The John G. Brodak Memorial Fly-In will prepare for takeoff on June 13. As it is recently memorialized in the name of the late John Brodak, the fly-in will conclude June 18, the day before Father’s Day as it usually does. This is an acknowledgement that control-line flying is a family activity.
“John Brodak had a real passion for control line flying and really helped to maintain interest in the sport,” Stacey Brodak said.
John created the Brodak Manufacturing & Distributing Company to make and sell control-line airplane kits. It still operates today in Greene County from Carmichaels, Pennsylvania. The company continues to host the Brodak Fly-Ins.
“He was so invested that he hosted the event at his home to make it more personal and friendly. Many friendships were created throughout the years that span the globe,” Stacey said.
Over the years, the Brodak Fly-In event grew to become the largest of its kind in the United States, as builders and fliers from South America, South Korea, South Africa, Australia, Canada and various regions around the United States would come together to participate. An Argentinian television show, “The Aeromodelista,” even attended and broadcasted one of the events.
After the passing of John two years ago, in part with the pandemic, the last Brodak Fly-In was in 2019 where it celebrated its 20th anniversary. Last fall, the Greene County Commissioners reached out to John’s wife, Coral, to see if the event could return to Greene County. That was a catalyst for Coral to create another event on her property, honoring John’s passion with a new (and appropriate) event name this time.
The process of putting on this kind of event is rigorous. First, the event must be sanctioned by the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA), as all requirements are met. This usually entails the hiring of an experienced and knowledgeable director along with key staff members to oversee the planning of all contests. Safety is a top priority, according to Stacey.
Then, a group of volunteers assemble, mostly comprised of Brodak family members and friends, will help manage logistics and hospitality. Organizing hotel room blocks, managing the lawn, setting up signs and tents and arranging meals are part of this setup process.
Judges use AMA guidelines to score each flight, with the top three being recognized at a final ceremony at the end of the event. All scores are shared with the AMA.
The Brodak Fly-In has historically hosted more than 3,000 pilots who completed over 12,000 flights, not including practices. Contestants as a whole have logged more than 65,000 miles through the air. That’s more than 12 round trip flights from New York to Los Angeles.
Starting with the first Brodak Fly-In in 1997 bringing in around only 30 people, it’s safe to say John’s legacy has grown to have worldwide influence. John would print and distribute thousands of flyers to welcome centers and hotels to promote control-line flying. His impact on the sport lent to its growth not only in Greene County, but around the world.
