HMH Publications | Aircraft in Detail 023: Sukhoi Su-22 Fitter

Reviewed by Kevin Williams

Publisher: HMH Publications
Author(s): R. Pied, Nic Deboeck
Publishing date: 2022
ISBN: 978-2-931083-13-0
Pages: 138

This particular volume covers the Soviet built Sukhoi Su-22 (Fitter), and I'm thrilled silly to finally get my hands on this. I've been searching long and hard for better references than I already had on this machine, and now here it is. Everything the Fitter enthusiast could want, and gobs of it, is featured in this book. This volume, I don't hesitate to state, will set the bar for any and all future Su-22 references, as it's really splendid.

At this time, unfortunately, there seems to be no available 1:32 Su-17 or Su-22 kits to select from, though I seem to recall a resin kit that may be floating about, manufacturer not known at this time. [Ed note: that would the the Lemkits 1/32 Su-22.]

As with the majority of titles from this publisher, this is very much a collaborative effort, using photos from many varied sources, each with appropriate photo credits given, and there are quite a substantial number of them, especially in this magnificent volume. Printed on good quality semi-glossy stock, the photos are nothing sort of magnificent, highlighting many areas of the air-frame, giving both modelers and aviation enthusiasts alike, a wealth of eye candy on this fascinating plane. If there's a detail of the Fitter that you'd like to see, it's more than likely in this book.

This particular book (No. 023 in the series), depicts the rather interesting Su-22 Fitter swing-wing fighter, and it’s geared toward both modelers and aviation enthusiasts alike, being every inch a detailed, walk around overview of the type, and that pleases me immeasurably, as it's the major reference type that I seek these days.

Photo Samples


Photos are broken down by section; types, forward fuselage, fuselage, wings, speed brakes, cockpit (numerous pages), ejection seat, front landing gear, main landing gear, horizontal tails, vertical tail, brake chute, aft fuselage, maintenance (quite a lot, but certainly not all of the detail photos, are located in this section), engine, ordnance, pylons, and finally, Action!! Certainly enough material is presented here, to satisfy even the most ardent Fitter fan.

The myriad photos obviously form the backbone of this book, and for me, this is a true blessing, as I can never seem to get enough details, and this book certainly has them in great abundance. Clarity and color reproductions are to a very high standard, as I've come by now to expect with every HMH publication.

Even if you have just a passing interest in the Fitter (or Soviet fighter aircraft in general), you can’t go wrong with the purchase of this book. You may just become a convert.

Summation

On a scale of 1 to 10, I’d rate this book as a solid 10, no question about it. Topping out at a whopping 138 pages of Fitter goodness, it's just packed wall-to-wall with details, details, and more details, and is therefore highly recommended. Another one "knocked out of the park" for HMH.

(Several additional volumes; MiG-29, Mirage F1, MiG-31, etc., will definitely be added to my ever growing book collection, and that can't happen soon enough, as far as I'm concerned.)

Note: Book cover image directly from HMH Publications (used with permission).

My review copy compliments of Casemate Publishers. Thanks a ton to Casemate, it's truly an outstanding reference book for the sleek and beautiful Fitter, really top-notch stuff.

© Kevin Williams 2021

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This review was published on Wednesday, July 27 2022; Last modified on Sunday, July 31 2022