Title: Soviet Wings - Modern Soviet Military Aircraft
Author: Alexander M. Dzhus
Publisher/Date: Greenhill Books, 1991
Format: Hardback, color, 192p
Availability: Out of print (I think), but available in the used book market
Review:
This is a somewhat older book, but is still a very good source of photo-reference for modern Soviet/Russian military aviation. The book was edited and introduced by John W. R. Taylor of Jane's All The World's Aircraft. Remembering your history, this book's original publishing date and subject material came fresh on the heels of the end of the Soviet Union. As such, it was a rare and thorough look at Russian aviation at the time. The photographer, Dzhus, is Russian and was given full access to various bases, units and aircraft types for the making of this book. The resulting book is really quite good.
I am a fan of Russian aviation, but I have to say that the book flap and the few pages that serve as an introduction are clearly a case of some flag-waving Soviet motherland admiration. That aside, what follows are roughly 169 pages of very good photography of most everything used in Russian aviation at that time. Included are fighters, ground attack, bombers, transports, and even some common helos and naval types. There are some older types (Tu-16), but being a book on modern Soviet aviation, you won't find any MiG teenagers or the Fishbed, etc.
Not all of the pics are crystal clear, but usually it's because those shots are of aircraft in flight or early/late in the day "mood" shots. That being said, it really is a proper coffee table book with beautiful photography of some very interesting aircraft types. At the end of the book are plan drawings (sorry, no measurements) with aircraft data on each featured type.
Conclusions: Overall, I'd have to highly recommend this book. It isn't a hard-core modelers' reference, but rather offers some very attractive photography on most major aircraft types in service with the Soviets at the end of the Cold War. Many of the pics aren't to be found anywhere else, and when you consider that you can find the book for less than $10 in most cases, it's really a steal if you're into modern Soviet aviation.
(c) SovietWarplanes, 2004