Major John Cabi Cabigas is considered as the first Filipino descent Astronaut. While the selection process may vary from each national space program it has been established that the boundaries of space at 60,000 feet. Whoever reaches this altitude is already considered since the 1950's as Spacemen/Astronauts. Major Cabigas has made this altitude his "Office" and had surely surpassed this height even further but due to the fact that practically all of his missions are always labelled " CLASSIFIED".Please read this most insightful and inspiring story who made his dream came true...

Earlier this year, Top Gear Presenter James May did a special BBC Documentary for the 40th anniversary of the First Moon Landing.
He travelled to the United States to experience what it is like to be an astronaut, or at least experience some of the rigors of space flight. He also interviewed several real life astronauts who set foot on the moon.
His documentary was so insightful, bringing back beautiful memories of the day that people for the first time in the history of mankind to set foot in another “world” and the huge technological efforts to design and create a Space Program to make it all happen. Back in the day, when “personal computers” where the size of rooms and are dumber that today’s high tech GSM Phones so a huge part of the effort was calculated and drawn by hand!
While the Americans where sending its people to the Moon, by some stroke of coincidence a small family was sending its future to the United States.
The Cabigas family immigrated to the United States a year before the Moon Landing, the elder Cabigas only wanted his children to experience and be eligible to opportunities he and his forefathers had never experience ever. Little did he know his decision would pave way for something great.
Born to a family from Quezon City, the largest city of the area called Metro Manila. The Cabigas settled somewhere in Northern California
It is rare to inspire people to do great things…but on that fateful flight from Japan to San Francisco, the pilot put the future Major Cabigas into his lap and let him fly the plane. Such random “acts of kindness” does help create miracles far more than the original idea meant.
It got the younger Cabigas hooked on flying…and dreamt to be a pilot.
Read the inspiring and exceptional story of a man who dreamt high and reached a height only a very few had the privilege of experiencing.
From there on, the future Major Cabigas found his way and entered the San Jose State University as an Aeronautics major (Bachelor’s of Science degree) and also USAF Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (ROTC) and even served as the Detachment Commander for one year.
“Began “Flying” with radio-controlled airplanes at age 12.  Began flying full sized/scale airplanes while in college in ROTC.  Earned my Private’s Pilot’s License at Naval Air Station, Moffett Field in Mountain View, CA.  Upon graduation, I worked as a licensed Airframe & Powerplant (airplane) Mechanic for one year while awaiting USAF Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT)” Major Cabigas explained as he was “interviewed” by ParaSaBayan.Com.
“Attended USAF UPT at Vance AFB, Oklahoma (OK) flying the T-37B “Tweet”, and the T-38A “Talon”.  Graduated in the top 10% of the UPT class.  Selected to stay as First Assignment Instructor Pilot following UPT.  Stayed at Vance AFB instructing primary flight in the T-37B for four years, teaching new students to fly.  Interviewed and hired for the U-2 program in late 1992.  Married Angela W. of Oklahoma City, OK, one month prior to entering the U-2 program at Beale AFB, CA.” he revealed as he tried to be as humble as possible. Throughout the entire interview process, we found to be “reluctant” hero, someone who had achieved so much and yet he is as grounded as any ordinary person could be. He would share experiences that would sound like his “office” is simply somewhere downtown office. Yet his “office” would be located up…way up! On missions, Major Cabigas would “normally” fly to up to 70,000 ft, to put that into perspective. If your on the ground and saw a commercial jetliner flying at its highest cruising altitude, then imagine seeing that the opposite. Ordinarily Major Cabigas would see the very same plane underneath him! He and another co-pilot would need “spacesuit” like uniforms because of temperature and breathing concerns. People cannot survive flying in those heights without them. It take hours of preparation before each flight and countless hours training for one!
“…Began flying U-2s in 1993, and then deploying to worldwide forward operating locations in 1994.  Participated in many operations to include, Northern & Southern Watch (Iraq, post 1991 Gulf War), Bosnia, Kosovo, Haiti, Iraqi-Freedom, Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan), Korea, Africa, etc., and multiple Classified Sensitive Reconnaissance Operations.  Have served as U-2 Instructor Pilot, Rated Physiologist, Safety Officer, Accident Investigation officer, Director of Operations.” His “Previous Work Experience” would be like. Exciting?
ParaSaBayan.Com’s readers were able to ask Major Cabigas some personalised questions of which was sent to him to answer so we could add them here on this article.

