Soviet Cold War Pilot

The Memoirs of a Soviet Air Defence Fighter Pilot

Sérgio Santana, Oleg Vydrenok, Major Aleksandr 'Alex' Mamet

$69.99

Hardback

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English

Miscellaneous
01 November 2025

Air forces & warfare

During the Cold War, the Soviet Union's Air Defence Forces (PVO) were responsible for defending Soviet airspace. Comprising three specialized branches-radio-technical troops, surface-to-air missile troops, and fighter aviation (IA-PVO)-its primary role was to intercept and destroy enemy aircraft, from bombers to reconnaissance planes. The IA-PVO operated separately from the Soviet Air Force, and its pilots were considered elite, chosen for their exceptional flying skills and granted higher salaries due to the immense responsibility they carried, particularly in the event of a NATO airstrike. One notable figure in the IA-PVO was Major Oleg Petrovich Vydrenok. A graduate of the Stavropol Higher Military Aviation School in 1976, he was one of only 20 air lieutenants out of 200 to be declared 'Military Pilot Third Class.' Over his 14-year career, Vydrenok flew various aircraft, including the Tupolev Tu-128 Fiddler and Mikoyan MiG-31 Foxhound, gaining extensive experience in Cold War missions. In Soviet Cold War Pilot, Vydrenok's training and operational experiences offer a detailed comparison with Western air forces and insight into the techniques developed to counter NATO aircraft like the SR-71 Blackbird and B-52 Stratofortress, showcasing his critical role in the Soviet air defence system.

16 b/w illustrations

By: Sérgio Santana, Oleg Vydrenok
Foreword by: Major Aleksandr 'Alex' Mamet
Imprint: Miscellaneous
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 156mm,
ISBN: 9781399060479
ISBN 10: 1399060473
Pages: 224
Publication Date: 01 November 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Unspecified

SÉRGIO SANTANA has been writing about Military Aviation and Defense since 2005, having accumulated around eighty articles published in specialized Brazilian and foreign magazines and blogs since then, having developed a predilection for researching and writing about little explored subjects and/or unknown aspects of already exhausted themes. Since 2011, he has been a frequent contributor to Air Forces Monthly, Air International and Combat Aircraft Journal magazines, as well as other aviation magazines controlled by Key Publishing. He has also worked for Jane’s Information Group as a content contributor in recent years. He has also authored/co-authored six books to date, published by US and European publishers, half of which are about ISR aircraft. He holds a Bachelor of Sciences Degree in Aeronautical Sciences and three Postgraduate Degrees, including Aeronautical Maintenance Engineering and Aerodynamic Design. He currently lives on Brazil’s northeast coast.

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Soviet Cold War Pilot

The Memoirs of a Soviet Air Defence Fighter Pilot

Sérgio Santana, Oleg Vydrenok, Major Aleksandr 'Alex' Mamet

$69.99

Hardback

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