Which Ships Should You Fly Solo at IAE 2956?
Crusader and Drake share 17 November. See which haulers to look for that day, which light fighters suit a solo pilot, and which salvager packs its own crates.
We’d take the C1 Spirit for a solo freight run, the Gladius for a dogfight and the Fortune for a first shift on a wreck.
All six appeared on CIG’s 2955 free-rental list. For 2956, the manufacturer dates below are confirmed and the individual ships are our picks from the rental forecast. Check the show-floor kiosk for that day’s selection. The finale on 23–27 November is the best opportunity to compare different manufacturers in one visit.
Solo hauling: C1 Spirit or Cutlass Black?
Crusader (16–17 November) and Drake (17–18 November) share one rental day: 17 November. If both ships are on the kiosks, you can fly the same cargo run in each that evening.
The Spirit carries 64 SCU on its grid against the Cutlass Black’s 46 SCU. A 50 SCU consignment fits on the C1’s grid in one trip. Its tractor beam helps you load through the rear ramp, though a solo pilot has to leave the flight controls to operate it.
The Black makes a better pick for a hauler who also takes combat contracts with a friend. You still have the pilot guns when you fly alone. Bring a gunner and they can cover you from the turret. For freight, the Cutlass gives you two side doors as well as the rear ramp, handy when the nearest box is sitting alongside the ship.
Light fighters: Arrow or Gladius?
Anvil, 15–16 November; Aegis, 20–21 November. The Arrow and Gladius are single-seat fighters. Leave the hauling contract for another rental: neither has a cargo grid.
Start with the Gladius if it’s your first dedicated dogfighter. You have three main guns under your control and a clear view ahead under the canopy. Pick the Arrow if you enjoy staying on a target’s tail through a tight turn. Its small frame and agility are the draw.
Solo salvage: Vulture or Fortune?
Drake, 17–18 November; MISC, 19–20 November. The Vulture has two salvage arms and an enclosed 12 SCU cargo grid. When crates come out of the dispenser, you can leave the cockpit and move them around the hold yourself.
The Fortune’s automatic loader stacks output on exterior cargo grids. It carries 16 SCU on those grids, and a lone pilot spends less time getting up to handle boxes. We’d take the Fortune to spend more of the shift scraping. For a pilot who likes climbing down to the hold and packing the haul by hand, the Vulture is the better rental. Our solo salvage comparison also covers the smaller RSI Salvation.
Sources and ship artwork: Cloud Imperium Games. IAE 2956 rental calendar, 2955 rental lineup, Ship Matrix and C1 Spirit specifications.