Siberia - infamous for its brutal winters, and larger than the entire United States - is not the only wilderness within the former Soviet Union. Harsh southern deserts, arctic islands, disputed border regions, and minority populations beligerent towards the their present government are spread all across the gigantic nation. Flying over Russia presents risks few other aircrews in time of peace must face. And while Russian combat aircraft are world renowned for their reliable performance, what happens when something does go wrong? Given their exceptional egress systems - odds are the pilot will eject safely, but how does he survive and advance under such potentially dire circumstances? MiG Pilot Survival: Russian Aircrew Survival Equipment and Instruction explores the components and details of Russian survival science with color photographs, in depth descriptions, and a full translation of the exact manual - with original illustrations intact - as used by Russian aircrews in time of crisis, Alan R. Wise is a consultant, writer, and photographer who has done work for the Department of Defense, Department of State, U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Air Force Museum, and the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center. He has served as a military advisor and has written numerous articles for magazines such as National Defense, Journal of Defense and Diplomacy, Armor, and Behind the Lines: The Journal of Special Operations. He is also the coauthor with Michael S. Breuninger of Jet Age Flight Helmets (see page 5 of this catalog). He resides in Middletown, Ohio and is an experienced collector specializing in flight gear, survival and special operations equipment, and military vehicles.

This new photo documentation is the first book ever to cover in detail the history and development of military flight helmets from the post-World War II era to the present, and includes over 120 different helmets and their associated equipment such as oxygen masks, boom microphones, inner helmets etc. U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard flight helmets discussed range from standard fighter, bomber, transport and helicopter models, to high-altitude, special purpose and experimental types. Foreign helmets covered include British, French, German, Swedish, Canadian, and rarely documented Polish, Chinese and Soviet/Russian models. Also covered is an extensive selection of U.S. and Soviet/Russian space helmets. Extensively researched this book contains over 1000 images, most in color, and includes multiple-view photographs as well as detail views. Specific details of each helmet include manufacturer, proper designation, unique features, accessories, periods of use, branch of service(s), and aircraft in which is was used-selected export users are also included. Mike Breuninger is also the author of United States Combat Aircrew Survival Equipment: World War II to the Present-A Reference Guide for Collectors. Alan Wise is also the author of MIG Pilot Survival: Russian Aircrew Survival Equipment and Instruction-see page 14 of this catalog(both titles are available from Schiffer Publishing Ltd.).