Flying roller coaster

A flying roller coaster is a variation of roller coaster meant to simulate the sensations of flight. The roller coaster cars are suspended below the track, with riders secured such that their backs are parallel to the track. Flying roller coasters come in a variety of sizes and designs depending on the intended demographic for the ride. Some flying roller coasters are intended for children and, thus, are relatively slow and gentle; others are meant for older children and adults and can be very fast and intense.

History

The flying roller coaster is a relatively new concept. The world's first flying roller coaster was "Skytrak", built in Manchester, United Kingdom at Granada Studios in 1997.citeweb|url=http://rcdb.com/id2380.htm|title=Skytrak|work=www.rcdb.com|accessdate=2008-08-21] . The "Skytrak" used a single-passenger car. Riders would climb into the car in much the same fashion as climbing a ladder, then the car would be raised up to the track before being dispatched. The single-passenger design kept the ride's capacity low, at only 240 riders per hour. The park, and "Skytrak" itself, were short-lived, both closing in 1998, but nevertheless the ride was the first of its kind.

Vekoma

Dutch roller coaster manufacturer Vekoma constructed the first large-scale flying roller coaster, "Stealth", for the former Paramount's Great America in 2000. Nicknamed the 'Flying Dutchman' by Vekoma, "Stealth" featured a higher-capacity train with four-across seating. Riders load the trains in an upright sitting position, facing the rear of the train, after which the train is dispatched. As the train begins its ascent up the lift hill, the cars are lowered to the track, with the riders on their backs facing the sky. After cresting the lift hill, the track rotates a half twist to flip the riders into the flying position for the rest of the ride.. Riders typically must be 54 inches or taller to ride.

Vekoma has since designed a new, more compact flying roller coaster nicknamed the 'Stingray'. Its first announced installation will be at the Suzhou Giant Wheel Park in Suzhou, China, opening in 2009.

Bolliger & Mabillard

Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M) unveiled its Flying Coaster model in 2002 with "Air" at Alton Towers, followed later in the year by "" at Six Flags Over Georgia. In this version, the rider takes a sitting position with their legs dangling in a similar fashion to B&M's inverted roller coaster. Mechanisms in the station lift the car up to the track, placing passengers in a flying position for the duration of the ride. Leg clamps insure that the rider will be comfortable for the entire ride. Bolliger & Mabillard currently holds the record for the longest, tallest and fastest flying roller coaster in the world, "Tatsu", at Six Flags Magic Mountain. Like the Vekoma models, riders must be at least 54 inches tall.

Zamperla

Italy's Zamperla produces a flying roller coaster model dubbed 'Volare' (Italian for To Fly). Riders lie down in the cars, which hang from an upper rail at a 45 degree angle. The car is then lifted up into a flying position while holding the riders inside. This model is very compact and affordable (estimated to be USD $6 million) and comes with a unique spiral lift hill in which a tall spinning column with 2 vertical poles connected to it which push the cars up the spiral track. The minimum rider height requirement is 50 inches tall or more.

Flying coasters

References

External links

* [http://www.bolliger-mabillard.com/ Bolliger & Mabillard's official site]
* [http://www.vekoma.com/ Vekoma's official site]
* [http://www.zamperla.it/ Zamperla's official site]