Saab Gripen: Swedens 21st Century Multi Role Aircraft

Paperback 21x30 cm, 144 pages. The Aerofax book on the Saab Gripen is quite impressive. It has 144 pages devoted to Sweden’s newest super fighter. The book is packed with color photos and a history of the type. The text is in English and the photos all have captions. The book contains well over 100 photos of the Gripen with all of them in color. There are also several line drawings covering the aircraft from prototype to its current status. I am really impressed with the history of the aircraft. It was designed to replace the ageing Saab Viggen and ancient Saab Drakken. After reading the title from cover to cover I can see that it has not only replaced these aircraft but, it can also give pretty much any modern fighter a run for its money. The aircraft can carry quite an impressive load out for a fighter of its relatively small size. Both air to air and air to ground weapons are employed. The book covers the weapons and mission profiles quite extensively through text and photos. The one thing that amazes me is that the first flight of this jet took place in 1988. I never realized that the aircraft was over 16 years old already!! Seems like I just a few years ago that I started hearing about the Gripen. Time sure does fly. Overall this is a great reference for the modeler and historian alike. The text flows well and the photos are quite amazing. My only gripe is the lack of cockpit shots and other close in detail photos like landing gear etc. Most of the pictures are of the overall aircraft from different angles with many being in flight pictures. The Gripen is a winner for sure. I am amazed that only Sweden, South Africa, The Czech Republic and Hungary operate it. 9781857801378