DS Airship Fortress

Airship Fortress is the fourth and final course of the Star Cup in Mario Kart DS. The course takes place both on a floating fortress in disrepair and on an airship. The course is inspired by the environment of boss levels seen in Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World. Other airships can be seen flying away in the sky.

The most notable feature in the course is the Pipe Cannon that shoots racers out to the fortress through the air. Furthermore, the track includes obstacles such as Bullet Bills, Rocky Wrenches and more. Missions 6-2 and 7-7 take place in this course.

The track reappears in Mario Kart 7 as the third course of the Lightning Cup, and in Mario Kart Tour starting from the Pirate Tour.

Mario Kart DS
The race starts with a straightaway, where a barrage of Bullet Bills are shot from a Bill Blaster of the airship and causes players to flip over if they touch them. Passing this section of the track, players turn left with a right turn shortly after and get a boost by running over a Dash Panel, entering the deck of the airship.

On the deck of the ship, racers must dodge Rocky Wrenches that pop out from their trenches, hitting racers who drive over them. Proceeding inside the airship, players take a tight left turn and reach the cellar where some crates are spread throughout the room that may contain a Mushroom or a Banana Peel if they break the crate. The next room to follow includes burners moving side to side that causes players to spin out if they touch the fire.

Players exit the airship by being launched by the airship's Pipe Cannon with a dash panel, similar to DK Mountain, aimed at a hole in the fortress tower. Following the corkscrew inside the tower, there's one last turn to finish the race. Just before the last turn, players can knock other racers off the course.

Missions
In mission 6-2 the player has to hit 15 Rocky Wrenches using Stars. The player has 30 seconds to complete it, but once the Star runs out, the player has to get another Star from the Item Box. Stars always appear every time the player breaks one.

In mission 7-7 the player must collect 12 coins in reverse while avoiding the Burners. If they get burned, they fail the mission.

Mario Kart 7
Airship Fortress returns as the third track in the Lightning Cup in Mario Kart 7.

Immediately following the starting line, both drop-offs can be used to perform a trick and gain a small boost. As well, the Bullet Bills have become Banzai Bills, and are now shot out at faster intervals. The interior of the airship has some minor changes. The room with the Rocket Engines now has a fence floor with lava under it, and the Rocky Wrenches now make sounds. Hitting a Banzai Bill has the similar effect as getting blown up by a Spiny Shell or being hit by a Bullet Bill, causing the player to tumble and roll over sideways.

Launching out of the Pipe Cannon now encompasses a Glide Ramp. Players cannot aim their flight and they are also no longer immune to items while in the Pipe Cannon, and being hit by anything (or intentionally stowing their glider) results in having to be rescued by Lakitu.

Shortcuts

 * Dropping onto the rail between the Banzai Bill section and first boost panel in order to take the turn tighter saves a minimal amount of time.
 * Dropping onto the longer rail at the start of the lap is useful during races as, while not necessarily saving time, it allows the player to dodge items and Banzai Bills.
 * A difficult respawn shortcut can be performed by leaning off the curve on the second, smaller rail to gain an upwards angle and using a Mushroom. If the player goes far enough, they will be respawned just before the cannon. If done quickly saves around ten seconds.

Mario Kart Tour
Airship Fortress returns in Mario Kart Tour, debuting in the Pirate Tour. Unlike other courses appearing in Mario Kart 7, especially among the retro courses from Mario Kart DS in that game, it has received many notable aesthetic changes. The course now takes place in a lava-filled ocean instead of the sky, as well as taking place during the early morning instead of being held at sunset. Several lit torches were added to the sides of the track before the main airship and on each column of the main tower and hanging lanterns on the main airship's deck.

The main airship and several others are a more lighter brown in color, with their masts now possessing propellers instead of sails. Hitting a Rocky Wrench now gives points to the player instead of making them spin-out, and players can now trick on top of Rocky Wrenches that poke their heads out of the ground. The tunnel leading to the main airship's cabin has also been given a redesign, with the doors being replaced by multiple portholes, lights, and groups of barrels and crates, while the wall separating the two rooms was made to resemble the type of wall seen inside a wine cellar. Additionally, the main airship's cabin has been redesigned to resemble a drinking bar, with Shy Guys sitting on stools, bottles on shelves, a dartboard, and several tables.

The main tower is also now part of a larger fortress, with other towers in the background. The starting banner is now made of stone that is held up by two small towers, and the Mario Kart logo on the starting banner is the modern logo as opposed to the classic logo. The course is a favorite of Mario (Swimwear), Daisy (Yukata), Peach (Halloween), Luigi (Lederhosen), Dry Bowser (Gold), Bowser Jr. (Pirate), and Shy Guy (Gold). It is also a favorite of Captain Toad if he is at level 6.

Pirate Tour
In the Pirate Tour, Airship Fortress served as the tour's signature course. It appeared as the first course in the Bowser Jr. Cup, the third course in the Dry Bowser Cup, the location of the bonus challenges in the Toadette Cup, the Daisy Cup, and the Koopa Troopa Cup, and the location of the tour's Coin Rush. Its T variant appeared as the third course in the King Boo Cup and the second course in the Luigi Cup, and its R variant appeared as the second course in the Dry Bones Cup and the first course in the Wario Cup.



Summer Festival Tour
In the Summer Festival Tour, Airship Fortress appeared as the first course in the Dry Bones Cup and the location of the bonus challenge in the Birdo Cup. Its R variant appeared as the first course in the Morton Cup, and its T variant appeared as the third course in the Bowser Jr. Cup.



1st Anniversary Tour
In the 1st Anniversary Tour, Airship Fortress appeared as the third course in the Koopa Troopa Cup and the location of the bonus challenge in the Baby Peach Cup. Its R variant appeared as the first course in the Larry Cup, and its T variant appeared as the second course in the Shy Guy Cup.



Halloween Tour (2020)
In the 2020 Halloween Tour, Airship Fortress appeared as the first course in the Shy Guy Cup and the location of the bonus challenges in the Toad Cup and the Ice Mario Cup. Its R variant appeared as the first course in the Donkey Kong Cup, and its T variant appeared as the third course in the Peachette Cup.



New Year's 2021 Tour
In the New Year's 2021 Tour, Airship Fortress appeared as the second course in the Diddy Kong Cup. Its R variant appeared as the third course in the King Boo Cup and the location of the bonus challenge in the Pauline Cup, and its T variant appeared as the second course in the Peachette Cup.



Berlin Tour
In the Berlin Tour, Airship Fortress appeared as the first course in the King Boo Cup. Its R variant appeared as the third course in the Peach Cup, and its T variant appeared as the first course in the Lakitu Cup.



Mario Tour
In the Mario Tour, Airship Fortress appeared as the second course in the Mario Cup and the location of the bonus challenge in the Metal Mario Cup. Its R variant appeared as the third course in the Baby Daisy Cup, and its T variant appeared as the third course in the Dry Bowser Cup.

Mario Kart DS

 * European website bio: "Bowser should be right at home in these ships in the sky. Race across the decks of these floating wrecks, get blasted from cannons and dodge oncoming missile fire, as you fight to stay in one piece long enough to take the pole position."

Mario Kart Tour

 * Mario Kart Tour Twitter: "It's time for the Pirate Tour! The DS Airship Fortress course makes its debut in Mario Kart Tour. It's a long way down from this floating fortress, so make sure you stay on course!"