Jason Harmon took to the the air with Pilots With Diabetes (PWD) and successfully completed Diabetes Formation Flight USA 2014. The purpose of the flight was to raise awareness of what pilots with closely controlled Type 1 diabetes are capable of, namely to fly commercially.
In Harmon’s own words, “We’re trying to break down barriers for people who have diabetes…and let them know it need not hold them back from doing things they want to do.”
The pilots flew from Lincoln, Nebraska to Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 2 hours, 5 minutes and 15 seconds, setting a new speed record for that route. The group then overflew the Fly Iowa air show in Iowa City at noon before landing and opening the airshow. The flight of four aircrafts included a Beech BE58 Baron flown by Douglas Cairns, a Piper PA-28-181 flown by Taylor Verett and Major Brian Strack (USAF), and two Cessna 172s flown by Chris Isler and Jason Harmon.
The project really hits home for Jason, as his own childhood dream of joining the U.S. Air Force was crushed when he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. NewsChannel 8 interviewed Jason about his past experience and current flight initiative. Reporters from the Lincoln Journal Star Newspaper, KOLN-1011 Now and KLKN ABC 8 also took an interest in Harmon’s story along with his passion to spread diabetes awareness.