Customer Reviews

Mikoyan MiG-31 (Famous Russian Aircraft)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Yefim Gordon has done it again. He has cranked out yet another great book on Russian/fSoviet aircraft and weapons systems. In this book Yefim covers the MiG-31 Foxhound. There are in depth statistics, including Radar modes and performance, Weapon system modes and performance, Weapons, and the general aircraft performance. About the only think I see wrong in the book is that it was apparently written LONG before 2005 publish date. I would guess the book was actually written in 1999-2000 due to the references to new production ideas from 2000 as the latest reference in the book. I am glad I added this book to my extensive Military Aircraft library. I will continue to pick up other books from this series by Yefim.


I am amending all my FRA reviews with the below datasheet:
I weight the last three far heavier than the first three for my overall score

Translation errors (lower score for more errors) 4.75 (only one error found)
On topic Data (Better is higher) 4.5
Pertinent comparisons to similar aircraft 5.0
Data errors from table to text (Lower for more errors) 4.5
Aircraft Sub-Variant data breakdown 4.5
Specific data on Weapons carried 4.5

One wouldn't think so based on his prodigious output.

If this first volume in a new series, "Famous Russian Aircraft", doesn't bury the common perception that the MiG-31 is just a warmed over MiG-25 it's hard to imagine just what would. This is a superb book in just about every regard. About the only slip ups noted were a.) a lack of captions for the jacket photos and b.) inconsistency about which pylons the ferry tanks are hung on. The early western artist's impression on p. 56 is taken to task for showing them on the outer pylons yet all photos and drawings in the book show them on the outer pylons as well!

There were a few unexpected omissions in a book with such high production values:

1.) No index.
2.) No glossary/list of acronyms.
3.) No maps. For a book aimed primarily at a non Russian audience this is really a serious shortcoming.
4.) No production list, although for an aircraft still in Russian service this is understandable.

I shall definitely be checking out other titles in this series. I sincerely hope this series doesn't mean the end of Midland's Red Star series. No new titles have been announced in some time. Maybe there are only 24 hours in Gordon's day...

The definitive book on the Mig 31 with excellent photos and technical information

A cross sectional cut-out view would have been nice - a good comparison with the F-14 Tomcat - this is one book where Yefim Gordon has done justice to a cold war warrior

Great book, best I've seen the MiG-31. Very good line drawings and outstanding photography. Great descriptions on the avionics, especially the phased array radar modes. I would however like to see more of flying the aircraft from the pilot's perspective. The F-14 comparison is good but the '31 isn't really a fighter.

perhaps Yefim Gordon's best work on a single aircraft. PLenty of high quality pictures, as well as an indepth look at the aircrafts operational and development history. This is defeinetly a must buy for anyone interested in Russian aviation. The section comparing the mig-31 to the f-14 is very interesting, although in my opinion it is slightly biased.