Editing Banshee

{{Status|Canon}}
[[File:BansheesAotCR.jpg|300px|thumb|A pair of Banshees flying over the [[control room]] of the [[Halo Array|Halo]] [[Installation 04]].]]
{{Quote|Banshees of legend warned of death, and today all UNSC veterans know the cry of this glittering alien terror.<ref name="ENC">'''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]''', ''page 265''</ref>}}
'''Banshee''' is the name applied to a series of [[Covenant]] atmospheric/exatmospheric support aircraft.<ref name="waypbanshee">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/vehicles/banshee ''Halo Waypoint:'' Banshee]</ref>  The [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] has typically [[Type classification system|type-classified]] encountered banshee variants used during throughout the [[Human-Covenant War]] under the designation of the '''Type-26 Ground Support Aircraft''' ('''T-26 GSA'''). 

==Summary==
=== Design details ===
[[File:BansheeB.jpg|thumb|left|200px|A blueprint of the {{Pattern|Irdnekt|Banshee}}.]]
A prolific aircraft, the Banshee has been used by ancient Sangheili, Covenant forces and [[Covenant remnants]].{{Ref/Reuse|waypbanshee}} It is usually piloted by [[Sangheili]], though [[Jiralhanae]] pilots became common after the outbreak of the [[Great Schism]]. The cockpit, in which the pilot rests prone, is encased in a curved, reflective cowling with no discernible windscreen.{{Ref/Reuse|H4VG}}<ref name="Dawn">'''Halo 4''', campaign level [[Dawn]]</ref> 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 {{Convert|100|km/h|mph|sp=us}}.{{Ref/Reuse|ENC}}{{Ref/Note|''[[The Art of Halo: Creating a Virtual World]]'' (page 128) list the Banshee's maximum flight ceiling as being estimated to be between 100 and 300 meters; ''Halo: First Strike'' (page 27, 2003 edition) also places the Banshee's flight ceiling at "about three hundred meters". ''Halo 2'' shows Banshees operating roughly midway to the top of [[High Charity]]'s dome (a height of several kilometers) as well as in the upper atmosphere of a [[Threshold|gas giant]]. ''Halo 4'' reveals that modified Type-26 Banshees can operate even in space, making the original data suspect.}} 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.{{Ref/Note|The Banshee's inability to hover in most games is more likely a gameplay conceit than an element of canon. Presumably, all versions of the craft are capable of hovering.}}

Several variations on the standard design exist, though combat performance is fairly standard among all variants. A given craft's architecture is based on its functionality,{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} the year in which is manufactured, the branch to which it belongs,<ref name="essential">'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 18''</ref> and even the aesthetic preference of the one who commissions the craft.{{Ref/Reuse|universe}} Amphibious attack and escort Banshee variants were commissioned throughout the Covenant's history for the Covenant's oceanic installations and during deep-sea artifact retrieval missions, although they have rarely been encountered by the [[UNSC]].<ref name="universe">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/vehicles/banshee '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Banshee'']</ref> Incorporates design details more closely related to an aerial predator hailing from the Jiralhanae homeworld of [[Doisac]]. Many of the Banshees in [[Atriox]]'s fleets have been modified with brutal and experimental weaponry, usually designed to inflict maximum damage from both a physical and psychological perspective.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/the-art-of-war-s '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Canon Fodder: The Art of War(s)'']</ref>

=== Armament ===
The Banshee sports two weapon pods attached underneath the fuselage; each pod contains a [[Class-2 directed energy cannon|Class-2 plasma cannon]] capable of firing in the 100-250 kilowatt range and a [[fuel rod cannon|Class-2 fuel rod cannon]].<ref name="manual">'''Halo: Combat Evolved''', ''game manual''</ref><ref>'''Halo: The Flood''', ''page 51''</ref> The plasma cannons are deadly to infantry; one bolt can instantly kill a lightly armored target. Armored targets such as the [[M808 Scorpion|M808 Scorpion MBT]] can withstand only a few bolts before being destroyed. A direct hit from the Banshee's fuel rod cannon is almost invariably fatal, even to armored infantry. Repeating plasma cannons, which have a greater rate of fire than the standard armament, can be installed at the front of the anti-gravity pods.<ref name="HW">'''[[Halo Wars]]'''</ref>

The [[fuel rod cannon]]s mounted on the [[Ogab'd-pattern anti-aircraft Wraith|Anti-Air Wraith]] and the Banshee use the heavier Class-3 fuel rods, which have a greater range and a capability to track heat signatures.<ref>'''Halo: The Essential Visual Guide''', ''page 9''</ref><ref name="ENC283">'''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]''', ''page 283''</ref> The  [[Morsam-pattern Seraph|Seraph]] is additionally equipped with four fuel rod cannons, which are capable of locking onto air targets.<ref name="forge">''Halo: Reach'', Seraph in-game vehicle</ref>

