High flyin’ adored: Museum honors local aviation enthusiast
Colleen Nelson
Coral 鈥淏uzz鈥� Brodak stands inside The Brodak Museum replica of her late husband John Brozak鈥檚 original hobby airplane shop in Carmichaels.
Visitors check out exhibits at The Brodak Museum in Carmichaels. (Photo by Colleen Nelson)
Colleen Nelson
The Brodak Museum in Carmichaels opened on Sunday, offering a number of aviation-themed exhibits.
Courtesy of the Brodak family
Model aviation enthusiasts will delight in the 1950s replica hobby shop inside The Brodak Museum. The shop is based on John Brodak鈥檚 own hobby shop, which he operated in Washington.
Visitors to The Brodak Museum enter through Tower One. The museum will be open daily between 10 a.m. and noon and 2 and 4 p.m. through June 19, and then by appointment only. (Photo courtesy of the Brodak family)
Courtesy of the Brodak family
Courtesy of the Brodak family
The Brodak Museum opened to the public June 12 in Carmichaels, where the late John Brodak 鈥� an aviation enthusiast and businessman 鈥� spent his life tinkering with, designing and selling model airplanes and parts. The museum boasts aviation and WWII memorabilia, a vast library and a 1950s replica hobby shop.
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A tribute to late businessman and aviation enthusiast John Brodak was cleared for landing last Sunday, when The Brodak Museum opened its doors to the general public after a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Guests didn鈥檛 need a passport to check into an afternoon of fun and learning. They just needed to prepare to be dazzled by Brodak鈥檚 expansive aviation collections and the replica 1950s hobby shop contained inside the museum鈥檚 bright-white walls.
鈥淭his was John鈥檚 dream. I can鈥檛 even imagine how proud he would be to see it put together,鈥� said his daughter-in-law, Stacey Brodak. 鈥淗e had been acquiring these items for years. He would be so proud of (his wife) and grateful to her for seeing that dream through.鈥�
John Brodak grew up in Carmichaels and began tinkering with model airplanes as a teen. He taught himself to fly the control-line model Sterling P-15 (think model airplane meets kite, only the P-51 runs on an engine and can do stunts) and opened his first hobby shop shortly after marrying Coral Lee 鈥淏uzz鈥� Welsh in 1960.
Between running successful businesses and raising a family, Brodak found time to master the art of control-line model airplane piloting. He competed in and won several national competitions. In 1991, he launched Brodak Manufacturing and Distributing Co. Inc., the largest model airplane manufacturing company in the world.
Six years later, he founded the Brodak Fly-In, an annual model airplane competition connecting builders and flyers from around the world. The event, the largest of its kind, was held annually through 2019. It returned this year, starting Monday and running through this Sunday at 100 Park Ave. in Carmichaels.
Brodak died in 2020 at the age of 81.
鈥淛ohn Brodak is probably more responsible than anyone, in this country, at least, for keeping control-line model aviation alive,鈥� said Mark Weiss, contest director of the Brodak Memorial Fly-In.
Brodak鈥檚 contributions to the world of model airplanes reached max altitude with the opening of The Brodak Museum, which showcases airline memorabilia and a collection of stewardess uniforms, model aviation kits by industry pioneer George Aldridge and military aircraft items, including reconnaissance cameras and practice bombs.
鈥淚 was up there in April 鈥� it鈥檚 just spectacular,鈥� said Weiss. 鈥淚t鈥檚 beautifully done. So much history about model aviation.鈥�
A vast collection of medals, publications and memorabilia celebrating Charles Lindbergh鈥檚 1927 solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean is on display, and the museum鈥檚 library will delight history buffs and airplane enthusiasts of all ages.
鈥淭he collection of model airplane items is truly extensive and unique. Anyone from Greene County or across the globe that has an appreciation for the art and science of flight will enjoy the collection,鈥� Brodak鈥檚 son, Joseph Brodak, wrote in an email. 鈥淚n addition to the airplane items, we have an extensive resource library filled with written reference materials and a replica hobby shop circa 1950s, modeled after the hobby shop in Washington, PA, that my father owned and operated as his first business after he married my mother, Coral.鈥�
The museum鈥檚 grand opening served as the kickoff to the Brodak Memorial Fly-In. Weiss said this year鈥檚 event may be smaller than in previous years 鈥� due to rising gas prices 鈥� but he expects about 100 participants. The event, he noted, is open to the public.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a very homey atmosphere. There are six circles (for contests). They鈥檒l sell slices of pizza, hot dogs, onion rings. A drink is 25 cents. It鈥檚 just keeping with the simpler life, the memories of the past,鈥� Weiss said. 鈥淭his is a tribute to John. Really, it鈥檚 just a wonderful time.鈥�
Those eager to jet-set into a wonderful time can visit The Brodak Museum daily during Fly-In week between 10 a.m. and noon and from 2 to 4 p.m. Following the Fly-In, the museum will be open by appointment only.
For more information on the museum or the Fly-In, visit https://brodak.com.