INSIDE 60521
UP, UP AND
AWAY by Haleigh Monyek | Photography by Marco Nunez
T
he buttons flickered to life. The propeller at the front started whirring faster and faster. Through my headphones, the control tower gave us the go-head signal. “Alpha Kilo, you are ready for take off.” With a burst of energy, the plane sprinted down the runway. As I pulled back on the lever, the plane tilted skyward. We were airborne. My jaw dropped; I was flying a plane. Dozens of hangars surround DuPage Airport in West Chicago, and Hinsdale residents Ken and Lori Phlamm own one of those hangers: Travel Express Aviation (TEA). “Thirty-five years ago, this was one of the larger airports,” Ken Phlamm said. “This is where you went to do flight training.” With a 24-hour control tower laced with cutting-edge aviation technology, the
24 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com
HINSDALE BOY SCOUTS TROOP 52 Along the wings of a Cirrus SR22 G3 Turbo are Troop 52 Boy Scouts David Phlamm, Ben Wychocki, Joe Lucaccioni, Nick Lucaccioni, Collin Butler and Bryan Phlamm.