THE IMPERIAL RUSSIAN AIR SERVICE: FAMOUS PILOTS & AIRCRAFT OF WORLD WAR ONE.

Mountain View, California: Flying Machines Press, Mountain View, California, 1995, first edition., 1995. 546 pp, 4to (12 1/4" H). Map endpapers. "(This) is the first comprehensive story of the men, women, and machines that pioneered aviation in Czarist Russia. Historians, aviation enthusiasts, and modelers alike will find this lavishly-illustrated book vital. Detailed biographies of every Russian ace and every foreign ace who flew in Russia during World War One are included, together with victory information on each pilot. The WWI career of Igor Sikorsky and Dimitry Grigorovich, the most important early Russian designers, are covered in separate sections together with their aircraft. Key manufacturers Anatra, Dux, and Lebedev and their aircraft are detailed. The stories of other notable Russian aviation pioneers, including the first women pilots to fly in combat, are told. Medals and awards are discussed in their own section and illustrated with colour photographs. Pilots and aircraft are illustrated in more than 600 rare photographs, many published here for the first time. The 48-page colour section includes paintings, photos of awards, and colour illustrations of 85 aircraft. In addition, 40 aircraft are detailed in 3-view drawings to standard 1/48 or 1/72 scales." This heavy book will require extra postage outside of Canada/United States. Light wrinkling at bottom of spine. Dust jacket has small soft crease at top of spine, minor rubbing, corner crease at top corner of front flap.. First Edition. Hard Cover. Very Good+/Very Good+.