Shadow, rank of your character means almost NOTHING. I have a rank 15-16 character in an Eagle with 4 wildfires, MkVII armor, nomad thruster, and nova torp launcher. The eagle itself is worth nothing. Someone could have a level 35 Eagle, or Sabre, or Ravenclaw, and be better than a level 47 wraith, talon, anything. Your rank number doesn't change the odds of a fight. It doesn't gain you extra agility, or skill. It is nothing more than an indicator of the money you have.