Skymasters have proven worthy of many modifications. This 1978 turbo model has three-blade props and wingtip mods.

There’s grim truth to the old cliché that when an engine quits in a twin, the second engine only gets you to the scene of the crash. But to fly even that far, you have to avoid rolling the thing due to asymmetric thrust. And that’s exactly what Cessna had in mind when it devised the 337 Skymaster.

The notion was to attack the fundamental engine-out handling problems inherent in the design of conventional twins. Lose one, and you’re immediately fighting the dreaded Vmc rollover. …