King of Fighters: Nikolay Polikarpov and His Aircraft Designs. The PDF eBook Bundle

Save 30% on both King of Fighters PDF eBooks.

Discover the life and aircraft designs of Nikolay Polikarpov with this two-volume digital collection by Mikhail Maslov. Drawing on Russian archival material, recollections of Polikarpov’s contemporaries and extensive research, these books explore the work of the designer whose achievements earned him the name ‘King of Fighters’. Together, they examine both aircraft that were built and projects that remained unrealised.

Volume 1: The Biplane Era provides a detailed study of Polikarpov’s biplane designs, placing them within his career and the development of Russian and Soviet aviation. It follows the period in which biplanes dominated his work, exploring the designs that established his reputation. Historical photographs, drawings, colour profiles and tables support the narrative, offering readers a substantial visual and technical reference.

Volume 2: The Monoplane Era turns to Polikarpov’s monoplane projects, from the early IL-400, designated I-1, to designs such as the I-16, I-17 and VIT-2. It examines the innovative work of the 1930s and his continued aircraft development during the Second World War. Coverage of completed and unimplemented projects reveals the breadth of his ambitions and his contribution to Soviet aircraft design.

Across both volumes, the collection contains more than 970 black-and-white photographs, 90 drawings and 123 colour profiles, alongside numerous tables. This extensive illustration programme complements the historical account and provides valuable reference material for studying aircraft appearance, design and development.

Combining biography, aviation history and technical detail, these PDF eBooks offer a rewarding collection for aircraft enthusiasts, military historians and modellers interested in Polikarpov and the evolution of Soviet aviation.

Explore Polikarpov’s aircraft designs across both eras—and save 30% with this two-volume PDF eBook bundle.