Airship

Airships are large floating fortress ships used by the Koopa Troop to attack distant targets from the air or space. Airships tend to be mounted with numerous cannons, Bill Blasters, and other weaponry, as well as heavily occupied by Bowser's forces.

Super Mario Bros. 3
Airships first appear in Super Mario Bros. 3. One airship appears in each world (except Dark Land, under the command of one of the seven Koopalings. Completing the airship level and defeating the Koopaling inside signifies the end of that world and allows access to the next. If Mario or Luigi fail to conquer an Airship on the first attempt, it will randomly move somewhere else on the map. However, using an Anchor will prevent this from happening.

Super Mario Galaxy
Airships make much rarer appearances in Super Mario Galaxy. They are first seen in the game's intro, where Bowser uses them to storm Princess Peach's Castle and kidnap Princess Peach. Despite their presence here, airships are only seen in a handful of galaxies. They are first encountered during Good Egg Galaxy's "King Kaliente's Battle Fleet", where a pair of airships are among the obstacles Mario or Luigi must conquer on the way to the fight with King Kaliente. Space Junk Galaxy's "Kamelia's Air Attack" takes place almost entirely on airships, as does Bowser Jr.'s Airship Armada. Finally, Bowser Jr. is seen keeping Peach in a personal airship during the game's final boss fight.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii
An airship is once again used to kidnap Princess Peach in New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Mario, Luigi, Blue Toad, and/or Yellow Toad spend the game attempting to chase down this airship, and it is seen dropping off a Koopaling at the beginning of each world, and escaping at the end. However, in Worlds 4 and 6, the airship fails to escape in time, and can be explored, leading to a fight with Bowser Jr. However, at the end of this fight, the heroes are kicked out of the airship and the chase continues. Finally, at World 8, Mario and friends finally catch up with the airship, and, after one more fight with Bowser Jr., abandon the ship as Kamek whisks Peach away to Bowser's Castle.

Super Mario Galaxy 2
Airships make sporadic appearances in Super Mario Galaxy 2. Airships appear in Bowser Jr.'s Fearsome Fleet and at the very end of both missions in Fleet Glide Galaxy.

Super Mario 3D Land
Being partially based on Super Mario Bros. 3, airships are set to reappear in Super Mario 3D Land.

Other Appearances
While it can hardly be called an airship anymore, the Sunken Ghost Ship of Super Mario World is said to be the remains of one of the airships destroyed by Mario or Luigi in Super Mario Bros. 3.

In Mario Kart DS, a course called Airship Fortress appears. This course is based off the airships of Super Mario Bros. 3.

Other airships have also appeared in the Mario games. In Super Mario 64, an airship of sorts appears in Rainbow Ride, though it is drastically different in appearance than the ships seen in other Mario games. A similar airship houses the Luigi's Engine Room board in Mario Party. Other named airships include the Koopa Crusier, S.S. Brass, and Rainbow Ship.

Aeronave