Above: '005 Black' (c/n 005?), a prototype of the Yakovlev Shmel'-1, with the wings folded. Note the 'fishbowl' nose housing a TV camera (with an opaque top tokeep the sunlight out), the lateral bulge of unknown purpose and the strange colour scheme with a camouflaged top and orange/black undersides/wing stripes.

A production Russian Army Pchela-1T in a more normal camouflage scheme is about to be catapulted from its tracked launch/control vehicle.

120

Above: A pause in the pre-launch procedures presumably caused by the LeV's engine overheating, as indicated by the open engine compartment cover. Notethe fire extinguisher cart.

The Pchela-H is catapulted from the launch rail on a rocket-propelled sled.

121

Above: Another view of a Pchela-H (izdeliye 6H) blasting off. The rocket booster bottles are remarkably small and have an almost spherical shape, making aninteresting comparison with the cylindrical units used for the original Pchela-1 (izdeliye 60).

The booster charge already spent, the launcher sled rolls back as the Pchela-1T becomes airborne and climbs away.

122

Above: The ground crew inspects the LeV with the launcher sled arrested at the top of the rail to see if everything is all right.

Pchela-1T '023 Black' (c/n 023?) in three-tone camouflage at the MAKS-99 airshow. This aircraft previously wore a smart civil-style colour scheme and Shmel'titles on the stabiliserlpropeller duct. Note the ground power connectors with red 'remove before flight' covers.

123

Above: A typical production Pchela-H coded '777 Red'. JUdging by what is stencilled on the wings,this machine is c/n 5950611207408, although the tail unitassembly comes from a different example (c/n 5950611207340).

A model of the Albatross VTUAV developed by the Yakovlev OKS, shown here with the monowheel retracted; note the sprung skids under the tailplane tips.

124

Above: A model of the Yakovlev OKS's Expert UAV designed for commercial applications. The aircraft is much smaller than one might think. The white band onthe tailboom indicates the propeller rotation plane.

Another view of the Expert UAV model.

125

Above: Front view of a Dan' jet-powered target drone developed by the Sokol Design Bureau. This example appears to have a tracer at each wingtip.

A Dan' drone serialled '24' is lifted from a truck bed with the wings folded for storage. No engine is fitted yet.

126

Above: Propelled by a rocket booster, a Dan' target drone streaks away from the launch ramp which is barely visible in the smoke pall on the left.

Another product of the Sokol Design Bureau, this small target drone utilising a twin-boom layout with an inverted-V tail makes do with a pneumatic catapultmounted on an UAZ-3303 4x4 dropside 'truckster'.

127

We hope you enjoyedthis book ...

Midland Publishing titles are editedand designed by an experienced andenthusiastic team of specialists.

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In addition, our associate, MidlandCounties Publications, offers anexceptionally wide range of aviation,military, naval and transport books andvideos for sale by mail-order worldwide.

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US distribution by Specially Press -see page 2.

Earlier titles in the series:

Vals 1 to 3 are still availableVo1.4: Early Soviet Jet FightersVo1.5: Yakovlev's Piston-Engined FightersVo1.6: Polikarpov's Biplane FightersVol.?: Tupolev Tu-4 Soviet SuperfortressVol.S: Russia's EkranoplansVo1.9: Tupolev Tu-160 BlackjackVol.tO: Lavochkin's Piston-Engined FightersVo1.11: MyasishchevM-4 & 3MVol.12: Antonov's Turboprop Twins

Red Star Volume 16SUKHOI INTERCEPTORSThe Su-9/-11/-15 and other types... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......Yefim Gordon

From 1953 Sukhoi produced aline ofdelta-winged interceptors including theSu-9 in 1958 followed in 1959 by theT-47/Su-11. Anew line was started in1960 with the twinjet T-58 whichentered production as the Su-15. Thisaircraft remained akey element of theSoviet Air Defence Force well into the1980s. Various versions of the Su-15are detailed, as are the experimentalPT-7/PT-8, T-49 and the unusual two-seat P-1 heavy interceptor.

