This edition is on the near legendary IL-2 Shturmovik, an aircraft that was produced in prodigious numbers, mainly because it was effective, and I guess you can't ask more than that. It was also lost as very high rates compared to other types, the average aircraft lasting 55.5 sorties and when you consider that this takes in ALL IL-2s, including those in backwater areas and training units, you can see that a lot were lost.

However, this was the Soviet way of doing things; send in large numbers and some will be bound to get through.

Initially a single seat design of all metal construction, the need to conserve strategic materials meant that wood was eventually used for the wings and rear fuselage/tailplane sections until a sufficient amount of aluminum was available later in the war. It was also discovered that having a rear gunner was a good thing to help defend against Luftwaffe fighters so a rear gun position was added. This changed the balance of the plane so the outer wing panels were swept back to compensate. Eventually over 26,000 were produced and the type went on to serve in the air forces of Poland, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria and Yugoslavia.

4+ books have a deserved reputation for excellence and this one falls well into that category. There is a Czech insert for the historical and specifications section, but the rest is all in English. There are outstanding period photographs, and I am quite pleased that the editors have chosen to include clear and crisp images as they are very much an asset to the book. Also included are 4+s highly respected scale drawings in 1/72 showing all the possible salient features of the IL-2

A number of superbly done profiles are included as are color photos of many of the extant airframes from museums around the world. The close-up sections include both museum and period photographs, making for a most well-rounded edition.

Overall, this is a superb book that is both an interesting read and a great reference. One that I can recommend to you without reservation. Your local stockist or hobby shop should be able to order this for you

Review copy courtesy of 4+. In the US, contact 4+ N.A., 855  Bebout Road, Venetia PA  15367

E-mail: x4plus@fyi.net TEL/FAX: 724 941 8755. To see the full line visit www.4pluspublications.com

October 2006

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