Zion didn't even fight with one, he only fled on it. Surely a huge waste. The flying ones are apparently very valuable in battle...just not against a war maiden.

Elen eviscerated the first one, using an attack so powerful that she refuses to use it on people.

I wouldn't say they were a letdown so much as there is a good reason Zhcted is only attacked when they are outnumbered 5 to 1...and even then, only Eleonora was present.

I wonder if the person/entity speaking through the bow is the goddess Tigre prayed to before he decided to try killing Elen.