Red Star
Volume 21

Antonov’s Jet Twins

The An-72/-74 Family

by

Yefim Gordon & Dmitriy Komissarov

Reviewed by Ken Bowes

HyperScale is proudly sponsored by Squadron
 

The latest edition from Midland’s Red Star Series is number 21 in a prolific and long-running series.

Covered in this volume by Yefim Gordon and collaborator Dmitrity Komissarov is the Antonov An-72/74 COALER series of tactical jet airlifters Reminiscent of the US YC-14 and YC-15 airlifter designs of the 1970s, the AN-72 family is characterised by the jet engines mounted high on the wing-leading edge and contributing to its STOL capability. As with all the Red Star series this volume covers initial concept, development of sub-types, in-service history (both military and civil) and world-wide service of export variants. One version not addressed in this volume though is the An-71 MADCAP carrier-borne AEW&C aircraft. Gordon notes that this version will be addressed in a future volume on Russian AEW&C types. 

Whilst a volume on the COALER may seem of narrow interest it is worth remembering that the Ukrainian company Toko produced a nice model of the type in 1/72 scale a few years ago and this book will provide some worthy inspiration for modellers who have one in the pending pile. Particularly useful are the colour photos of the variety of camouflage schemes worn on Russian military airframes, as are the details of antenna, radome and counter-measures fits seen on the type over the years. Whilst production of the COALER has yet to cease and it is still a source of valuable income of the Antonov concern in Ukraine, it remains that Gordon has picked a good point in the type’s career to document its history. 

The book will serve aviation historians and modellers well.  

Recommended.

Thanks to Simon of DLS Australia for the review sample

The Red Star series may be purchased from www.midlandcountiessuperstore.com

Review Copyright © 2005 by Ken Bowes
This Page Created on 09 November, 2005
Last updated 09 November, 2005

Back to HyperScale Main Page

Back to Reviews Page