S u m m a r y
|
Catalog Number: |
Famous
Russian Aircraft Series Sukhoi Su-27 |
ISBN: |
1857802474 |
Media: |
hard
cover, 591 pages |
Price: |
GBP35.00 from Ian Allan Publishing |
Review Type: |
First Read |
Advantages: |
The new standard reference
on the Su-27 |
Disadvantages: |
|
Recommendation: |
Highly Recommended |
Reviewed by Ken Bowes
Red Star's "Lavochkin's Last
Jets" will be
available online from Squadron
In an unusual move given the lack of potential market in the
Australian Pacific Region, the Russians appeared in force at the
1995 Avalon Airshow. Amongst the many Russian aircraft types on
display was Su-27PD Flanker “598” white. At that time the Flanker
was still a novelty in the west, although 388 and 389 Blue had
appeared at a Paris and Singapore (where they had been involved in a
widely publicised air to air photo shoot with a 75SQN RAAF F/A-18
Hornet).
Now in 1995 here was one of the latest generation Russian
fighters, considered the equivalent of the F-15 Eagle, being thrown
around the skies of Victoria in its vivid Lyotchiki-ispytahteli
(Test Pilots) aerobatic team scheme of red and blue. All the trade
mark moves were made including the “Cobra”, then a move which
startled Western analysts with the manoeuvrability of the Flanker.
Also displayed for the first time was the refuelling
capability fitted for the first time on a land-based Su-27, with a
pass made with an Il-78 Midas tanker.
Images from Ken Bowes
personal collection of the Su-27 visit to the 1995 Avalon Airshow. Click the thumbnails
below to view larger images:
[../../../photogallery/photo00018658/real.htm]
Whilst the significance of some of this was lost on me at the
time, twelve years passing and Yefim Gordon’s new book in the Famous
Russian Fighter Series have sheeted it home. Until the publication
of this book, the bible on Su-27s was Andrei Fomin’s “Su-27 Flanker
Story”. Gordon’s volume, which greatly expands on his previous Red
Star and Warbird Tech books, renders Fomin’s work somewhat obsolete.
This book is a real treat, a 600 pages hard-cover volume with almost
1000 colour photographs which makes this book a must have for those
with an interest in modern fighter aircraft. Having just been
published it of course benefits from new information on foreign
users as well as new generation developments in the Su-30 family.
The Flanker, both new build and refurbished, has been widely
exported in recent years with countries as diverse as Angola, China,
Ethiopia, India and Indonesia depicted in text and photographs
giving modellers a variety of inspiration.
This book covers all the ground one would expect of it. Genesis as
the USSR’s new fourth generation heavy weight fighter and counter to
the F-15, leads to a description of the design and development of
the Flanker. An examination of the Flanker family tree, both first
and second generation an extended look at the naval variant follows.
Sections of the book are also devoted to the Su-30 and Su-32/34
families. The service history of the Flanker and its now many
operators as well as a whole chapter devoted to display flying of
the Su-27 round out the history side. The Russian Knights are but
one of several teams and individual display aircraft covered in this
chapter.
Click the thumbnails
below to view larger images:
[../../../photogallery/photo00007620/real.htm]
Concluding this book and of great use to modellers, is a section
on structural design, systems and armament grouped under an “In
Detail” chapter. This is the section where the reader will find the
large clear detailed shots of such areas as the cockpit and airframe
that will be of immense use in creating a detailed model. Add line
drawings of all variants, almost 100 colour side profiles and a
detailed list of serial numbers by user nation and yet again Yefim
Gordon and Ian Allan Publishing have provided the ultimate reference
on a significant Russian fighter.
The book will serve both fans of Russian aviation and modellers
well. With good models (all with some flaws mind you) in all
popular scales, and a new Su-30MK kit due in 1/32 some time soon
from Trumpeter it will I suspect prove both popular and valuable as
a reference.
Highly recommended.
Thanks to Simon of DLS Australia for the review
sample
The Red Star series may
be purchased from
www.midlandcountiessuperstore.com
Review Copyright © 2007 by
Ken Bowes
This Page Created on 27 July, 2007
Last updated
24 December, 2007
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