China's Fighter for the World Volume 1: The F-7/FT-7 Family: Origins, Evolution and Variants (Technology@War)

“This book is a huge asset to any aircraft modelers interested in the J-7 in its many guises, in many liveries, and flying under many nation’s flags. The table of contents is detailed, and the chapters do not disappoint with their numerous detailed photographs and diagrams. Evey aspect of the J-7 modelers will want to reference are included, from airframes, to engines, to ejection seats to armament.” – IPMS/USAWhen founded in 1949, the People's Republic of China was a backward agricultural state with no industrial base to speak of and no armaments industry of its own. From the very beginning, Mao Zedong, the founder of the state, endeavoured to develop his own modern defence industry. One of the most successful export products of this modernisation was the F-7; a Chinese derivative of the Soviet MiG-21.Initially working from component knock-down kits supplied by the USSR, the Chinese aircraft industry progressed from simple assembly, to copies of the MiG-21, through to domestic versions (the J-7) and export versions (the F-7 and two-seater FT-7). Constantly striving to introduce improvements and refinements, the F-7 would become a great export success for the People’s Republic, with modernised and upgraded variants still in service across the world to this day.Volume 1 of China’s Fighter for the World examines the origins of this aircraft through the fluctuating relationship between the People’s Republic of China and the USSR, and details the often difficult development as new technologies were incorporated into the F-7 and FT-7 to produce improved variants in a bid to keep the aircraft up to date and relevant for export customers.This volume includes over 120 full-colour photographs, including close-ups and detailed cockpit interiors, and 21 specially commissioned full colour profile artworks. Read more