Laland Booth and his wife moved in 1990—after the construction work disappeared in Arkansas and new opportunities in the chemical industry arose in Florida—leaving the family behind in Ft. Smith, Ark. That included his parents who are now in a nursing home.

“That left my sister there all alone to care and be there for them,” Booth said. “I really didn’t feel moving was fair to her, but we had to because of the job situation.”

The solution was a 1964 Beechcraft BE55 Baron. Booth had gotten his certificate in 1988 but had quit flying for two or three years. It was time to return to flying, although he was “blown away” by the changes in avionics and GPS navigation that he had to learn to get current. He went on to get his commercial certificate and is working on the certified flight instructor rating.

It was the right thing to do. Without his aircraft, Laland and his family faced a 16.5-hour drive (if you stop only for gas and a candy bar) or a 4.5-hour flight. He breaks up the flight with a comfort stop in Meridian, Miss., for his family. He makes the trip a half-dozen times a year. General aviation means he doesn’t miss the Fourth of July family reunion with nearly 100 people in attendance, and he enjoys Christmas with the entire family. —By Alton K. Marsh