There are times when a book comes out that can rightly be called a tome (a large and heavy book). This is one. With 688 pages full of images of every sort from photos to profiles and drawings, there is everything you ever wanted to know about the MiG-29 family from the glimmer of an idea up to its current status. Right here in one book. No need for other sources as nothing has been left out.

Written by one of the world's authorities on Soviet/Russian aviation, Yefim Gordon along with Dimitriy Komissarov, this book starts out looking at the reason that the MiG-29 was developed in the first place. If you think it was a response to the F-15, F-16 and F-18 then you are quite correct. As with all responses, it was important that this aircraft be more than as good as, it had to be better. After all, some five or more years had transpired since the American fighters first flew and technology had advanced. It was important to the Soviet Union that they develop an aircraft that would be the best in the world, and this is the story of that fighter.

I could easily go into a long discussion of the book, but perhaps it would be best to give you the chapter titles, as they will tell as much about what is here as anything.

1. Taking shape
2. Learning to Fly
3. Into production, the first generation Fulcrum
4. Fulcrum anatomy
5. A step towards a new generation
6. Pushing for the Navy
7. Mig-29 SMT: New wine into old flasks
8. Generation 4++: on the deck again
9. Generation 4++: the land based versions
10. In Service
11 Fulcrum far and wide

In the appendices you get specs for the full family, a production listing, and accident/attrition data. 

This is a second edition that carries the Fulcrum story from where it left off 12 years ago. It results in over 150 additional pages with only a couple of dollars increase in price. There is full coverage of both iterations of the carrier borne MiG-29M as well as the land based version of the second MiG-29M aircraft, now called the MiG-35. The aircraft has been involved in a considerable amount of combat over the prevailing years since the initial edition and that is all covered in this updated book. The type has also been sold to a number of additional nations and you get the stories and photos of those included as well.

The book is full of high quality images, superb profiles and outstanding drawings. The detail into which the we see the design, construction and operation of the aircraft is second to none. Not only that, but it is not a boring, plodding book, but the story is told in such a way as to keep your interest. I know it kept mine. It's sheer size is such that it will not be a quick read as it took me a goodly amount of time to read, but it is well worth it.

If you don't get the idea by now, this one makes all your other references to the type obsolete. Take them to the flea markets, sell them off, and buy this book. It is that good.

September 2019

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