Banshee

Type 26

Type-26A Ground Support Aircraft

Type-26B Ground Support Aircraft

Type-26C Ground Support Aircraft

Name: Type-26 Ground Support Aircraft
Craft: Assembly Forges (Until 2552) / Lodam Armory (Post-war) Type-26 Ground Support Aircraft
Type: Ground Support Aircraft
Scale: speeder
Length: 6.9 x 7.4 meters
Mass: 2.25 metric tons
Skill: repulsorlift operations
Crew: 1
Cargo Capacity: 15kg
Cover: full
Maneuverability: 4D
Move: 45; 130 km/h (70; 200 km/h in a dive)
Altitude Range: 300 meters
Body Strength: 4D
Weapons

• 2 Class-2 Energy Guns (firelinked)

Fire Arc: forward
Crew: 1
Scale: speeder
Skill: vehicle blasters
Fire Control: 2D
Range: 3-150/300/600m
Damage: 7D

• 2 Class-2 Projectile Cannons

Fire Arc: forward
Crew: 1
Scale: walker
Skill: vehicel blasters
Fire Control: 1D
Range: 1-40/80/165m
Damage: 6D

Description: “Banshees of legend warned of death, and today all UNSC veterans know the cry of this glittering alien terror.”
— Halo Encyclopedia

The Type-26 Ground Support Aircraft, more commonly identified as the Banshee, is an atmospheric craft that is typically used for reconnaissance, ground support, and ground attack missions. The front of the craft is lightly armored and while not particularly vulnerable to small arms, can be brought down easily by concentrated fire from infantry.

In most designs, the cowling of the craft is purple in color and acts as an outer shell. It is equipped with two wings which terminate in a propulsion jet and an anti-gravity pod, leaving behind a signature vaporous exhaust trail while flying. The craft is capable of achieving velocities over 100 kilometres per hour (62 mph) and reaching an altitude of up to 300 meters. The onboard propulsion system has the craft constantly in motion. In addition to its versatile design, the Banshee is capable of performing complex maneuvers, such as aileron rolls and flips.

Variants

The Banshee sports two weapon pods attached underneath the fuselage. One pod contains two Class-2 plasma cannons capable of firing in 100-250 kilowatts range, and the other contains Class-2 projectile launcher.

• T-26A: First Banshee type to be cataloged by ONI after the attack on Harvest.
• T-26AZ: Used only by select artifact hunting fleets within the Covenant, including Sesa 'Refumee's forces at the Threshold gas mine.
• T-26B: A more advanced Banshee type that was languished in pre-Human-Covenant war times. Once older Banshee models had been used up in the war by 2550, this model entered widespread service. Jul 'Mdama had commissioned large amounts of these made in the Post-war Era.
• T-26BZ: An "ordained" Banshee deployed with Loka 'Bandolee's forces that were deployed with Sesa 'Refumee's.
• T-26C: The model that was part of Truth's fleet.

Additionally, there are two vehicles given the colloquial name 'Banshee', but which are entirely distinct models.

• T-27 XMF - A variant of the Banshee design modified for space combat.
• T-54 GSA - A post-war replacement for original the Type-26 Banshee, which was in low stock by 2558. It sports several improvements over its predecessor.

Source:

• Halo Wiki: Type-26 Ground Support Aircraft
• thedemonapostle