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Flying
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Description

Riders are positioned in a face-down position underneath the track.

First Installation

Skytrak (1997)

Oldest in Operation

Batwing (2001)

Newest Installation

Starry Sky Ripper (2011)

Manufacturers

Bolliger & Mabillard - Vekoma - Zamperla

A flying roller coaster is a type of a steel roller coaster with cars designed to simulate the sensations of flight. The roller coaster cars are suspended below the track, with riders secured so 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 world's first flying roller coaster was Skytrak, built in Manchester, United Kingdom at Granada Studios in 1997. 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.

In 2000, flying coasters were taken to a completely new level and started a new stage of their life when Stealth (built by Vekoma) debuted in Paramount's Great America featuring not only a lay-down running but also a 6-car with rows of 4 pasenger train pasing through twisting inversions that featured both lay-up and lay-down segments. After its success this layout was later commercialized as Flying Dutchman.

Flying Train Configuration

A Vekoma and B&M flying train.


Notable coasters[]

Name Park Manufacturer Opened Status
Skytrak Granada Studios Skytrak International 1997 Defunct
Komet Encounter Zone Select Contracts 1998 Defunct
Batwing Six Flags America Vekoma 2001 Operating
Air/Galactica Alton Towers Bolliger & Mabillard 2002 Operating
Superman - Ultimate Flight Six Flags Over Georgia Bolliger & Mabillard 2002 Operating
Flying Coaster Elitch Gardens Zamperla 2002 Relocated to Luna Park
Superman - Ultimate Flight Six Flags Great Adventure Bolliger & Mabillard 2003 Operating
Superman - Ultimate Flight Six Flags Great America Bolliger & Mabillard 2003 Operating
Hexenbesen Seilbahnen Thale Wiegand 2003 Operating
Nighthawk
Formerly Stealth
Carowinds
California's Great America
Vekoma
2004
2000
Operating
Closed 2003
Flying Coaster Genting Theme Park Zamperla 2004 Operating
Super Flight Playland Zamperla 2004 Operating
Time Warp Canada's Wonderland Zamperla 2004 Operating
Volare Wiener Prater Zamperla 2004 Operating
Trombi Särkänniemi Zamperla 2005 Operating
Tatsu Six Flags Magic Mountain Bolliger & Mabillard 2006 Operating
Crystal Wing Happy Valley Bolliger & Mabillard 2006 Operating
Flying Coaster Genting Highlands Outdoor Theme Park Zamperla 2006 Operating
Firehawk
Formerly X-Flight
Kings Island
Geauga Lake
Vekoma
2007
2001
Defunct
Closed 2006
Manta SeaWorld Orlando Bolliger & Mabillard 2009 Operating
Stingray Giant Wheel Park of Suzhou Vekoma 2009 Operating
Sky Scrapper World Joyland Bolliger & Mabillard 2011 Operating
Roller Coaster Types
Track Materials HybridSteelWooden
Train Configurations 4th DimensionBobsledDive CoasterFloorlessFlyingInvertedMine TrainMotorbikePipelineSide FrictionSpinningStand-UpStraddleSuspendedVirginia ReelWing Coaster
Track Layouts DuelingFigure 8LaunchedMöbius LoopOut & BackRacingShuttleStrata CoasterWild Mouse
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