==Types==
;Ancient
*'''{{Pattern|QezoY'asabu|strikecraft}}''' – An ancient Banshee model primarily designed for and used in a stealth role.{{Ref/Reuse|waypbanshee}}
*'''{{Pattern|Scitar|Banshee}}''' – An ancient amphibious Banshee model designed for multi-environment security and deep sea artifact retrieval missions.{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22|Enc22|Page=287}}
*'''{{Pattern|Uztet'sKelln|}}''' – An ancient Banshee originally designed by the [[Sangheili]] that visually resembled the more modern types.{{Ref/Reuse|waypbanshee}}
;Covenant
*'''Type-26 Ground Support Aircraft'''
**'''{{Pattern|Oghal|Banshee}}''' – A common model of Banshee, first classified by the [[Office of Naval Intelligence|ONI]] following the [[First Battle of Harvest|initial conflict]] on [[Harvest]].{{Ref/Reuse|waypbanshee}}
***'''{{Pattern|Drailaac|Banshee}}''' – A type of Banshee often used by artifact hunting [[Covenant fleet]]s.{{Ref/Reuse|waypbanshee}} 
****'''Sesa's ''Drailaac''-pattern''' – Some ''Drailaac''-pattern Banshees deployed alongside [[Sesa 'Refumee]]'s [[Sesa 'Refumee's heretic faction|heretic faction]], where they removed the Covenant manufactured cowlings from them, revealing the Forerunner mechanisms beneath, and redesigned them so they sport the colors of Sanghelios.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070126131232/http://www.joyridestudios.com/halo2_7_heretic_banshee.asp '''Joyride Heretic Banshee description''']</ref> These Banshees can be equipped with [[energy shielding]].{{Ref/Level|H2A|The Oracle|Detail="Hot Pursuit" cutscene}}
**'''{{Pattern|Is'belox|Banshee}}''' – More advanced than the ''Oghal''-pattern Banshee, this Banshee saw more use towards the end of the [[Human-Covenant War|War of Annihilation]] and by [[Jul 'Mdama]]'s [[Jul 'Mdama's Covenant|Covenant]] after it ended.{{Ref/Reuse|waypbanshee}}
***'''{{Pattern|Te'ved|Banshee}}''' – An ordained version of the ''Is'belox''-pattern Banshee. Some of which saw use with [[Loka 'Bandolee]]'s forces.{{Ref/Reuse|waypbanshee}}
**'''{{Pattern|Irdnekt|Banshee}}''' – A type of Banshee seen notably utilized by the [[Prophet of Truth]]'s [[Truth's fleet|forces]] during the [[Battle of Earth]] and the [[Battle of Installation 00]] in late [[2552]].{{Ref/Reuse|waypbanshee}}
*'''{{Pattern|Elsedda|Banshee}}''' – An exoatmospheric type of Banshee used by the Covenant en masse.{{Ref/Reuse|waypbanshee}}
*'''{{Pattern|D'nomlhe|Banshee}}''' – A Banshee engineered by Sangheili post-[[Great Schism]], using features unseen in previous [[San'Shyuum]] design models.{{Ref/Reuse|waypbanshee}}
<gallery class=center>
File:H2A-T26BansheeGSA.png|{{Pattern|Oghal|Banshee}}.
File:H2A-HereticBanshee.png|Sesa's {{Pattern|Drailaac|Banshee}}.
File:H2A-MP-T26BansheeGSA.png|{{Pattern|Is'belox|Banshee}}.
File:H2A-HereticBanshee-Flight-01.png|Loka's {{Pattern|Te'ved|Banshee}}.
File:Halo3-T26BansheeGSA-Pilot.png|{{Pattern|Irdnekt|Banshee}}.
File:Type-27 XMF.png|{{Pattern|Elsedda|Banshee}}.
File:H5G-Banshee.png|{{Pattern|D'nomlhe|Banshee}}.
</gallery>
;Banished
*'''[[Banished Banshee|'Ahtulai Workshop Banshee]]''' – An uparmored ''Oghal''-pattern Banshee deployed during the [[Second Ark Conflict]].
**'''[[Unstable Banshee]]''':  This is a variant of the 'Ahtulai Workshop Banshee that is fitted with canisters that cause the vehicle to explode violently upon destruction.
*'''[[Kaelum Workshop Banshee]]''' – A redesigned ''Is'belox''-pattern Banshee deployed during the [[Battle for Zeta Halo]].
<gallery class=center>
File:HW2-BanBansheeTransparent.png|[[Banished Banshee|'Ahtulai Workshop Banshee]].
File:HW2-BlitzBanishedBanshees.jpg|[[Unstable Banshee]].
File:HINF Banished Banshee Transparent.png|[[Kaelum Workshop Banshee]].
</gallery>
;Colors
*'''[[Sword Banshee]]''' – Banshees predominately used by the [[Swords of Sanghelios]].<ref name="h5g">''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''</ref>
*'''[[Ultra Banshee]]''' – Banshees only used by skillful pilots.{{Ref/Reuse|h5g}}
*'''[[Temple Banshee]]''' – Banshees used by the [[Sky-chevaliers]].{{Ref/Reuse|h5g}}
<gallery class=center>
File:H5G-T54BansheeGSA-Sword.png|[[Sword Banshee]].
File:H5G-T54BansheeGSA-Ultra.png|[[Ultra Banshee]].
File:H5G-T54BansheeGSA-Temple.png|[[Temple Banshee]].
</gallery>
;Personalized variants
*'''[[Saban'amnsir]]''' – A specialty Banshee used by [[Mvon 'Sraom]].<ref name="CF100">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/sweet-centennial ''Halo Waypoint'': Canon Fodder #100 - Sweet Centennial]</ref>
<gallery class=center>
File:H5G-Warzone-BaronSroam.png|[[Saban'amnsir]].
</gallery>

