Episode one of the latest Warhammer 40,000 animation for Warhammer TV has just landed! Aeronautica Imperialis tells the tale of an aerial battle of attrition above a frozen world, pitting the dogged pilots of the Imperial Navy against the lethality of the alien Aeldari.
Warhammer+ subscribers can watch it now online, or in the Warhammer TV app.
The workhorse of the Imperial aerial defence is the Thunderbolt. While it has a reputation as a pugnacious and effective fighter, in this theatre, it is outclassed by the agile and lethal aircraft of Saim-Hann, compounded by the inhuman reflexes of the Aeldari pilots.
What the Imperium has, though, is numbers. And near unlimited stubbornness.
The Imperial pilot we follow in this episode is Kae. Part of a newly arrived wing of aviators, fresh from dogfighting Chaos forces, they soon find out that the Aeldari are an altogether different enemy.
Many Thunderbolts display distinctive heraldry, either earned by their pilot or reflecting the machine’s own combat history. Kae’s Thunderbolt sports flames along its wings, as well as several kill notches – marking her out as an experienced ace.
Here are a few close-ups of her Thunderbolt, in case you fancy trying to recreate the livery on your own miniatures.
Speaking of which, Thunderbolt kits are currently available in two sizes – the original Forge World resin aircraft, or the smaller, plastic version for Legions Imperialis.
If you enjoyed episode one, you don’t have long to wait for episode two – it’s been cleared for take-off on 12 June. Make sure you’re subscribed to Warhammer+ so you don’t miss a single dogfight.
