Brodak's Fly-In '97
Tim Ehlen
The pilot walked out of the parking area and onto the flying field. He was stunned by what he saw. He asked someone, "Is this heaven?" "No, this is Brodak's."
And so heaven settled on Earth for two beautiful days, June 14–15, when 30 pilots with 90 entries competed, played, and reminisced at the first annual Brodak Fly-In in Carmichaels, Pennsylvania. Sponsored by Brodak Manufacturing and Distributing, this AMA-sanctioned Control Line event showcased the best of the old and new.
Host and background
The event was hosted by John Brodak, president of the company that bears his family name. Brodak, 58, was born and raised in this small mining town in southwest Pennsylvania. His family business includes:
- Brodak Manufacturing and Distributing (Control Line)
- three grocery stores
- three video stores
- a print shop
- a mobile home park
- an electric company
- a DJ company (Brodak has spun records as "Johnny Lee" for 40 years)
Despite his many interests and seemingly endless energy, John's first love is flying. On this Father's Day weekend, dads and sons were flying everywhere.
Brodak started flying at 15, building and flying classic Stunt and Scale models. Flying became a serious interest again in 1988 after he found Control Line practically dead — kits, parts, and airplanes hard to find as interest shifted to RC. He opened a hobby store, published his first catalog in November 1988, and began acquiring small CL cottage businesses and tooling (including the Perfect tanks tooling) to bring the once-thriving Control Line business under one roof.
Competitions
The Fly-In offered three main competition areas:
- Racing: Foxberg and Clown Racing
- Navy Carrier: Class I and II (combined), Profile .36, and Profile .15
- Stunt: Old-Time, Classic, Profile, Precision Aerobatics, and a special Junior Stunt event
Contest Director Bob Hunt was assisted by CD Dave Braun and Chief Judge Doug Taffinder. Hunt, who had not served as a Contest Director since 1974, said he wanted to help John in his efforts to support Control Line flying. “He has done so much to bring back the hobby. Just looking at the number of Stunt pilots here, and their reactions to this weekend, this event may become the Vintage Stunt Championship of the East.” Taffinder echoed those thoughts: “This is great! The site is beautiful, the support is good, and the pilots are having a good weekend of flying.”
Special guests and seminars
Stunt legend George Aldrich attended to meet and talk with pilots. Aldrich — a multi-time Nats Stunt champion — was honored by Brodak with the release of a new kit of his famous Nobler. He spent time reminiscing with long-time friends and meeting new pilots, offered advice, discussed engines, and shared old pictures of airplanes and past Nats. Aldrich also gave a chalk-talk seminar on engines to a rapt group of about 15 and said he will never forget the weekend.
Aldrich named his design the "Nobler" after finding the adjective noble in the dictionary; as a cocky teenager he called his airplane "More Noble" — hence "Nobler." The original Top Flite release sold 5,000 kits in two days.
The site
The Fly-In was literally held in the Brodaks' backyard — a ten-acre site with four well-groomed flying circles. Three circles have cement launch pads at their centers; the fourth is all-grass and used for Stunt practice. One circle doubled for Navy Carrier with the regulation wood deck. Solitary trees between the circles provided shade, and the perimeter woods offered a striking green backdrop against clear blue skies. Visitors were free to roam up to the retaining tapes to watch the flying; with four circles in use it was pure heaven.
At times:
- In the back, Clown Racing was underway.
- In the practice circle, a Stunt pilot worked on his pattern.
- In the Stunt circle, a heat of Precision Aerobatics was in the air.
- In the circle closest to the barn, Old-Time Stunt was being flown.
Plant tours and production
Part of the Fly-In included plant tours guided by production manager Tom Noska. The plant occupies a small stone building that used to be a house and a print shop. Every room — from floor to ceiling — is filled with completed kits, parts, supplies, and balsa. Even the shower was found filled with shrink-wrapped kits ready for shipping.
Brodak is the only manufacturer currently putting out a significant number of new and classic Control Line kits: 32 new kits in the last 2½ years. Brodak normally builds 200 kits at a time; for the Nobler he produced 500 and estimates these will be gone in less than eight months. Many credit Brodak, along with PAMPA, with keeping the spark of interest in Control Line alive; the hobby now seems healthy and growing.
Closing and awards
As the last flights finished on Sunday afternoon, the remaining pilots gathered to receive their trophies. As a surprise gift, Bob Hunt and other pilots presented John Brodak with a plaque to express deep gratitude for his years of support to Control Line. It was the final award capping a perfect weekend.
The airplanes were packed away. One last glance over the shoulder as the pilots drove away confirmed that indeed they had been in heaven for a few short days. Come next June, they will all be back.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
