Alle Achtung, Deino! Gratuliere dazu!
Ich habe dies in einem geschlossenem Gruppe auf FB -
The Aviation Book Enthusiast Group - gefunden und den Text mal hier eingefügt, da ich nicht weiß ob er sonst zu lesen ist:
Book Review
MODERN CHINESE WARPLANES Chinese Air Force - Aircraft and Units
By: Andrea Rupprecht
Published by: Harpia Publishing L. L. C.
Date: 2018
Price: 35.99£
ISBN: 9780997309263
English language books about the modern People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) are few and far between. This is due to the fact that it is one of the most secretive air forces in the world and the difficulties that are encountered when it comes to a comprehensive and accurate analysis of anything relating to the Chinese military. Andreas Rupprecht in 2012 published a previous volume on Chinese Modern Warplanes and yet due to the radical changes in technology and organisation of the PLAAF it was decided to write a revised and yet separate volume on just the Chinese Air Force. There is already another volume on Chinese Naval Aviation and soon to be a third volume on the Army Aviation. When you combine Andrea’s writing style, the accuracy of the information, and finally the Harpia gold standard of publishing it results in a spectacular volume that far exceeds other comparable products such as any books published by Jane’s.
The book begins with a brief history of the PLAAF and a short synopsis of the future. Then Andreas tackles one of the hardest aspects of understanding Chinese military aviation; the issue of aircraft markings and registrations. This is something that has plagued Western authors for decades. This complicated and confusing system is described and explained in the simplest format that most readers will understandably read with relief. Next there is a description of each and every aircraft used to include Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). And this is where the Harpia standard really shines as the information is presented in a very digestible format that explains all aspects of each aircraft. Additionally, the following chapter concerning armament, weapons, and stores complements the discussion on various aircraft and how they are combined to form complete weapon systems.
One of the more unique qualities of this book is the chapter on the Chinese Air Force training syllabus. This chapter explains each phase of the training program and provides some comparison to USAF phases, hours, and types flown. This goes a long way in understanding the fundamental basis of doctrine and standards in most air forces and is just another part of this book that really sets it apart from other comparable books.
The PLAAF Order of Battle (ORBAT) is something that has puzzled and confounded authors and intelligence analysts alike for decades. Andreas has produced a very detailed and well illustrated chapter on the ORBAT and further subdivided it into the various geographically organised regional commands. This further adds to the ease of understanding and when combined with charts, wire diagrams, maps, photos, and unit insignia the result is probably the most comprehensive study of the PLAAF ORBAT ever produced.
The final chapter is on the PLAAF Airborne Corps. This force has also undertaken a radical set of reforms that have seen it regarded as one of the most capable assets in the PLAAF. New equipment and new tactics allow for a notional comparison to the US Army 82nd Airborne Division and the XVIII Airborne Corps. But it is interesting to note the analysis listed in this chapter has identified a critical weakness and that is the lack of enough strategic airlift to project this Corps in large scale operations.
Finally, Modern Chinese Warplanes is full of hard hitting analysis, information, and phenomenal photographs. You will be hard pressed to find a better publication on this most secretive Air Force. The high standard of Harpia Publishing with glossy paper, excellent range overlay maps, and most importantly the easy to read format is evident once again in this volume. Harpia Publishing and Andreas Rupprecht should be proud of the end result. And I highly recommend this book to all military aviation enthusiasts, historians, and professional bodies such as intelligence organisations and military units around the world.