[Llarry]

Jeff Ethell was, like me, born in 1947 and the son of a World War II fighter pilot. His dad flew Lockheed P-38 Lightnings during the war.

Jeff was a prolific writer of aviation books on warbirds. In particular he had a knack for finding color photos of older subjects.

He also flew warbirds; I believe he flew most of the Allied fighters of World War II at one time or another, and a few Axis aircraft as well.

Jeff was killed in 1997 while practicing for an airshow in a P-38 when he had an engine failure. An engine failure in a high-performance twin-engine aircraft can lead to an uncommanded roll onto the aircraft's back, I believe, and that phenomenon has killed many an unwary pilot at low altitude.

These days an engine failure on a twin-jet commercial aircraft is not a life-threatening event. Modern turbofan engines are exceptionally reliable, but the crew can cope well with the failure of one engine.

If one of our aviator members cares to weigh in, I'd appreciate it.