Art.Nr.: 300061028 Artikelbezeichnung: 1:48 Fairchild Republic A-10A Thunder.II About the Fairchild Republic A-10A "Thunderbolt II" The need for close air support, on small pin point targets, was recognized early during the Vietnam conflict. Following an experimental development program begun in the early 1970's, the Fairchild Republic Industries A-10 Thunderbolt II was selected for production. The performance characteristics demanded were for operation on unimproved short fields, both high and low airspeed maneuverability, easy maintenance, long loiter times and range, excellent pilot protection, and a capacity for large mixed weapons loads. The appearance of the A-10 is remarkable while its performance is amazing. Known affectionately as the "Wart Hog" by its pilots, it's a large single seat aircraft, identified by a pair of TF-34-100A high bypass fan jet engines mounted high near the rear of the twin tailed fuselage. A few of the specifications are: Length 53' 4"; height 14'8", span 57'6"; maximum gross weight 47,400lbs, including 16,000lbs of external stores. Internal armament is the GAU-8/A 30mm Gatling cannon capable of 2100 or 4200 rounds per minute. It carries 1350 rounds of ammunition, a fire control head-up display, CRT TV monitor, laser spot seeker plus a diversified armament panel that can facilitate any operational need. The A-10 has been around since 1972, and has again proven its worth during the recent Gulf war.

"I am awed by my destructive power. With a small squeeze of the gun trigger under my right index finger, I can rip the turret off a thirty-ton battle tank and throw it 200 feet across the desert, while the rest of the tank burns in an explosion of white-hot, burning phosphorescence. But the cold, morbid reality of it does not exist from where I sit and watch it happen. There's no dramatic chord. No deafening explosion. No screams suddenly stifled. The soundtrack of a pilot's war is mostly silent." The mighty, iconic A-10 Warthog was first thrust into battle in Operation Desert Storm. The men who took it through walls of flak and surface-to-air missiles to help defeat the world's fourth-largest army were as untested as their airplanes, so they relied on personal determination and the amazing A-10 to accomplish their missions, despite the odds. Hogs in the Sand is the gripping journey of one of those pilots as he fights an increasingly terrifying war, all the while attempting to win over a woman and keep control of his internal demons. For anyone who has admired the Warthog, seen it in action, or called upon it to be their salvation, this story will fulfill a desire to virtually strap into the cockpit, while gaining unprecedented understanding of the mind of a modern combat pilot.

There is a hint of Armageddon in the air. According to the Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch (recorded, thankfully, in 1655, before she blew up her entire village and all its inhabitants, who had gathered to watch her burn), the world will end on a Saturday. Next Saturday, in fact. So the Armies of Good and Evil are massing, the four Bikers of the Apocalypse are revving up their mighty hogs and hitting the road, and the world's last two remaining witchfinders are getting ready to Fight the Good Fight. Atlantis is rising. Frogs are falling. Tempers are flaring, and everything appears to be going to Divine Plan. Except that a somewhat fussy angel and a fast-living demon are not particularly looking forward to the coming Rapture. They've lived amongst Humanity for millennia, and have grown rather fond of the lifestyle. So if Crowley and Aziraphale are going to stop it from happening, they've got to find and kill the AntiChrist (which is a shame, really, as he's a nice kid). There's just one glitch: someone seems to have misplaced him. This edition features a new revised text, approved by Neil Gaiman and the Pratchett Estate, which clears up many typos and errors from previous editions. It also features twelve full colour illustrations from Paul Kidby - Terry Pratchett's artist of choice - and further pencil drawings.

The irreverant, hilarious, touching and philosophical caper about the end of the world. 'Still makes me laugh 25 years later' Ben Aaronovitch There is a hint of Armageddon in the air. According to the Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch (recorded, thankfully, in 1655, before she blew up her entire village and all its inhabitants, who had gathered to watch her burn), the world will end on a Saturday. Next Saturday, in fact. So the Armies of Good and Evil are massing, the four Bikers of the Apocalypse are revving up their mighty hogs and hitting the road, and the world's last two remaining witchfinders are getting ready to Fight the Good Fight. Atlantis is rising. Frogs are falling. Tempers are flaring, and everything appears to be going to Divine Plan. Except that a somewhat fussy angel and a fast-living demon are not particularly looking forward to the coming Rapture. They've lived amongst Humanity for millennia, and have grown rather fond of the lifestyle. So if Crowley and Aziraphale are going to stop it from happening, they've got to find and kill the AntiChrist (which is a shame, really, as he's a nice kid). There's just one glitch: someone seems to have misplaced him. Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman's brilliantly dark and funny take on mankind's final judgment is back, in a new hardcover edition which includes an introduction by the authors. Readers can't get enough of Good Omens: 'This is actually a profound philosophical and theological treatise , exploring good and evil, nature versus nurture, free will, war, pollution, and organised religion . . . The writing is so like Douglas Adams that it could be mistaken for a missing volume of Hitchhiker's ' Goodreads reviewer, ' Good Omens is a hysterically funny book . . . It is also a love letter to humanity and to the power of free will and choice in a world desperate to wrench it away. You should read it ' Goodreads reviewer, 'If I were to pick a setting for a comedy, I'm not sure it would be Armageddon. However, in the talented minds of Pratchett and Gaiman, it's the perfect setting . . . just the right mix of clever, deadpan, sarcasm, innuendo, and self-deprecation ' Goodreads reviewer, ' Has got to be one of the funniest satires I've ever read . . . This book is funny, irreverent, and at times surprisingly insightful' Goodreads reviewer, ' No getting around it, it IS funny! . . . The book is loaded with great characters , there's even a cute little dog, The Hound from Hell morphed into a cat chasing mongrel' Goodreads reviewer,