A new twist on Flyers??

Someone on GTTP posted this site for Chance Rides, and look what I found:

http://www.rides.com/aviator_home.html

The ones we had such a blast on at CBCon at PKI (and ones I remember from my childhood) were simple tubs with fins on the front and back.

These look especially cool. Has anyone spotted this type of ride at any park?

And STChick....maybe someone should pass a hint to get one of these installed at MIA?

-----------------
I'd rather die living than live like I'm dead

Those look sweet, there is one at Jazzland, theres one at a Six Flags park themed to Batwing (anyone wanna assist on this one) and they have alot of themes. ALthough I wouldn't wanna try and snap these a hundred feet in the air.

-----------------
Can we change the name of Top Gun to your mom so no one wants to ride your mom?

Yep, there's one of those at SFEG. (and it is themed to Batwing too.)

As soon as I get my personal webserver up, I will have photos of it on there.

As fas as snap capability, I would have to say, no. Between the low rotational speed and the sloppy controls, it is hard to get it to do more than up and down slightly...

-----------------
Posting, "Me too" like some brain dead AOLer. I ought to to the world a favor, and cap you like old yeller...

They have them at PKD. But I don't think you are able to snap the cords. They were a real mellow ride and it was kind of hard just to swing in and out

Paramount King's Dominion opened one not too long ago. I had the chance to experience it on a few weeks ago on my "CoasterBinge." It doesn't swing out as much as the flyers, so no snappage there. Heck I don't think you'd want to since you are soaring 100 ft off the ground.

The ride is controlled with a joystick that moves the two side fins to catch the wind, much like the Flyers. You have a shoulder harness that keeps you in snugly. And believe it or not, the one at PKD is considered a kiddy flat ride!

-----------------
Proud member of the Frequent Flyer Club
"Make it Stop! MAKE IT STOP!!!"

Darn, snapping is what helps make them fun.

-----------------
I'd rather die living than live like I'm dead

Are they fun? I really would like to ride them.

-----------------
Can we change the name of Top Gun to your mom so no one wants to ride your mom?

I just did some quick calculations based on info on Chance's website. At max speed (8.6 rpm, the max diameter is 90ft) so, the circumference would be approx 282.7ft. Multiply that by the 8.6 rpm, it goes 2431.6 f/min, multiply that by 60 minutes, it goes 145,895.4 f/hr which divided by 5280 leaves you with 27.6 mph top speed at max extension.

So the ride _can_ move at a decent clip ...but again remember, that is the max speed that it can go, parks can choose to run it slower which would affect turning ability, especially since the wing design does not allow for much turning ability.

I am no aviation expert, but I think the tails on the PKI flyers and one like it, make the snap possible.

Anyone out there who has a physics background or a pilot's license care to explain?

-----------------
Posting, "Me too" like some brain dead AOLer. I ought to to the world a favor, and cap you like old yeller...

...don't be fooled, these things are not "navigable" like the flyers are.....thery are cool, and high, but I get more *action* out of the Wave Swingers.....

Big problems with the Chance Aviator--

1) The tubs are suspended from rigid tubular struts. No matter how good you are, snapping is impossible because there is no flexibility in the suspension hardware. Changing to wire rope would be a significant improvement.

2) Shoulder bars. Need I say more?

3) Tubs are really too heavy, although the dual sails pretty much make up for that.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Well I thought PKD aviator (Nickelodeon Space Surfer) was just as lame as PKD flyers (Flying Eagles). But I'm perhaps the wrong person to ask.

Both are great for a breeze though!

-------------
Besides, if we were really shutting down people we disagreed with, would Jeremy (2Hostyl) still be around? :) I think not. - Jeff 1/24/02

Do any parks have chance's revolution ride yet? J/w cause it looks cool from the one pic i have seen.

-----------------
Token from KPC.
Let's just say there is no such thing as a small order of fries at the Patch.

I like how they're high up but I think I'll stick with the origonal!

-----------------
It's his turn to feast, when you ride the Son of Beast.

It is hard for anybody to get the planes swinging good on the aviator. In the three seasons I have been working at SFEG, I've only seen a handful of people getting them swinging.

-----------------
"If you ever go to a hotel be sure to bring your own towel, you never know where hotel towels have been." -Towelie

How exactly do you "snap" flyers?

-----------------
AC?, RB?, MF?, DD?, PR? Who can keep track of it all?

The one at PKD is fun because of how high up you get and its a ncie ride for little kids. I personally would take teh PKI flyers any day over the PKD ones.

Ya, thanks for the answers guy. I am in the process of learning to snap the flyers, its really tough dang it! Its kind of hard to snap something up that high anyways I wouldn't try it.

-----------------
Can we change the name of Top Gun to your mom so no one wants to ride your mom?

I don't like them. This may be because the two times I have ridden the one at SFEG this year, there has been a problem with it and we had to sit there for 10 minutes. One time we had to get off. The wings don't work well and even when they do it isn't too exicting.

Apollo Andy, go Here and scroll down. You'll see my take on the art of snapping.

As neat as the Aviator looks, it just didn't do it for me. I knew it wouldn't match the unnerving personality of a standard Flyers, but I was hoping for something more than just swaying back and forth! I guess a Phlyer phanatic (its almost October right?) is sort of spoiled, and any ride that tries to mimmick the original just won't do it. I'm not even sure how Larson's new 8 tub version is. Any PGA'ers want to spill the beans? :)
-------------
Brad Sherman
BuzzCon Frequent Flyer, helping to train new ride ops properly!
Model coasters and rides

Brad, I think you should do some research and write a feature article on CoasterBuzz about the flyers: who makes/made them, a little bit of history behind them, where they still operate, the "art" of snapping. It seems that everyone's attention is now on this highly underrated ride, and I'd be interested myself to find out some history behind such a classic park attraction :)

-----------------
BuzzCon '02 Frequent Flyer: Having fun on the flyers is a snap!