air traffic control team is actually already doing training and simulation."

The Cessna project is known as the largest peacetime airlift in the world. Cessna officials say they're hoping for more than 250 volunteer aircraft to transport 3,000 athletes to Lincoln.

A plane known as dove one, will lead the pack. Garrett says, "Dove 1 will be the first airplane to land to kick off the 2010 Airlift games.

Organizers with Duncan Aviation at the Lincoln Airport say one plane will land every 90 seconds over a 15 hour span, allowing all athletes to arrive the day before the games begin. And they can expect quite the welcome.

They'll be greeted by hundreds of well-wishers and volunteers just waiting to welcome them to the Star City.

Leeth says, "There's so much energy and excitement. There's even a volunteer job called the official hugger and people are dying to have that job."

Garrett adds, "A lot of times, this will be the first time some of them have ever flown in a corporate jet and they're treated like royalty."

The airlift is also something special for pilots to remember.

Duncan Aviation Senior Pilot Larry Bartlett says, "Watching the kids, the fun that they have and the enjoyment they get out of it."

Also playing a big role in the project is actor and pilot Harrison Ford, who's been named honorary chairman for the airlift.

Garrett says, "He's been working heavily with Cessna to get corporations, customers signed up to take part in the games."

To make the 2010 games an experience to remember for both volunteers and athletes alike.

Airlift officials say they aren't quite sure what role Harrison Ford will play here in Lincoln but they're hoping he'll be here the week of the Games.