==Non-canon and dubious canon appearances==
===Silver Timeline===
{{Main|Silver Timeline}}
''Is'belox''-pattern Banshees are used by the Covenant against humanity.{{Ref/YouTube|Id=HTVOT|b4doITNi2RE|Paramount+|Halo The Series (2022) Official Trailer|Y=2022|M=3|D=14}}

In [[2552]], a surviving [[Sangheili]] escaped from [[Madrigal]] on a Banshee after witnessing [[John-117/Silver|John-117]] activate the [[Forerunner]] [[keystone]].{{Ref/Film|TV|Episode=[[Contact]]}}

==Related vehicles==
*[[Seraph]] – A Covenant space fighter.<ref>''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]'', p. 169</ref> Used alongside the ''Elsedda''-pattern Banshee and in a ground support role.<ref>''[[Halo: Reach]]'', campaign level, [[Long Night of Solace (level)|Long Night of Solace]]</ref>
*{{Pattern|Bkowe'nei|Vampire}} – A seldom seen atmospheric aircraft used by the Covenant,<ref>''Halo: The Essential Visual Guide'', p. 200</ref> with impressive anti-aircraft capabilities.<ref>''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]'', p. 283 (2011)</ref>

== Trivia ==
{{Linkbox|gallery=yes|gallerypage=Images of Banshees|gameplay=yes}}
* In [[Wikipedia:Celtic mythology|Celtic mythology]], a [[Wikipedia:Banshee|banshee]] is a female spirit who wails for the death of a particular person before they die. Banshees must steal souls from people to continue their existence. The high-pitched sound made by the Covenant Banshee is a reference to this, especially while performing tight maneuvers making it easy to hear them before one sees them. This also fits the theme of Covenant vehicles, with the exceptions of the [[Excavator]]s, being named after supernatural entities.
* In ''Halo: Reach'', on the [[Firefight]] map ''[[Holdout]]'', AI Banshees have been known to abruptly dive and boost straight into one of the platforms at full speed, destroying the Banshee, and often killing a player in the process. It is unknown whether this is a programmed "suicide attack" or a glitch. Oddly enough, the Banshees at the start of the campaign level ''[[Tip of the Spear]]'' have also been known to do this, even though they are scripted to destroy the warthog and fly away.
* The Banshee can be obtained as an avatar prop by purchasing the ''Halo: Reach'' controller for the [[Xbox 360]].
* [[Skyjacker Medal|Skyjacking]] a Banshee in ''Halo: Reach'' campaign will reward the player the [[achievement]] "[[Banshees, Fast and Low]]".
* Banshees use anti-gravity pods on the ends of their wings to fly. However, in ''Halo 2'', and appearing again in ''Halo: Reach'' a Banshee can have both of these pods shot off and still fly normally. It is unknown if [[Bungie]] intended for the Banshees to have an emergency propulsion system, or if this was simply overlooked in the making of the game.
* On the cover of the ''Halo: Combat Evolved'', the two Banshees appear to be un-piloted as the top canopy enclosing the pilot is up. Also, the two Banshees that shoot down [[Foehammer]] in the level The Maw had open canopies. In addition, the Escort Banshees used to escape ''[[Truth and Reconciliation]]'' in [[Keyes (Level)|Keyes]] arrive and land in the hangar with their canopies open. These instances seem to indicate that a Banshee canopy opens during scripted events in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''.
* In ''Halo: Reach'', if a player shoots or melees the Banshee to its damage threshold and attempts to turn the vehicle in the air, the Banshee will be unable to turn in midair because there are no wings to support its turns. It is possible that the pilot relies on the Banshee's rudders and the player's body weight when at this critical degree of damage.
* A well-aimed sniper shot can go through the crack between the canopy and the body of some incarnations of the Banshee, killing the pilot without doing damage to the Banshee itself.
* In ''Halo: Reach'', with enough precision a rocket can be shot through the crack between the cockpit and hull and not harm the Banshee.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrE3yYbGcXw&t=2m6s '''YouTube''' - ''Achievement Hunter : Halo: Reach - Fails of the Weak Volume 66'']</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:HCE Banshee Concept 1.png|Concept art of the ''Oghal''-pattern Banshee in ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]''.
File:HCE Banshee Concept 2.png|Another concept art of the ''Oghal''-pattern Banshee in ''Halo: Combat Evolved''.
File:H4_Banshee_Concept.jpg|Banshee concept art for ''[[Halo 4]]''.
File:HM WarOfBeginnings.jpg|Multiple ancient Sangheili Banshee-like aircraft during the [[Desecration of Ulgethon]] in ''[[Halo Mythos: A Guide to the Story of Halo]]''.
File:HW3 Faceoff Concept.png|[[Halo Wars 3 (rejected pitch)|''Halo Wars 3'' pitch]] artwork depicting numerous Banshee strike fighters supporting a {{Pattern|Syfon|assault carrier}} facing down a UNSC {{Class|Marathon|heavy cruiser}} and many [[GA-TL1 Longsword]]s above a [[planet]].
File:HINF SpaceInvaders.png|A [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] [[Sabre]] fighter in simplistic combat with Banshees, [[Seraph]]s, and [[Phantom]]s in ''[[Slipspace Invaders]]'' arcade game in ''[[Halo Infinite]]''.
</gallery>

