Operation Airdrop: Garrett ‘Cleetus McFarland’ Mitchell’s Race to the Rescue
Over the course of two days, Hurricane Helene wreaked a path of destruction through multiple states after making landfall as a Category 4 storm in the U.S. Gulf Coast. The state of North Carolina experienced severe flooding that trapped thousands of people in mountainous terrain. Hundreds of miles away, Garrett Mitchell, a 2023 Drag Illustrated 30 Under 30 honoree and owner of the Freedom Factory in Bradenton, Florida, received a phone call from a friend seeking assistance with rescue relief efforts. Mitchell and his wife, Madison, quickly sprang into action. The YouTube star was presented with the perfect opportunity to use Consuela, a baby blue MD500 helicopter and the most recent addition to his diverse fleet of vehicles.
What was supposed to be a date night for the couple turned into a four-hour journey from southwest Florida to the home of retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle in western North Carolina. Biffle contacted Mitchell, offered his home for them to stay, and also volunteered to take part in a privately initiated mission called “Operation Airdrop.” Over 30 hours of flight time, Mitchell navigated Consuela through challenging terrain to drop off essential supplies and transport people, including a mother and four-month-old baby, out of ravaged communities.
The power of social media became apparent as the Mitchells’ efforts quickly spread, resulting in over $250,000 in donations for supplies, food, water, and jet fuel. Many people in desperate need of evacuations were able to connect with pilots through social media and provide GPS coordinates of their exact location.
“Craziest things I’ve ever seen in my life today. Madi is crushing it communicating with other pilots and volunteers. Consuela is running awesome,” Mitchell said in an update to his followers.
More than 30 private helicopter pilots joined “Operation Airdrop” and successfully evacuated 143 people, transported 26,000 pounds of supplies, and provided 152 Starlink internet connection kits as government resources began to trickle in. While waiting for fuel, Consuela shared the tarmac with U.S. military transport aircraft, including CH-47 Chinooks, Black Hawk helicopters, and a C-17 Globemaster full of supplies.
After three long days, the Mitchells returned home safely but also exhausted and riddled with emotion from helping complete strangers and witnessing the mass destruction of communities in the path of Hurricane Helene. A recap video of the rescue efforts posted to his YouTube channel showed Mitchell taking pride in the aircraft’s performance, especially after being grounded for 10 years. As fate would have it, Consuela was picked up after receiving a full restoration at Thoroughbred Aviation in Louisville, Kentucky, just one week before the storm hit.
“I’m so proud of this machine and what it’s become. This helicopter was abandoned in Venezuela and now she’s out here helping people out,” the Florida racetrack owner said.
On YouTube, Garrett Mitchell is best known as “Cleetus McFarland,” a lively Chevrolet-loving patriot with a relatable sense of a humor and passion for horsepower. However, his brave rescue efforts show that his on-camera persona truly reflects his genuine character – a compassionate person who is willing to race to the rescue for people in need. Quite frankly, it doesn’t get more American than that.
This story was originally published on October 8, 2024.
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