Antique Attic
“I would not roll the airplane, and I am an aerobatic kind of guy”, admits Fred Cabanas, airshow pilot, air racer, all around fascinating character and pilot of the Stearman 4CM-1 N488W (c/n 4036), owned by Todd Stuart of Key West, Florida.
The model 4CM “Senior Speedmail” was a fairly large open cockpit biplane with soft flowing lines of beautiful proportions. Powered with the 9 cylinder Wright J-6 (R-975) engine of 300 hp, the 4-CM had a good range, making the airplane a perfect fit for mail and corporate operations.
Its type certificate (ATC#325) was issued on May 27, 1930, and later amended to allow changes as incorporated in the model 4CM-1. A total of 15 examples of this version were manufactured. Price at the factory for the 4CM was $ 12,500.
Priced at $15,000, the improved CM-1 was equipped with a full complement of night-flying gear, which included navigation lights, cockpit lighting, two retractable landing lights, parachute flares, Very pistol, battery and radio.
Stearman 4CM-1 constructor number 4036 rolled out of the assembly line at the Wichita, Kansas, factory of the Stearman Aircraft Corporation on July 31, 1931. Powered by the Wright R975-A #10392 and fitted with a Hamilton two blade constant speed propeller, it was delivered to American Airways, Inc, of New York, New York, on August 4, and registered NC488W.
Damaged beyond economic repair in a 1933 landing accident, its registration was cancelled on December 16. Shortly thereafter, Andy Anderson bought the wreck, keeping it in his barn for a number of years, and sold the damaged fuselage, landing gear, tail and data plate to LeRoy Brown on January 17, 1982.
N488W was transferred to Mike Danforth of Robinsville, North Carolina, on April 8, 1995, with the intention of returning the airplane to flying status. However, the paper trail had gone cold, and he elected to sell to Todd Stuart on August 25, 2003.
The plane was rebuilt from scratch by Jim and Kevin Kimball of Kimball enterprises of Zellwood, Florida, and took some 7500 man hours to be completed. The massive wheelpants -81 inches long- were formed by Jeff Kimball in specially designed molds.
Completed in a Standard Oil of California (STANAVO) Stearman 4-E Special attire, NC488W took flight for the first time since 1933 on July 1, 2005. During the 45 minutes flight, Ron Rex -owner of the Stearman 4D N774H- made five take-offs and landings, reporting no major issues with the plane.
Fascinated with aviation at a young age, Fred Cabanas became the keeper of the Stearman:
“My father was a merchant seaman, and we lived in Key West. When I was a kid, I used to watch the PBYs and PBMs fly over my house. This always amazed me, so, I started building kites and radio controlled airplanes. I started flying at 16, soled at 17 and got my license at 18. After attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University for my A&P license, I started working as a mechanic for Air Sunshine. At age 30, I obtained my ATP. Later, I bought a UPF-7, and started a biplane service, giving rides to tourists around Key West, towing banner, participating in local airshows. Over the years, I clocked 10,000 hours in the Waco and 5,000 hours in a Pitts, for a total of 24,000 hours.
About eight years ago, I met Todd Stuart. He had just bought a Waco cabin, and I taught him how to fly it. When he bought a T-28, I tried it for size, obtaining a letter of authorization, and a low level waiver in short order.
Some time later, Todd bought a Sea Fury, and I flew the plane for some 200 hours, racing it at Reno in 2005, where I got the rookie of the year award and flew my first gold race.
After a P-51, came the Stearman. I picked it up in florida, flew it to Oshkosh, and here we are in Upstate New-York.”
As for the Stearman:
“The engine take off setting is 2500 rpm and 35 inches manifold pressure. This gives a rate of climb in excess of 1000 fpm. If you pull the power back to 2000 rpm and 30 inches, you would still climb at 900 fpm. Once you climb to altitude if you hold the same setting you would do 155 mph indicated airspeed, burning 28 gph.
“When I fly cross country, I cruise at 1800 rpm and 28 inches, burning about 20 gph. With 104 gallons in the tanks, it is five hours of flight time. However, I land about every 3 hours, because it is pretty much the limit of my bladder.”
“Final approach is about 100 mph, and you come around the fence at 80. The airplane will wheel land or three point, pilot’s choice. The landing gear is massive and its works beautifully, even in crosswind. She is a joy to land, with absolutely no funny stuff going on.”
He concludes:
“It is a beautiful, stable, very dependable machine, but it catches a lot of bugs, which “bugs” me, since I am in charge of routine maintenance. However, my thing is to take the airplane places. I fly it around and you see people smile. It is like a beautiful woman, you cannot stop looking at it. You want to baby it.
