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| Cabanas is in the air show business, and flies seaplanes out to the Dry Tortugas for Seaplanes of Key West, part-time. (Photo courtesy of Fred Cabanas) |
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| Cabanas in action during one of his airshow appearances. |
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Fred Cabanas has been passionate about flying since he was 17 years old, hanging out at Key West International Airport, watching and flying with an aerobatics pilot.He wasn’t too thrilled with an instructor who believed planes should be flown with the wheel side down and the shiny side up, but the fancy maneuvers of the aerobatics instructor caught Cabanas’ eye.“The one before this instructor only believed in straight flying,” said Cabanas, “and then this pilot showed me how to roll them.”Almost 20 years ago, Cabanas started a biplane business in Key West called Island Aeroplane Tours, but later sold it so he could start Cabanas Aerobatics, where he indulges his passion for strictly aerobatic flights.“My main business is air shows, aerobatic instruction and aerobatic rides,” Cabanas said. “I also specialize in World War II or older military aircraft delivery.”He recently picked up a military airplane in New York, a P51 Mustang, and made the plane do vertical rolls, loops and other types of aerobatics.“There’s nothing better than seeing what these planes can do,” he enthused. “I’m one of only four people that take it to this level.”He flew the P51 Mustang and delivered a 1954 81 Skyraider from France to Alabama — via Greenland for refueling — to plane collectors who also are pilots.Cabanas is in the air show business as well, with shows generally taking place between January and November. And on a part-time basis he flies seaplanes out to the Dry Tortugas for Seaplanes of Key West.He also flies for charity. He recently flew an American Beauty P51 at an event that raised more than $16,000 for the Christopher Reeve Foundation.Cabanas’ next air show appearance is scheduled for spring 2009 at Miami’s Tamiami Airport at the Wings Over Miami Museum. He’ll fly his two Pitts biplanes there and perform his usual “shtick” for the audience.“I come out dressed in drag, as if I’m a distressed member of the audience, and then proceed to fly the plane — it’s a whole play on the audience and the bit gets rousing laughs and applause,” Cabanas said.Besides the satisfaction that Cabanas derives from flying the planes, he also receives great joy from the letters and e-mails he receives from past customers.“Kids I’ve taken out write me and tell me that they wouldn’t be doing what they’re doing today had it not been for their experience of flying with us,” he said. “I’ve gotten tons of e-mails and letters over the years from passengers that I’ve taken on a flight when they were younger who then decided to join the Air Force and fly for a living, and they thank me for that.” Cabanas’ latest protégé is a 15-year-old — a champion model-airplane contestant who goes to many air shows.“I’ve introduced her to some of the top pilots in the country and she’s going to be a fantastic pilot,” Cabanas said.He’s also extremely proud of his own kids. His daughter is a successful Navy pilot who, because of her father’s profession, determined her career path at age 7. Today, she’s a lieutenant with two tours on the USS Enterprise flying the F3 Viking.“She’s done over 300 landings on an aircraft carrier and most of them in the evening,” Cabanas said.His son is a 21-year-old aerobatics pilot who, like his dad, flies the Pitts Special. He also delivers planes — most recently flying from Canada to Orlando.At Cabanas Aerobatics, Fred Cabanas lets passengers take the controls and fly the planes. Over the years, he has found that women have a light hand while men have a heavy hand. Cabanas teaches his passenger/students to go left, then right.“The next thing they know, they’ve rolled the plane and can’t believe they’ve done it,” he said. “I’ve also had women come back and tell me they’ve gone out and gotten their pilot’s license after flying with me.”Cabanas stresses the importance of safety. Learning aerobatics is a safety factor, he believes, because it provides knowledge in case a pilot finds himself or herself in a situation where the plane is upside down.For him though, the greatest attraction of flying is the adventure and adrenaline rush it brings.“The freedom of flying along cross-country and being able to do a barrel roll, simply because I can and it’s legal,” said Cabanas, “is a thrill for me.” |