Softback, 280 x 215 mm, 128 pages189 b/w photos,14pp of colour,plus line drawings.1 85780 180 6 18.99

Red Star Volume 13MIKOYAN'S PISTON-ENGINED FIGHTERS

Yefim Gordon and Keith Dexter

Describes the early history of thefamous Mikoyan OKB and the aircraftthat were developed. The first was the1-200 of 1940 which entered limitedproduction in 1941 as the MiG-1 andwas developed into the MiG-3 high-altitude interceptor. Experimentalversions covered include the MiG-9,the 1-220/225 series and 1-230 series.Aseparate chapter deals with the 1-200(DIS or MiG-5) long-range heavy escortfighter.

Softback, 280 x 215 mm, 128 pages195 b/w photos, 6pp of colour artwork,1Opp of line drawings.1 85780 160 1 18.99

Red Star Volume 17EARLY SOVIET JET BOMBERSThe 1940s and Early 1950s

Yefim Gordon

The Soviet Union put German technologyto good use when developing its ownjet bombers. The first to fly in the USSRwas the Junkers EF131. This wasfollowed by the EF140 and the equallyunusual T-tailed, Baade 'aircraft 150'.The first wholly indigenous jet bomberwas the four-engined IL-22 of 1947.Other experimentaillyushins - the IL-30,IL-46 and IL-54 are described, as arethe Tupolev 'aircraft 77', 'aircraft 82'and the 'aircraft 72/73/78' series.

Softback, 280 x 215 mm, 128 pages116 b/w photos, 57 b/w illustrations,14pp of line drawings.1 85780 181 4 18.99

Red Star Volume 14MIL Mi-8IMi-17Rotary-Wing Workhorse and Warhorse

Yefim Gordon and Dmitriy Komissarov

Since 1961, when it first took to the air,the basic design of the Mi-8 has evolved.Every known version, both civil andmilitary, is covered, including electronicwarfare, minelaying and minesweepingand SAR. It also served as abasis forthe Mi-14 amphibious ASW helicopter.

Over the years the Mi-8 family havebecome veritable aerial workhorses,participating in countless wars ofvarying scale. The type is probably.bestknown for its service in the Afghan War.

Softback, 280 x 215 mm, 128 pages179 b/w and 32 colour photographs,plus line drawings.1 85780 161 X 18.99

Red Star Volume 18ANTONOV'S HEAVYTRANSPORTS

YGordon, 0 and SKomissarov

In recent times the Antonov designbureau has created anumber of heavytransport types. In this volume the An-22four turboprop aircraft is examined indetail as is the An-124, the Sovietanswer to the C-5 Galaxy. Originallydesigned as amilitary freighter theAn-124 has also found aniche in the civilmarket, as has its outsize six-engineddevelopment the An-225. The book iscompleted by ahistory and descriptionof the propfan driven An-70 tacticaltransport, which is under development.

Softback, 280 x 215 mm, 128 pages189 b/w photos, 15pp of colour1 85780 182 2 18.99

Red Star Volume 15ANTONOV AN-2Annushka, Maid of All Work

Yefim Gordon and Dmitriy Komissarov

Initially derided as 'obsolete at themoment of birth' due to its biplanelayout, this aircraft has put the scepticsto shame. It may lack the glamour ofthe fast jets, but it has proved itself timeand time again as an indispensable andlong-serving workhorse. The An-2,which first flew in 1947, has beenoperated by more than 40 nations.

The An-2 is the only biplane transportwhich remained in service long enoughto pass into the 21 st centuryl

Softback, 280 x 215 mm, 128 pagesc200 b/w and 28 colour photographs,plus line drawings.1 85780 162 8 18.99

Red Star Volume 19SOVIET HEAVYINTERCEPTORS

Yefim Gordon

In the nervous 1950s, the Soviet Unionfaced the task of defending its bordersagainst intrusions by Western spyplanesor bomber attacks. Aircraft developed forthis priority long-range interception taskincluded Mikoyan's 1-3, 1-7U, 1-75 andYe-152 which paved the way for theMiG-25, Sukhoi's T-37, terminatedbefore it had achance to fly, andTupolev's Tu-128 - so huge it wasmistaken for amedium bomber in theWest.

Softback, 280 x 215 mm, 128 pages159 b/w photos, 12pp of colour,plus 23pp of line drawings1 85780 191 1 18.99

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