==List of appearances==
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-2}}
*''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' 
*''[[Halo: The Flood]]''
*''[[Halo: First Strike]]''
*''[[Halo 2]]''
*''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''
*''[[Believe]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo: Landfall]]''
**''[[Halo: Combat]]''
**''[[Halo: Last One Standing]]''
*''[[Halo: Uprising]]''
*''[[Halo 3]]''
*''[[Halo Wars]]''
*''[[The Life]]''
*''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''
*''[[Halo Legends]]''
**''[[Origins]]''
**''[[Prototype]]''
**''[[The Babysitter]]''
*''[[Halo: Evolutions]]''
**''[[Dirt]]''
**''[[The Return]]''
*''[[Halo: Blood Line]]''
*''[[Remember Reach]]''
**''[[Deliver Hope]]''
*''[[Halo: Reach]]''
*''[[Halo: Fall of Reach]]
**''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Covenant|Covenant]]
**''[[Halo: Fall of Reach - Invasion|Invasion]]
{{col-2}}
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''
**''[[Terminal (Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary)|Terminals]]''
*''[[Halo: The Thursday War]]''
*''[[Halo 4]]''
**''[[Spartan Ops]]''
*''[[Halo: Spartan Assault]]''
*''[[Halo: Escalation]]''
*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
*''[[Halo: New Blood]]''
*''[[Hunt the Truth]]''
*''[[Halo: Spartan Strike]]''
*''[[Halo: Hunters in the Dark]]''
*''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'' 
*''[[Halo: Shadow of Intent]]''
*''[[Know Your Enemy]]''
*''[[Halo: Ground Command]]''
*''[[Halo Mythos: A Guide to the Story of Halo]]''
*''[[Halo: Tales from Slipspace]]''
*''[[Halo Wars 2]]''
*''[[Halo: Envoy]]''
*''[[Halo: Rise of Atriox]]''
*''[[Halo: Collateral Damage]]'' 
*''[[Halo: Fireteam Raven]]''
*''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]''
*''[[Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual]]''
*''[[Halo: Meridian Divide]]''
*''[[Halo: Oblivion]]''
*''[[Halo: Shadows of Reach]]''
*''[[Halo Infinite]]''
*''[[Halo: The Television Series]]''
*''[[Halo: The Rubicon Protocol]]''
*''[[Halo: Winter Contention]]''
*''[[Halo: Outcasts]]''
*''[[Halo: Battle for the Blood-Moon]]''
{{Col-end}}

==Notes==
{{Ref/Notes}}

==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}

{{Banshees}}
{{Covenant Atmospheric/Exoatmospheric Vehicles}}
[[Category:Banshee variants| ]]