James Rossi, who was known to his friends as Jimmy, grew up in a traveling circus. He was a rodeo trick roper and rider through his college years. He also worked at local airports in exchange for flying lessons, soloing a J-3 Cub on his 16th birthday and earning his Private Pilot's license on his 17th birthday.

After his military service was completed, he flew as an aerobatic instructor, production test pilot, and charter pilot. He was hired by American Airlines in the late 1960s. He was type rated in a dozen planes from DC-3 to Boeing 747/57/67, and enjoyed flying international.

A long-time aerobatic competitor, Jimmy was named to the 1981 US Team and won the 1982 International Aerobatic Club Unlimited Championship at Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. He also flew jet aerobatic airshows in his Iskra (TS-11), MiG 15, MiG 17, and his F-86 "CrapShooter."

On November 4, 2002, while leaving an airshow, "CrapShooter" experienced catastrophic engine failure. Rather than jump out and risk letting the aircraft go down near homes, Jimmy stayed with his ship and both were lost while trying to dead stick in.

Jimmy is survived by his wife, Barbara, and son Jimmy, Jr.