This publication covers the legendary soviet multipurpose type, the Mi-8 Hip helicopter. As a very first book it describes not only the history and status of the original Mi-8 variants powered by TV2-117 engines starting with the V-8 prototype and the Mi-8MT (for export known as Mi-17) models powered by TV3-117 engines, but also the Mi-8AMT (Mi-171) family up to the latest Mi-8AMTSh-VN special operations variant. Each version is introduced by its development and production history and by the service and export. A separate chapter is dedicated to the detailed description of all Mi-8/17/171 family upgrades done by Belorussian, Bulgarian, Chinese, Czech, Finnish, French, Israeli, Lithuanian, Polish, Serbian, Slovak, South African, Turkish, UAE, UK, Ukrainian, US, Yugoslavian and of course Russian companies. All known special variants and demonstrators are described in detail as well. The publication includes list of export production and also list of re-exports giving to the reader a full idea of the world footprint of the Hip. A detailed technical description is attached highlighting variants' deviations. All variants and upgrades are lavishly illustrated by mostly color pictures including strip-down and walk-around pictures of the helicopter and its systems. Essential reading for aviation enthusiasts & scale aeromodellers.
220 color and b&w photos, plus 8 pages of drawingsAll known versions are listed in the book as are the type's most importantoperators. Many of the variants are illustrated in the book's numerousphotos, most of which will probably not have been seen before in print, outside Russia.
The Argentine designed and built IA-58 Pucará light attack aircraft was developed in the late 1960s in response to a requirement drawn up by the Fuerza Aérea Argentina (Argentine Air Force). After a long developmental period the design went into series production in 1974. The aircraft remains in active service to this day, with the FAA and with several foreign air forces. Best known for its involvement in the Malvinas conflict (Falklands war) in 1982, the Pucará remains an effective and much appreciated warplane. This book tells the full story of the design, development and operational use of the Pucará, including the many upgrades and redesigns tested and planned at various stages. Based on access to Argentine air force sources and archives, and discussions with serving and former Pucará crew, this is the first English-language book to describe this iconic aircraft in such detail. Fully illustrated with many photos, plans, and color profiles, this is an essential book for any aircraft enthusiast and historian.
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE • Look for special features inside. Join the Random House Reader’s Circle for author chats and more. In boyhood, Louis Zamperini was an incorrigible delinquent. As a teenager, he channeled his defiance into running, discovering a prodigious talent that had carried him to the Berlin Olympics. But when World War II began, the athlete became an airman, embarking on a journey that led to a doomed flight on a May afternoon in 1943. When his Army Air Forces bomber crashed into the Pacific Ocean, against all odds, Zamperini survived, adrift on a foundering life raft. Ahead of Zamperini lay thousands of miles of open ocean, leaping sharks, thirst and starvation, enemy aircraft, and, beyond, a trial even greater. Driven to the limits of endurance, Zamperini would answer desperation with ingenuity; suffering with hope, resolve, and humor; brutality with rebellion. His fate, whether triumph or tragedy, would be suspended on the fraying wire of his will. Appearing in paperback for the first time—with twenty arresting new photos and an extensive Q&A with the author—Unbroken is an unforgettable testament to the resilience of the human mind, body, and spirit, brought vividly to life by Seabiscuit author Laura Hillenbrand. Hailed as the top nonfiction book of the year by Time magazine • Winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for biography and the Indies Choice Adult Nonfiction Book of the Year award “Extraordinarily moving . . . a powerfully drawn survival epic.”—The Wall Street Journal “[A] one-in-a-billion story . . . designed to wrench from self-respecting critics all the blurby adjectives we normally try to avoid: It is amazing, unforgettable, gripping, harrowing, chilling, and inspiring.”—New York “Staggering . . . mesmerizing . . . Hillenbrand’s writing is so ferociously cinematic, the events she describes so incredible, you don’t dare take your eyes off the page.”—People “A meticulous, soaring and beautifully written account of an extraordinary life.”—The Washington Post “Ambitious and powerful . . . a startling narrative and an inspirational book.”—The New York Times Book Review “Magnificent . . . incredible . . . [Hillenbrand] has crafted another masterful blend of sports, history and overcoming terrific odds; this is biography taken to the nth degree, a chronicle of a remarkable life lived through extraordinary times.”—The Dallas Morning News “An astonishing testament to the superhuman power of tenacity.”—Entertainment Weekly “A tale of triumph and redemption . . . astonishingly detailed.”—O: The Oprah Magazine “[A] masterfully told true story . . . nothing less than a marvel.”—Washingtonian “[Hillenbrand tells this] story with cool elegance but at a thrilling sprinter’s pace.”—Time “Hillenbrand [is] one of our best writers of narrative history. You don’t have to be a sports fan or a war-history buff to devour this book—you just have to love great storytelling.”—Rebecca Skloot, author of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
This new IISS Strategic Dossier examines the recent development of Moscow’s armed forces and military capabilities. It analyses the aspirations underpinning Russia’s military reform programme and its successes as well as its failures. The book also provides insights into Russia’s operational use of its armed forces, including in the intervention in Syria, the goals and results of recent state armament programmes, and the trajectory of future developments. This full-colour volume includes more than 50 graphics, maps and charts and over 70 images, and contains chapters on: Russia's armed forces since the end of the Cold War Strategic forces Ground forces Naval forces Aerospace forces Russia’s approach to military decision-making and joint operations Economics and industry At a time when Russia’s relations with many of its neighbours are increasingly strained, and amid renewed concern about the risk of an armed clash, this dossier is essential reading for understanding the state,capabilities and future of Russia’s armed forces.
This is the only comprehensive guide to the 124 aircraft and experimental flying machines used by the United States Army since 1947. The definitive reference source on its subject.
This manual is primarily a ready reference to assist the ground observer in aircraft recognition and identification. It provides information on current operational aircraft of the United States and foreign countries, which may be observed worldwide in the combat area. It can be used as source material for personnel conducting unit training in visual aircraft recognition. The procedures in this publication apply throughout the US Army. The data is based on the best information available at the time of publication; however, it is not all-inclusive because of some classification guidelines. This publication, by nature, has a built-in time lag, and some aircraft may still be under development or classified at the time of writing, but may be fielded or unclassified at, or after, publication.
The first recipient of Soviet military hardware in the Americas was Cuba in 1959. Since then the Cuban Air Force has operated the MiG-15 to the MiG-29, An-26 and Il-76MD transports and more. Cuban combat aircraft have seen action against the ships and aircraft used by the CIA in its subversive activities against Cuba. Other Latin American nations have also ordered Russian military aircraft - based on common sense and economic expediency rather than political affiliations. These include Mexico; Brazil; neighboring Colombia; the Argentina Air Force and Bolivia which is among the latest customers for the Mi-17, with plans to use for drug-busting operations. Another major customer for Soviet aircraft was Peru, which ordered An-26 and An-32 transports, MiG-29 fighters, Su-20/Su-22 fighter-bombers and Su-25 attack aircraft. Peruvian Su-22s have been involved in the border conflict with neighboring Ecuador and Soviet aircraft (notably Mi-17 and Mi-24 helicopters) have been actively used by the Sandinista regime in Nicaragua against the US-backed Contras insurgents during the civil war. More recently, Venezuela, another country noted for its anti-US stance, purchased a large batch of Su-30MKV multi-role fighters, as well as Mi-17 and Mi-26 helicopters. Written by the acknowledged experts in the field and illustrated throughout with photographs and color artwork, this is the definitive record of Soviet and Russian military aircraft and their combat operations in this region.
