AERO CLUB - Key Persons
Major John V. Cabigas, USAF Retired, served his country during his Air Force career in the upper reaches of the atmosphere, the extraordinary world of U-2 flight.
Major Cabigas was born in Manila, Philippines in 1962, immigrating to San Jose, CA at the age of six. He attended Independence High School, San Jose, CA, graduating in June 1980. He attended San Jose State University where he was on the fencing team and attended USAF ROTC at Detachment O45. He graduated in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aeronautics including a FAA mechanic Certification in Airframe and Powerplant.
He entered Air Force pilot training in 1986 at Vance Air Force Base, OK. After graduation, he was assigned as a T-37B instructor pilot at Vance AFB until October 1992. Upon selection for a special duty assignment at Veale AFE, CA to fly the U-2 aircraft, the (now) Captain Cabigas became a high altitude combat mission pilot and tactics officer.
Captain Cabigas, newly assigned to the 99th Reconnaissance Squadron (99RS), participated in several notable operations to include Southern and Northern Watch (Iraq), Sable Games (S. Korea), Olive Harvest (Cyprus), Allied Force (Bosnia/Kosovo), Urban Fire (Haiti), as well as humanitarian mission such as the 1995 Mississippi river flood.
In 1996, Captain Cabigas was reassigned tot eh 1st Aero (Reconnaissance) Squadron (1 RS) as a two-seat TU-2S instructor pilot training new U-2 pilot recruits. In 1998, Captain Cabigas became the second in command of the 9th Physiological Support Squadron as the Director of Operations and High Altitude Rated Physiologist.
Following the 9/11/01 terrorist attacks, (now) Major Cabigas returned to the 99RS as the Tactics Assistant Flight Commander/Combat Mission Pilot and served in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom (credited with 10 night combat missions).
Upon completion of Major Cabigas' 99 RS tour, he returned to the 1 RS to once again train new pilot recruits and served as the current Operations Flight Commander and Training Officer while maintain a dual-qualification in both the U-2S/TU-2S and the T-28A. Major Cabigas also served as an Interviewee Acceptance Pilot, training and evaluating potential new pilot recruits for the U-2 Special Duty Assignment.
On December 1, 2010, Major Joh V. Cabigas retired from 24 years active duty, having spent 18 years in the U-2 program. In all, Major Cabigas amassed 26 overseas deployments while supporting multiple USAF Operations. He earned two meritorious Service medals, two Air Medals and five Aerial Achievement Medals, participating in all (U-2) USAF campaigns from 1992 through 2010. Major Cabigas completed his flying service with 5,287 flying hours.
Mr Cabigas is an active FAA Certified Flight Instructor hold Commercial and Airline Transport Pilot Certificates with multi-engine and instrument ratings. He is an active EAA member and regularly volunteers during the EAA's Young Eagle flight awareness programs promoting aviation to young children. John is also a Sutter county Sheriff's Aviation posse as well as the Sutter-Buttes Regional Aviation Association volunteer member. John still maintains his flying currently in a Beechcraft Baron when he is not flying his personal 1940 J-3F-65 "Cub".
In 1976, Captain Terry London Rinehart became the first woman employed as an airline transport pilot by Western Airlines, which was then merged with Delta Airlines. At that time, there were fewer than ten woman flying for the airlines in the United States. She initially flew Boeing 737s as First Officer, then upgraded to Captain and transitioned through these positions in Boeing 757's and 767's, steadily moving up the ranks in the manner of airline career progression. All this in the glare of "Oh Gosh, it's a woman!" pressures and publicity.
Captain Rinehart is the daughter of Barbara Erickson London and Colonel Jack London, an Army Air Corp pilot. During World War II, her mother served as the first commanding officer of the Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFs), later know as the Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASPs) and as commanding officer of the 6th Ferrying Group.
Growing up in this accomplished aviation family, she followed their lead by working at such airport jobs as washing and fueling airplanes, sweeping hangars... and small job to earn flying time. AT age nineteen, she decided to become an airline pilot although at that time, no women were flying for major US airline companies, and there was no future as such in sight.
Pursuing her goal in professional aviation, she earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Aeronautical Operations from San Jose State University while finishing her pilot ratings including her helicopter rating and flight instructor certificate and ratings. In 1973, the federal law changed to require nationwide the hiring of women and minorities. Now there was an opportunity for Terry to realize her dream, and she was ready after a lifetime of preparation.