Balkiry

Balkiry (バルキーン) is a bird-like plane badnik created by Doctor Robotnik. Balkiry have made first appearance in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, as these badniks attack with the straight line or follow its target either at medium or high speed like homing missile.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2
First appearing in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Balkiry badniks are featured at Sky Chase Zone, flying fast in the opposite direction of Tornado, where the playable character is almost only able to move thought the whole zone. Many of Balkiry badniks appear in groups of two or three. They are not particularly dangerous, although some of them tend to move quickly and can take the player by surprise. The player can do Spin Jump to destroy these badniks.

Sonic Pocket Adventure
Balkiry badniks made another appearance in Sonic the Hedgehog Pocket Adventure, as they are featured again in Sky Chase along with other badniks from previous game. Balkiry badniks mostly have similar pattern, however these badniks are now able to move lateral directions, as it tries to follow the player, who tries to dodge them.

Sonic the Hedgehog 4
Balkiry badniks made reappearance in Sonic the Hedgehog 4 as being featured in first act and boss fight of Sky Fortress Zone. Balkiry's design and its behavior is slightly different from Sonic the Hedgehog 2, as they are now launched from the Metal Carrier. They cascade down on the player from the top of the screen, and can be defeated with a Spin Jump or Homing Attack. However in the Boss Act, some Balkiry badniks behave just as they do in Sonic the Hedgehog 2.

Sonic 4 Website Info

 * A battle plane type bird robot last seen in Sky Chase Zone from "Sonic 2". A whole bunch of them can be shot out of Metal Sonic's weapon unit, "Metal Carrier", in Episode II.

Sonic Lost World
Bakiry badniks appear in the Wii U version of Sonic Lost World, whereas they appear as obstacles for Sonic to avoid while Sonic is running downwards. They appear on Desert Ruins Act 2.

Physical Appearance
Balkiry badnik's design is hybrid of birds and planes. The red and grey metallic body wings on each side, vertical stabilizer and two rotors on its back, which makes the badnik move on medium or high speed. The head section has small eyes and yellow bird beak, while Balkiry have also got two support legs with small wheels, that have shape of eagles feet.

Balkiry's appearance in Sonic the Hedgehog 4 is more detailed, as now support feet are removed and it has got two extra wings at vertical stabilizer.

Abilities
These badniks have given simply pattern, as they fly and attack toward its target like missile. The flying speed of Balkiry varies on certain models, as some of hover with medium speed, while others fly with high speed. In Sonic Pocket Adventure, these badniks are also able to move to lateral directions as following its moving target. In Sonic the Hedgehog 4, these badniks can be launched from Metal Carrier.

Sonic the Comic
Balkiry bacniks have made appearances frequently in Fleetway's Sonic the Comic, where these badniks are standard flying units of Doctor Ivo Robotnik's badnik army. These badniks are first seen in issue 15's cover. Balkiry's model is seen at background in story "Sonic the Human!" of issue 17. In issue 47's story "The Big Con", Buzzer and Balkiry badniks got launched from the convention tower of Chemical Plant Zone after Sonic and the Freedom Fighters are discovered from the crowd. All civilians believed first this being part of the show. They soon change their mind when Balkiry badniks start dive-bombing them. Despite the strike, Sonic and Freedom Fighters manage to destroy convention tower and badniks along with it by pushing the Robotnik statue to the tower. In issue 52's story "Knuckles Versus the Cybernik", Robotnik launches one Balkiry badnik after Shortfuse the Cybernik once relentlessly tailed one in order to destroy it, but was destroyed by Knuckles the Echidna. Another set of Balkiry badniks are got down this time by Shortfuse the Cybernik himself and Tekno in Chemical Plant Zone in issue 63's story "Cybernik Strikes Back". Balkiry badnik is then seen kidnapping Amy Rose much later in issue 89's story "A New Hope", as this makes prompting the other Freedom Fighters to realize how badly they needed Sonic. Balkiry badniks are also later seen along with other badniks ordered to attack by Grimer in issue 99's story "No Exit". After the fall of Robotnik's empire, later models of Balkiry badniks were shown to be built with an electric attack, one of which accidentally revived Kog from under Citadel Robotnik as seen in issue 109's "Kog the Mighty". Balkiry is also seen during the surprise attack of badniks in issue 131's "Shady Characters", where they later reveal to be sent out by Agent X.

Trivia

 * In Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Balkiry has unused in-game sprite showing its landing pose, that can only be found inside of the game's coding. It is possible that they were originally intended to start flying from this pose at Wing Fortress Zone, but the movement has then become unused for unknown reasons.
 * A robot called E-11 Beacon is based on Balkiry. The robot makes an appearance in "Skirmish in the Sky".