Kalitta Air Celebrates 25th Anniversary with Special Livery on Shawn Langdon's Dragster

Press Release | KALITTA MOTORSPORTS

Twenty-five years ago, when people around the country were watching Survivor, ER, Friends, NYPD Blue and The West Wing on television and seeing movies like Cast Away, The Perfect Storm, Men of Honor and Meet the Parents in theaters, Connie Kalitta was busy building an airline. The 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series resumes this weekend with the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals in Norwalk, Ohio.

A quarter century later, the NHRA legend leads one of the largest cargo airlines in the world with a fleet of Boeing 747 and 777 aircraft. With its first 25 years as a sound foundation, Kalitta Air’s potential is unlimited. In celebration of its 25th anniversary, Shawn Langdon’s Top Fuel dragster will sport special 25th anniversary livery for the remainder of the 2025 season starting this weekend.

“I could not be happier for everyone at Kalitta Air to celebrate 25 years of what we have built together,” Kalitta said. “It makes me very happy to see both the aviation and racing businesses embrace one another and continue to build a strong relationship that benefits both businesses tremendously. It’s the people that make both businesses successful whether that be in the air, or on the track.”

“It is such an honor to race for Connie Kalitta and the Kalitta organization,” Langdon said. “And it’s awesome to be part of Kalitta Air’s 25th anniversary. I’m proud to have Kalitta Air on my car, and I love the look of the 25th anniversary car. We all know what a legend Connie is, and really, for me, there’s nothing better than coming back from a good run or winning a race and seeing that smile on Connie’s face.”

Kalitta has a lifetime of experience in the airline industry that goes back to 1967 when he began transporting parts for the automotive industry with a twin engine Cessna 310 that he piloted himself. He started his first airline with money he won in drag racing. Over the years, Kalitta grew from a one airplane operation into a substantial airline conglomerate. Although its evolution included multiple different iterations, Kalitta Air received its DOT and FAA authority to begin operations in November 2000 and immediately began revenue service.

“Connie’s vision has always united the best of aviation and racing — two worlds built on speed, precision, and teamwork,” Kalitta Air Acting Vice President and Deputy Chief Operating Officer Heath Nicholl said. “But it’s our team members who bring that vision to life every day. Whether on the ramp, in the hangar, or at the starting line, their dedication drives everything we do. This 25th anniversary is a celebration of their hard work, their passion, and the legacy they continue to build.”

Kalitta quickly obtained the necessary approvals from the government and secured contracts with the United States Postal Service and the Department of Defense. After the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 when airports were closed and all flights were grounded, the only plane in the sky that night was a Kalitta Air 747 hauling relief supplies from the West coast to aid disaster workers. In 2003, Kalitta was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation for support of the Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom Operations.

In the middle of the 2023 season, Kalitta Air began using Langdon’s Top Fuel team as part of its multi-faceted, multi-media effort to recruit pilots and mechanics to work at the airline. The program is performing as expected and will continue in the future.

(Photo Courtesy Kalitta Motorsports)