Russian Aviation and Air Power in the Twentieth Century (Cass Series--Studies in Air Power, 7)

In the light of new archival material the editors take a fresh look at Russian aviation in the twentieth century. Presenting a comprehensive view of Russian aviation, from its genesis in the late czarist period to the present era, the approach is essentially chronological with a major emphasis on the evolution of military aviation. The contributions are diverse, with appropriate attention to civilian and institutional themes. In 1977, Robin Higham and Jacob Kipp edited Soviet Aviation and Air Power, the first comprehensive study of Russian aviation. This new volume brings together both new editors and new contributors to take a fresh look at Russian and Soviet aviation in the twentieth century.

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990, new archives have become available as well as new perspectives, and all the contributors to this new volume have based their research on newly available material. While some chapters update those in the 1997 work, most break new ground, such as those dealing with the aircraft industry, the designers, and Soviet Air combat on the periphery.

The Editors' Introduction places the Russians in the history of aviation in the twentieth century, in terms of design, manufacturing, combat, diplomacy and civil aviation. Thus it is now possible to measure activities over Mother Russia against global developments in this first 100 years of aviation. While the Red Air Force reached its peak during the Great Patriotic War, Aeroflot was only approaching its own zenith when it was broken up by the emergence of the Commonwealth of Independent States after the demise of the Soviet Union.

Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents Illustrations Contributors Series Editor's Preface Introduction 1 Early Flight in Russia 2 From Chaos to the Eve of the Great Patriotic War, 1922-41 3 Soviet Frontal Aviation during the Great Patriotic War, 1941-45 4 Aviation and the Transformation of Combined-Arms Warfare, 1941-45 5 Russian and Soviet Naval Aviation, 1908-96 6 The Aviation Industry, 1917-97 7 The Designers: Their Design Bureaux and Aircraft 8 The Defense of Russian Aerospace 9 Air Combat on the Periphery: The Soviet Air Force in Action during the Cold War, 1945-89 10 The Rise and Fall of Aeroflot: Civil Aviation in the Soviet Union, 1920-91 Epilogue Acknowledgements and Further Reading Index "In 1977, Robin Higham and Jacob Kipp edited Soviet Aviation and Air Power, the first comprehensive study of Russian aviation. This new volume brings together both new editors and new contributors, to take a fresh look at Russian and Soviet aviation in the twentieth century." "Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990, new archives have become available as well as new perspectives, and all the contributors to this new volume have based their research on newly available material. While some chapters update those in the 1977 work, most break new ground, such as those dealing with the aircraft industry, the designers, and Soviet Air combat on the periphery."--BOOK JACKET