Thunderyak Fighter

One of the newest additions to the Glorious People’s Air Force is the Thembrian "Thunderyak" interceptor. Stubby but fast, this latest addition to the Thembrian arsenal is boasted by its designers to be "the world's most advanced fighter plane." However, as is the case with all Thembrian designs, it falls far short of the mark.

Thunderyaks are manufactured at a factory complex on the outer fringes of Thembria, and from there are shipped out to various squadrons across the frozen country. Strangely enough, the Thunderyak's designers insisted on producing two models of Thunderyak fighters: large (20 feet long) and small (10 feet long). The reason behind this odd variation is unclear. Most likely, errors in the scale of the original blueprints must have worked their way into mass production. The offer of two Thunderyak models probably served as a convenient cover-up. The factory catalog clearly distinguishes between the two models, but clerical errors are frequent in handling the orders. As a result, Thembrian commanders occasionally find themselves stuck with a whole squadron of the wrong-size Thunderyak.

Like all Thembrian planes, the Thunderyak is built from thick metal plates and panels bolted together to form the airframe. This method of construction encases the pilot in a pod of solid armor. Combined with a bulletproof glass cockpit canopy, the armor provides considerable protection from anti-aircraft fire. Unfortunately, in addition to being very durable, the armor is also very heavy — the Thunderyak suffers one of the worst weight-to-wingspan ratios of any small fighter plane in service.

Though far from being revolutionary, the Thunderyak is unique in that its engine is mounted on the tail fin. Suspended above and just behind the cockpit, the compact propeller engine provides enough thrust to keep the Thunderyak airborne and also manages to give the Thunderyak decent speed at full combat throttle. However, the unusual location of the engine makes the fighter’s center of gravity unstable, hampering maneuverability more than somewhat.

For such a small plane, the Thunderyak has incredible energy. Tuned for high horsepower, the Thunderyak's engine has a remarkable amount of pickup for its size. The fighter itself is surprisingly agile on the ground, able to to turn on a dime and reach speeds of over 40 miles per hour while taxiing. Moreover, the landing gear — highly shock-absorbant to manage the plane's weight — are capable of handling various sorts of terrain and can even tackle stairways and steep inclines!

In the air, however, matters are different. Controlling the plane in flight is a daunting task for any pilot. The cockpit of the Thunderyak is snug but comfortable and contains all basic flight instruments, but the control surfaces are extremely difficult to operate. Rather than using a standard flight control system, the Thunderyak utilizes a system of gears to manipulate the wing surfaces. At high airspeeds, lockage of the gears makes the flight stick seem impossible to move. This — combined with the already-limited maneuverability of the Thunderyak — makes flying the fighter a task for trained pilots only.

Factory-issued Thunderyaks come with no weapons. Military versions have two .30-caliber machine guns mounted on the leading edge of the wings. Compared to the double 35 millimeter cannons sported by Juggernaut fighters, this is very light weaponry for a Thembrian fighter. The guns hold only a couple hundred rounds and are prone to jamming, making them practically useless for extended combat. To compensate, defense squadrons use their Thunderyaks for sector patrols and detainment of intruding aircraft, until Thembrian fighters can be dispatched to deal with the situation properly.

In spite of its outstanding flaws, the Thembrian Thunderyak has several ardent supporters, particularly the Thembrian Ministry of Defense which commissioned the plane's design, and the Thembrian chief commanders who advocate the Ministry's decisions. Among Thembrian pilots, the Thunderyak has a towering champion in the form of Major Tiny Bubbles, Thembria's smallest adult pilot. Only three feet in height, Major Bubbles uses the small-version Thunderyak on many of his flights and has become an expert at handling the stubborn fighter.

Thunderyaks in a Flounder Formation.		Major Tiny Bubbles, Thembria's smallest adult pilot.

THUNDERYAK FIGHTER (standard version)
Craft: Thembrian Thunderyak Type: Interceptor Scale: Aircraft Length: 20 feet Skill: Aircraft piloting: Thunderyak Crew: 1 Crew Skill: Aircraft gunnery 4D+2, aircraft piloting: Thunderyak 5D*, navigation 2D+2 Passengers: None Cargo Capacity: 175 lbs. Cost: $30,000 (new), $12,000 (used) Top Speed: 220 mph Weapons: 2 .30-caliber Machine Guns (fire-linked) Fire Arc: Front Skill: Aircraft gunnery Fire Control: 1D Range: 30-300/500/800 ft. Damage: 3D+2 Hull: 4D

THUNDERYAK FIGHTER (small version)
Craft: Thembrian Thunderyak Type: Interceptor Scale: Aircraft Length: 10 feet Skill: Aircraft piloting: Thunderyak Crew: 1 Crew Skill: Aircraft gunnery 4D+2, aircraft piloting: Thunderyak 5D*, navigation 2D+2 Passengers: None Cargo Capacity: 75 lbs. Cost: $30,000 (new), $12,000 (used) Top Speed: 220 mph Weapons: None Hull: 4D * Pilots who fly the Thunderyak must contend with the plane's stubborn controls. Without specialized training, a character piloting the Thunderyak suffers a -2D penalty to all piloting attempts for the duration of flight.