Tupolev Tu-95/142 (Russian Aircraft in Action) [Hardcover]

Yefim Gordon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 6, 2005

The beginning of the Cold War and the perceived need by Soviet political and military leaders to deliver nuclear strikes against the continental USA led the Soviet Union to develop new delivery vehicles -- primarily strategic bombers. Thus, in 1951 the Tupolev Design Bureau brought out the Tu-95. Known to the West as the Bear, this machine was unique in that it combined turboprop engines with swept wings -- a feature which accounted for the bomber's impressive top speed of 910 km/h.The basic bomber soon became a symbol of the Soviet threat and the progenitor of a whole family of combat aircraft which included missile carriers, an over-the-horizon targeting version working with missile submarines, reconnaissance versions, a long-range ocean anti-submarine warfare aircraftwhich was sufficiently different to receive a separate designation (Tu-142), a communications relay version, and assorted test beds. The Tu-95 also served as the basis for the impressive Tu-114 long-haul airliner. Some of the Bear's versions remain in service to this day.This book contains approximately 200 black-and-white photos illustrating the type's development and service from inception to the present day. Photos include detailed captions

Product Details

• Hardcover: 80 pages
• Publisher: Specialty Press / Polygon Press (March 6, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932525009
• ISBN-13: 978-1932525007
• Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,035,619 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Short, but Rich Look at the Bear Bomber by the Master of Soviet Aviation, June 24, 2005

By 

A. G. Corwin - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tupolev Tu-95/142 (Russian Aircraft in Action) (Hardcover)

Yefim Gordon has once again delivered to the aviation enthusiast a book well worth the $12 cost. Though only 72 pages long, the book provides detail of the design, development, and manufacture of the Tupolev Tu-95/142 BEAR. This beautiful airplane, long a fixture of the sky off the NATO coasts, has a rich history that is done justice by Gordon.

Including a wealth of photographs from Gordon's personal collection, Soviet archives, and from Tupolev OKB, no angle, modification, or electronics package is left unturned. Gordon produces exactly what you want in an aircraft study, although more full color pictures would be an added bonus.
Well worth the purchase.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Mostly a picture book, February 2, 2006

By 

T. Vasquez (Norman, OK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tupolev Tu-95/142 (Russian Aircraft in Action) (Hardcover)

I had wanted a book along the lines of the Aerofax series with engineering and history, and this wasn't quite it. There are only 4 pages filled with information. The rest is just captioned pictures (lots of color, granted). The big shortfall is that there are no interior photos at all. I'm having to return it as it isn't quite what I wanted.