ML Aviation Banshee
ML Aviation · United Kingdom · first flew 1983 · reconnaissance aircraft
The ML Aviation Banshee is a British subscale unmanned aerial target used to train missile and gun crews, providing a small and agile target representative of fast jet aircraft.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 2.84 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- British subscale jet-look target drone
- Catapult-launched with parachute recovery — no undercarriage at all
- Used as aerial target for missile and gun training
Very small unmanned aircraft with a conventional layout and a piston engine; the diminutive size — under three metres in both length and span — and target-drone paintwork are the primary identification cues.
Specifications
- The ML Aviation Banshee has a length of 2.84 m (9 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 2.49 m (8 ft).
- Typical crew: 0 (unmanned).
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed by ML Aviation in the early 1980s, the Banshee entered service with the British armed forces and was exported to several nations. Its small size, relatively high performance and reliability made it a successful target drone through the 1980s and 1990s.
Variants
Several marks were produced with different engine options and endurance; the Banshee 400 was a later updated version.
Where you'll see it
The Banshee served as a standard aerial target with the British Army and Royal Navy and was exported to Australia, Canada and other nations for training exercises.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.