Joel Cervantes, Dubai, UAE asked: Which military planes did you fly on missions and where?

  1. “U-2s all over the world; multiple conflicts/wars; many classified secret missions”

Capt. Gilbert Manahan, Commercial Pilot, 747/Airbus asked: How does a pilot in the USAF to be able to qualify to be on this programme?

  1. Must have a minimum of 1500 Pilot in Command flying hours to apply; two week interview process including 3 flights in the U-2 to determine if you can land the airplane (U-2 is the most difficult USAF airplane in the world to operate and land, and is the only “tail-dragger” & bicycle-gear configuration)

Richard Chua, Respiratory Therapist, Silver Springs, MD asked:  Was your training very similar to the training given to astronauts?

  1. "No, candidates must have a minimum of 1500 Pilot in Command flying hours to apply; two week interview process including 3 flights in the U-2 to determine if you can land the airplane (U-2 is the most difficult USAF airplane in the world to operate and land, and is the only “tail-dragger” & bicycle-gear configuration)..."
  2.  
  3. Major Cabigas would like explain to MyMilanGuide.Com's readers...
  4. "that flying above 60,000 ft is considered the "Space Equivalent Zone" where exposure to low atmospheric pressures & temperatures would be Physiologically equal to being in outer space - and would thereby require a space suit to survive (your blood would boil without the Full Pressure Suit).  Major Cabigas also participated in the rescue of Capt. Scott O'Grady during the Bosnia conflict. My first nation-wide television appearance was on a TV special called "Behind Closed Doors with Joan Lunden" in 1998. Was featured in the March 2009 FLYING magazine. Current projects are a U-2 Photo shoot with Michael Balter for JWings Magazine, as well as with Chris Pocock's new book updating the "50 years of the U-2".

Jennifer Sanvictores, Business Secretary, Dubai, United Arab Emirates asked: Is it true that you’re the only Filipino descent USAF personnel that is Qualified to fly a U-2 Spy plane?

  1. There does not appear to be anyone of Filipino descent who has piloted the U-2, at least since the Vietnam War time frame.  There have been only a few pilots of Filipino descent (Mestizos) prior to the Vietnam War.  To the best of my (our) knowledge, I am the only full blooded Filipino (Flip-Am) to have been a U-2 pilot.  Taiwanese & Koreans have flown U-2s, but not Filipinos.

Russ, Programmer, Essex,UK asked: To your knowledge, are you the only Filipino descent that has reached the Highest ever altitude? When was it? What was the highest altitude you have you ever reached?

I am most probably the highest flying Filipino – well above 70,000 ft (actual altitude is classified

Cat Vince, London, UK asked:  How did you learn that you are going to take James May on your flight?

A. The James May U-2 flight was NOT part of Top Gear.  The BBC requested the flight for the two Paul King documentaries.  I was originally the Mobile officer and backup pilot, but the original pilot (Lt Col D. Stuart Broce, who was the Mobile officer) was injured and could not fly.  I was then allowed to be the primary pilot following Broce’s injury.

ParaSaBayan.Com ask…So what is your future plans? What would you like to do after your military career?

A. Currently, I am a 23-year USAF Officer, preparing for Military retirement.  My bride and I have two children, Sarah (10 yrs old) and son Jhetson (7 yrs), still living in Northern California.  My hobbies are:  My Wife & Kids, Radio Controlled Airplanes, Flying and owning my own airplane – a 1940 Piper J-3 “Cub”, Building my own full size airplane in my garage, Automobiles, Computers, Photography, Camping, Travelling, Cycling, Skiing (snow)...but there’s not enough time to do them all at once!

ParaSaBayan.Com Advisory, Major John Cabi Cabigas is currently still on active military service. He regrets to be unable to answer your curious questions of which he is sure that it is all well meaning. But unfortunately most of his missions are classified TOP SECRET and maybe out of the reach of the public domain for sometime or probably never.
We would like to thank the Cabigas Family for their valued cooperation in crafting this article and to our email senders we a thousand thanks for the interest and to our valued sponsors!
     
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