Kudlak Brothers: Michael, Andrew, and Joseph
Kudlak Brothers: Michael, Andrew, and Joseph
Andrew Kudlak was born on December 16, 1911 in North Tonawanda, New York. His younger brothers, Michael and Joseph were born in Austin, Pennsylvania on September 18, 1913 and March 4, 1918, respectively. The Kudlak family moved to Erie in the late 1920’s after a major flood in Austin. All three brothers graduated from East High School and earned their pilot’s licenses shortly thereafter.
After graduating high school, Andrew entered the US Army Air Force during World War II and was assigned as a fighter pilot instructor. Michael joined the US Army Air Corps in 1942. He taught US Army Air Corps pilots to fly and was the chief flight examiner for his base. Joseph entered the US Air Command during World War II. He was a crew chief on a B-29 and taught B-29 maintenance procedures. After being honorably discharged from the service, all three continued with careers in flying. The brothers purchased the Erie County Airport in 1946 and built two hangars and an administration building. Their operation was called Erie County Flying Service with Michael as President, Joseph as Vice President, and Andrew as Secretary-Treasurer, Chief Pilot, and Flight Examiner. Services offered at Erie County Flying Service included a flight school, corporate flight services, and aircraft sales and service. They were the only flight school with authorized training for flight in Instrument Flight (IFR) conditions within 200 miles and were the Civil Aeronautics Board authorized instructors for the approval of Instrument Flight licenses required for commercial pilots.
Their operation was so successful that the Kudlak brothers moved their operation to the Port Erie Airport in 1957 and their business was renamed Erie Airways, Inc. During the next 20 years, the Kudlak brothers built hangars and expanded air taxi operations, air charter operations, aviation fuel sales, and line services for general aviation aircraft and air carrier service. Erie Airways, Inc. also provided aircraft rental and sightseeing services, repair and maintenance of aircraft, the sale of aircraft parts, and US Government contracts for aerial survey. They furnished corporate flight services for large Erie based companies including: Hammermill Paper Company, General Electric, Lord Corporation, Zurn Industries, and AMSCO among many others.
The Kudlak brothers were true aviation pioneers in the State of Pennsylvania. They were one of the original general aviation pilots and developers of the full service Fixed Based Operator (FBO) industry in the United States. The vision and leadership of Michael Kudlak with his brother Andrew and Joseph helped facilitate the growth of both general and corporate aviation operations at the Erie International Airport. To recognize these contributions, the Airport Authority passed a resolution on August 20, 1979 applauding Michael Kudlak’s 22 years of leadership in the field of general aviation and the resulting benefits to the aviation community. On August 12, 1983 the Millcreek Township Supervisors held a dedication ceremony for the naming of Kudlak Drive, the road behind the Erie Airways hangars off of Asbury Road.
Joseph Kudlak passed away on January 3, 1981.
Michael Kudlak passed away on May 5, 1983.
Andrew Kudlak passed away on May 12, 2012.