Irdnekt-pattern Banshee

This article is about the Banshee introduced in Halo 3. For other Banshee variants, see Banshee.

Irdnekt-pattern Attack Flyer
Production information
Manufacturer:	Lodam Armory
Product line:	Type-26 Banshee
Model:	Irdnekt-pattern
Technical specifications
Length:	5.9 meters (19.2 ft)
Width:	6.8 meters (22.4 ft)
Height:	3.3 meters (10.8 ft)
Mass:	3.3 metric tons (3.2 LT; 3.6 ST)
Engine(s):	Boosted gravity propulsion drive
Armament:	2 DEML-AW, Plasma Bolt/Diffused (Class-2)s 1 HAAW/M, Heavy Fuel Rod (Class-2)
Crew:	1 pilot
Usage
In service:	Human-Covenant War Great Schism Post-Covenant War conflicts
Role(s):	Ground support aircraft
Affiliation:	Covenant Covenant separatists Covenant remnants Jul 'Mdama's Covenant Swords of Sanghelios Merg Vol's Covenant Vata 'Gajat's mercenary group Multiple Jiralhanae factions

The Irdnekt-pattern Attack Flyer (UNSC Type classification: Type-26C Ground Support Aircraft, T-26C GSA), more commonly known as the Banshee, is a variant of the Type-26 Banshee commonly employed in Covenant service as a standard aircraft.

Overview

Design details

Main article: Type-26 Banshee

A blueprint of the Irdnekt-pattern variant.

Favored by Sangheili ace sky-chevaliers, the Irdnekt-pattern Banshee was highly modifiable and provided a wide range of available performance upgrades. It bears heavy resemblance to the similar Oghal-pattern model, albeit with some minor changes. Visually, the Irdnekt-pattern's most notable distinction is the iridescent green canopy in place of the red found on Oghal-pattern models. This canopy similarly leaves the pilot partially exposed (particularly the feet and lower legs). Like the Oghal, the wings are connected at their ends with an antigravity pod to allow for flight.

The craft has two wing canards, each of which terminates in a boosted gravity propulsion drive including a jet and an anti-gravity pod; these leave a vaporous exhaust trail behind the Banshee. The craft is capable of achieving a velocity of over 100 kilometers per hour (62 mph). The Banshee is capable of performing complex maneuvers such as aileron rolls and flips. The Banshee is also capable of hovering, though this ability is not often used.

Armament

The Irdnekt-pattern Banshee sports two weapon pods attached underneath the fuselage; each pod contains a Class-2 medium plasma cannon capable of firing in the 100-250 kilowatt range and a Class-2 fuel rod cannon. The plasma cannons are deadly to infantry; one bolt can instantly kill a lightly armored target. Armored targets such as the M808 Scorpion MBT can withstand only a few bolts before being destroyed.

Operational history

"Banshees, fast and low!"

— Anonymous UNSC pilot.

A number of Irdnekt-pattern Banshees were used throughout the Human-Covenant War, though appear to remain outmatched by their Oghal-pattern brothers and the Is'belox-pattern Banshees were only seen in widespread use in the final stages of the war.

The earliest known encounter of the Irdnekt-pattern Banshees against the UNSC along with the Insurrectionists such as URF was during the Battle of Alpha Corvi II on December 3, 2525, where they were extensively used over Alpha Corvi II alongside several Is'belox-pattern Banshees. When the short assault on Algolis took place, multiple Irdnekt-pattern Banshees were called in to weaken military forces attempting to protect and destroy valuable data in Weapons Research Facility T12A, and one such Banshee also shot down a civilian cargo transport that attempted to flee by firing its fuel rod cannon. During the siege on the facility, the majority of these Banshees were destroyed by a lone Mark I ADS utilized by Sergeant "Ghost". Several Irdnekt-pattern Banshees were deployed by the Fleet of Particular Justice during the final stages of the Battle of Installation 04 both against the UNSC forces from UNSC Pillar of Autumn and the Flood.

The Irdnekt-pattern was the standard model utilized by the Prop