Twobobs Aviation Graphics are celebrating their 20th anniversary this year and keep producing outstanding decal sheets for modern military jet aircraft.  A-10C Hoosier Hawgs (48-276) celebrates three “Blacksnakes” A-10s of the 163rd Fighter Squadron based at Fort Wayne Air National Guard Station, Indiana.  This decal sheet reflects the commemoration of 100 years of aviation in the Indiana Air National Guard.

This decal set has the option to build five aircraft – four in the traditional gray camouflage scheme (tail numbers 192, 213, 679, 692), the remaining in the distinctive 100th anniversary black over gray camouflage (244), following the traditional A-10 gray pattern.

The Yakovlev series are considered by many the best of the Soviet fighters of WWII. It was the equal of its opponents and generally carried a mixed cannon/machine gun armament. Yakovlev believed he could fit the recently developed NS 37 cannon to make the YAK 9 a tank killer. Designated the Yak9T for tyazhelowoonuzhenny or “heavily armed”, fitting of this weapon required some changes to the standard Yak 9. The cockpit was moved back about a foot and structural integrity was increased. Surprisingly, these changes didn’t reduce the aircrafts performance. This cannon was supplemented by a single 12.7mm machine gun. Both guns were housed in the engine cowling. Introduced during the battle of Kursk in 1943, the Yak9T became a favorite with the pilots who flew it. It was found that higher speeds and limited shots made for better shooting as the cannons recoil could quickly spoil the pilot’s ability to aim and damage the aircraft!