Wheels Up has unveiled a camouflage-painted Beechcraft King Air 350i aircraft through its Wheels Up Cares philanthropic initiative. The Wheels Up camouflage plane has a custom livery that was created and painted by Textron Aviation and honours those in the military who bravely served and continue to serve their country, while benefiting the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), a non-profit organisation that offers compassionate care to those grieving the loss of a military loved one. The camouflage King Air will remain indefinitely in the Wheels Up fleet to serve as a flying symbol of TAPS' mission.

Wheels Up will be making a donation to TAPS, and all pilots flying Wheels Up planes will wear camouflage pins throughout the month of November in support of the campaign.

“We created the Wheels Up Cares programme to showcase our support of important causes by leveraging our fleet of aircraft,” says CEO and founder Kenny Dichter. “The four planes in the programme are flying symbols of these charities' incredible missions and we are proud to align with TAPS for our latest addition to the fleet.”

Since 1994, TAPS has provided comfort and hope through a national peer support network and connection to grief resources, all at no cost to surviving families and loved ones. TAPS has assisted more than 90,000 loved ones grieving the death of a military hero and continues to receive an average of 19 new survivors every day.

”Wheels Up and Textron truly represent what is best about America; they recognise freedom is not free, honour those who have made the ultimate sacrifice and ensure the families of our fallen heroes will be taken care of. We are forever grateful for their steadfast support,” says TAPS founder and president Bonnie Carroll.