Il-2 Shturmovik: Red Avenger

Ayant fait le tour de tout ce qui a été écrit récemment sur cet avion, je décerne la palme à ce livre bien qu'il ne soit pas parfait. Le principal reproche concerne le format réduit qui nuit à la qualité des documents photographiques au profit d'un prix très contenu pour 250 pages. L'histoire de la production de l'avion est très détaillée : rien d'étonnant puisque l'auteur est un contributeur majeur du site internet de référence de Massimo Tessitori auquel je dois toute ma compréhension du sujet. Pratique de l'anglais de rigueur bien évidemment, les amateurs d'aéronautique de cette période en ont pris l'habitude avec quelques regrets, la maison d'Editions Lela Presse ne pouvant à elle seule combler les vides sidéraux des publications en langue française en dépit de ses louables efforts et initiatives. Sur le sujet marginal des tous premiers Shturmoviks, le livre d'Herbert Léonard est toujours une source incontournable puisqu'il est le seul à fournir un plan trois vues de qualité de ces premiers appareils de 1941 assez différents de la masse de la production de guerre : pour le reste, bien que ne datant que de 1999, ce Docavia est daté sur le sujet de l'Il-2, mais il ne traite pas que de lui et mérite toujours d'être lu. Lui aussi. Recommandé.

The book carefully explains the complicated production of the Il-2 with emphasis on history and model making. The history of the Eastern Front is very concise and, for once, comprehensible. Finally someone has made an effort to actually map what they are talking about, although the maps are too small and very difficult to read--as always. Some readers who might be well versed in the history of the Eastern Front might find this basic version of this history to be distracting and unnecessary for understanding the Il-2, but I found it helpful if not very useful in describing the Il-2. Others would argue that the book's coverage of Eastern Front history provides valuable context for understanding the Il-2. Certainly, some history is necessary for understanding the evolution of Il-2 tactics throughout the war, and the author covers this quite well. Description of the Il-2 is very thorough. Unfortunately for modelers, it is not very helpful because every factory was making major changes to the Il-2 at different times during the war, and these change were not very well documented. So the modeler is left with a lot of guesswork if the specific Il-2 was not well photographed. Did it have wooden or metal outer wings? Did it have a wooden or metal rear fuselage? Did it have swept wings or straight wings? The book carefully explains this dilemma. The author also supplies a very thorough and helpful review of the various Il-2 model kits that are available. There are a few very bad run-on sentences throughout the book. Some of them are so bad that one must read them several times before understanding them, but the book is very readable for the most part. The author includes a nice color photo section and color profiles of some Il-2's. He also covers camouflage and dispels some misinterpretations about this subject. In summary, this is the best book on the Il-2 that I have read. I have only read one other book on the subject, so I am no expert, but, in my opinion, "Il-2 Shturmovik Red Avenger" has covered every aspect of the Il-2 that I can think of. I feel that there is very little else that anyone could add to the subject.

Excelente publicación. Creo que es uno de los mejores libros que he leído sobre este avión, sus pilotos y todo los que les rodea. Muy recomendable

Excellent book on one of the best aircraft of the war. Good to see more interest in the Russian side of the war.

This book is as the author describes a decent balance for modelers and "historians". The color plates and general history of the aircraft are a real treat. However, as a "history" with a bent towards the "technical" kinda' reader, I was really let down by the lack of technical descriptions in the type of detail that I prefer. Even with the with weakness this book has terms of my reading preferences I will buy the two other volumes Mr. Moore has authored while I continue to purchase additional books on the IL-2. (Mr. Moore does conveniently provide a list of additional IL-2 titles.) If you have a general interest the IL-2 or need some color schemes, this book is a worthy purchase. Edit: 2/25/17, the best possible thing I can say about this book is that I have now purchased every book published by Mr. Moore