Utterly encyclopedic! This book covers just about everything you could ever want to know about the genesis, development, and operational history of Mikoyan's "supersonic sports plane". About the only thing I would want to see added (as a long time scale modeler) would be topside views for the camouflage profiles. Just about all users of the plane ( a LONG list) has a color side view and fleet serial numbers. Just outstanding and definitely worth the money.

First Impression
It has been a while since any serious new publication on the MiG-21 Fishbed appeared in the market and it seems everything on this Soviet aircraft has been said and done. This is true until I received a copy of this new book published by Midland under the "Famous Russian Aircraft" label. It covers everything (actually more) we already knew about MiG-21 but in greater details and much better illustrations. I lost count of the number of pictures (over 1,000), line drawings and colour profiles in the book because they are of very high quality and really attracted my attention during my read. This book is very heavy (7 lb.), hardcover with dust-jacket, 720 pages (2 inches thick). Ask for extra protection if you mail order this book to avoid damages to such a great collectible item.

The Book
A brief description of the 12 parts of this book:-
(1) The Origin of the Family - Design and concept (49 pages)
(2) Off to a Fine Start - Prototypes and testing (49 pages)
(3) The Interceptors - Production and deployment (34 pages)
(4) Mass Production - MiG-21 in Service (76 pages)
(5) The Trainers - MiG-21 Trainer version (20 pages)
(6) Experiments and Projects - (36 pages)
(7) Beyond the Great Wall - (92 pages)
(8) In Soviet Air Force Service - (18 pages)
(9) MiG-21 at War (44 pages)
(10) Face to Face with the Adversary (8 pages)
(11) The MiG-21 in Detail - Close-up photos and line drawings (42 pages)
(12) MiG-21 Operators - Fishbed in foreign services (247 pages)

If you are a Soviet/Russian military aircraft enthusiast, clear up some space on your bookshelf for this book. Any one who is interested in learning more about MiG-21, don't look elsewhere and pick up one of this. THIS IS THE BEST MONEY CAN BUY.