China's new B&M Flyer (with loop!)

Pix are Here

Looks pretty cool, I think.

I like that one and a half inversion element under the lift leading into the loop. Looks pretty crazy and disorienting.

I believe this is the first flyer to have a straight first drop. The rest of the layout is impressively unique, too.

Certainly reminds me a LOT of the Vekoma layouts. There's a couple of things that are different, but it's got a lot of the good parts.

SFoGswim, the Veko and Zamperla flyers all have straight first drops. Unless you mean lift then drop (with no turns). This is B&M's first flyer with out a curved drop as well.

This thing looks pretty cool to me.

Is the name really Starry Night Ripper (3D)? That's funny. :D

Short layout, but I like it. I just wish it had the pretzel loop.

I remember reading long ago that the reason B&M puts curving first drops on their inverted coasters is that they allow a better view. It moves the seat from out in front of you a little. I always assumed that's why they did it for their flying coasters as well, but now that I think about it, you don't see the car in front of you when riding a flyer.

^LOL, I feel *exactly* the opposite - why can't WE get a B&M flyer without the pretzel...kidding, to that extent that I'm willing to wait until the excessive love for this one convinces US parks to follow suit... :)

"These pretzels are making me salty"... ;)

FIERCE!

Why get rid of the pretzel when we could have both?

Looks nice, but short. At least it doesn't suffer from S:UF "after the pretzel, meander aimlessly for a while...then end." I think the Vekoma loop equals the pretzel for intensity and fun factor, so this could be a pretty neat addition to the B&M repertoire. I'm still waiting (will be a long time) for B&M flyers to go up the hill on their backs on go lie-to-fly at the top of the lift.

Looks amazing! I much prefer the loops over the pretzel loops - I miss that most about X-Flight compared to the B&M's I have ridden (2xSUF and Manta).

That G-roll-flip element looks insane as well!

I'm still waiting (will be a long time) for B&M flyers to go up the hill on their backs on go lie-to-fly at the top of the lift.

Not sure we'll ever see that happen with B&M's Flyers. FIrst of all, the sun-blindness heading up a lift with your eyes directed at the Sun is incredibly uncomfortable.

Secondly, there is no heightened sensation of height when your field of vision is the sky, instead of being forced to look straight down at the ground as you go higher and higher.

Agreed. One of the best parts of Tatsu is looking down from the top of the lift as you're above the trees over 200 ft above ground level. Awesome!

I know it won't happen, but I thought that part of the ride experience was (one of the only things that was) far superior on the Vekomas.

I think it's interesting to go up (and wait in the break run) on your stomach, but that one second at the top of the course when you flip over and you're 100+ feet off the ground was one of the only times in recent memory that I was genuinely scared on a coaster.

I'm with Andy. I much prefer the lift/brakes of the Vekoma versions.

I don't like waiting on the brakes in the hot sun or rain, especially when something causes a delay for the train to get back into the station, but that moment when you flip at the top of the lift on those rides is a very memorable part of the ride... I would say that is the best part of the ride.

Those Vekoma flyers freak me the hell out. :)

I still don't really like either version. The position you're in whether hanging from the track or lying on your back is bloody uncomfortable.

After riding Tatsu, it's hard to imagine any other flyer ever coming close. But in terms of brake runs, I much prefer to be laying on my back than resting on the restraints face down.

Well if Vekoma ever actually got that part working (as overly complex as it was and assuredly accounted for a large amount of down time), in theory you'd be elevated until you engage the lift and also once you hit the breaks.

I know a huge reason the B&M models were so easy to get open and keep open was because of the relative simplicity of the design, but at least it's theoretically possible to prevent the "staring at the sun" factor.