Air Racer rivals: Grandpa, Kite, Bolt, Nova and Blaze
Air Racer has a small, friendly story. Grandpa teaches you to fly and cheers you on. Four rival pilots, Kite, Bolt, Nova and Blaze, each race you once you have finished all three courses of their place. Beat a rival's time to win 500 coins and a tick next to their name.
Who is Grandpa?
Grandpa gives you his old Trainer and teaches you to fly. You see his painted portrait in the menu, in the lessons and on the result screen. He has six faces, from a happy hello to a big cheer. Here is what he does:
- Says hello the first time you play in a save slot: "Hi, I'm Grandpa! This old Trainer is yours now. Let's learn to fly."
- Teaches you in the five Learn to fly cards. See your first flight.
- Gives a tip for each course on the menu's first page, until you have seen it and won a medal on that course.
- Says one line after each race: a cheer for a medal, a "find a faster line" after a plain finish, and kind words after a crash, like "That happens to every pilot. Try once more!"
- Introduces each rival when their race opens.
If you would rather fly without him, turn off Grandpa's tips in Settings, under Flying. Then he only appears in the Learn to fly lessons and in guided practice.
Grandpa's course tips
| Course | Grandpa says |
|---|---|
| Harbour Sprint | Keep your wings level through the blue pylons. Small moves are fast moves! |
| Fjord Slalom | See the red gate? Turn your wings straight up, slip through, then roll back. |
| Waterfall Loop | Build speed first. Then pull back gently and follow every ring round the loop. |
| Lighthouse Run | Every third gate is red. Roll early and you'll slip right through. |
| Island Chicane | Lots of left and right here. Follow the arrows and slow down before the slalom. |
| Bridge Dive | The rings go up and down like a wave. Under the bridge, aim for the middle! |
| Red Canyon | The canyon swings left and right. Look at the next gate, not at your nose. |
| Arch Loop | A loop again! Lots of speed, a gentle pull, and keep the stone arch in the middle. |
| Grand Final | Everything you've learned, all in one race. Take a deep breath. You can do this! |
The four rival pilots
| Rival | Races on | Opens when | Plane | Shadow colour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kite | Waterfall Loop | You finish all three Fjord courses | Trainer | Green |
| Bolt | Bridge Dive | You finish all three Coast courses | Racer | Yellow |
| Nova | Grand Final | You finish all three Canyon courses | Aerobat | Red |
| Blaze | Grand Final (Champion's race) | You beat Nova | Pro Racer | Orange |
Kite
Kite is the newest racer and practises loops every morning. Kite has practised the Waterfall Loop all week and wants to race you on it. Win, and Kite asks if you can teach the loop!
Bolt
Bolt has a stopwatch for everything, even for tea. Bolt times every gate and wants to know who is faster under the bridge.
Nova
Nova won the canyon race last year and flies smooth, calm lines. The Grand Final is Nova's favourite. Beat Nova and you get a tip for the last red gate.
Blaze
Blaze is the champion, with a big laugh and a big heart. Blaze only races you after you beat Nova, in the Champion's race on the Grand Final. Win or lose, there are cinnamon buns for everyone.
How to race a rival
- Finish all three courses of a place, with any times.
- Open Courses in the menu. Under the place, the rival's row now has a Race button, like Race Kite.
- Or, when you are on the rival's course, Grandpa invites you on the menu's first page with the same button.
- The rival says hello. Press Race Kite (or the rival's name) to take off.
- The rival flies the course next to you as a see-through shadow plane in their own colour. You fly your own plane.
Until a race opens, the row says Finish all three courses here to race Kite. Blaze's row says Beat Nova first to race Blaze. once the Canyon courses are done.
How to beat a rival
To win, your total time (flying time plus penalty seconds) must be lower than the rival's. A tie is not a win.
| Rival | About this time to beat | Compare with the medals |
|---|---|---|
| Kite | 56 s | Between Silver (57 s) and Gold (52 s) |
| Bolt | 66 s | Between Silver (69 s) and Gold (63 s) |
| Nova | 78 s | Between Silver (82 s) and Gold (75 s) |
| Blaze | 71 s | Between Gold (75 s) and Author (68 s) |
These times are not shown before the race. They are the rival's planned times; the rival's real flight lands within half a second of them. In short: a Silver-medal pace is not quite enough, and a Gold-medal flight beats Kite, Bolt and Nova. Blaze needs a flight well inside Gold.
The first win pays 500 coins, and the rival's row shows a tick and You beat Kite (or their name). You can race them again as often as you like, but the prize is only paid once. If they win, they say so kindly, and you can go again. Rival races never stop you from playing other courses.
Tips for rival races
- Watch where the shadow pulls ahead. Then use Watch this flight to see your own line there. See shadows and replays.
- Kite flies the Trainer. So you can beat Kite with the Trainer too.
- Fly clean. Two missed gates are 4 seconds, and that is often the whole gap.
- Try a faster plane for Blaze. Blaze flies the Pro Racer. See planes and paints.
See also
- All nine courses: the rivals' courses gate by gate.
- Advanced tips: faster lines for loops and rings.
- Medals and coins: what rival wins pay.
- Back to the Air Racer guide, or play Air Racer.
