Flying Coasters....For them or against them?

First off, I haven't rode B&M's version yet just Verkoma's. I wonder why Parks are buying these particular rides. I for one thought that X Flight was OK. I'm a hugh fan of suspended and Inverts. Flying doesn't do It for me. I find them unconfortable and just not that exciting. Regarding, B&M's version I read alot of medocre reveiws of Air and the Superman Clones. X flight @ SFWOA always seems to be breaking down, The Capacity of the Flying coaster @ PGA seems to be low. Last Years Mini Flyer @ SFEG didn't receive that much hype.With the exception of the pretzel knot inversion, enthuiast seem disappointed in the concept. Does the GP love these? I'd much rather see 4d's. Just my opinion.

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I pray that the next coaster @ CP will be an Arrow 4D

*** This post was edited by Coaster Bob 5/6/2003 6:40:52 PM ***

I like the concept. I've only ridden PGA's Stealth at this point but I was very happy with that.

I love the 4d, though I would like to see more flying style coasters. I think there's untapped potential there. I'd like to see what else can be done with it.

Neutral on the B&Ms....less than neutral on the Vekomas. Give me a hyper or wood any day over the best flyer.

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- "I used to be in the audio/visual club, but I was kicked out because of my views on Vietnam........and I was stealing projectors" - Homer Simpson

Ridden both X-Flight and S: UF @SFoG. Meh.
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SRM 2003-Look for the guy with my name on his chest

I love X-Flight, I think its one of the most exciting things I've ever ridden - but I'm a sucker for "weirdness". I love Imulses, Flyers, Launched and I'm going to experience 4D soon and I know I'll love that too. To me there are just so many loopers, woodies and hypers, I can get the same basic experience everywhere - launches and flyers are pretty unique experiences.

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"You know we got a good thing goin and I don't wanna see it end" --Reel Big Fish
-- Brett

I guess I'm partial. While Stealth is a great ride, Flying Coaster isn't really all that.

AIR looks great from videos. ;)

If you haven't been on a B&M flyer, don't judge them yet - The B&M flying coasters are just so much more complete and polished than the Vekoma ones. Not only is the ride smoother (and the first half more intense), but the trains themselves and the load/unload is virtually seamless.

I've been on X-Flight a handful of times, and I just recently got to ride S:UF at GAm. While X-Flight has given me fits as far as the operations go, S:UF was open right on opening day! It's been a while since we can say that at GAm, as even our INTAMIN coaster opened a few weeks late if I can remember correctly.

The ride is definately fun, and while I would take a hyper over it pretty much any day of the week (except certain rides, possibly in California), the flying coaster is certainly a lot of fun and a very interesting concept. Give me a few weeks, after I've ridden Superman a few dozen more times to see if it wears off like Batman did.

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"Well, I'm sure I'd feel much worse if I weren't under such heavy sedation." - David St. Hubbins, Spinal Tap
http://www.loopscrew.com

Oh yeah, "The Flying Coaster" Pure crap! :) I never felt throat-banging before!

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- "I used to be in the audio/visual club, but I was kicked out because of my views on Vietnam........and I was stealing projectors" - Homer Simpson

With X-Flight, Batwing, and S:UF in both Gerogia and Jersey on my list, I couldn't care less (well, I probably could, but it's a saying...) They're neat for one ride. Like stand-ups, the gimmick quickly wears thin. I don't necessarily think B&M or Vekoma's design is superior. Each has pluses and minuses. However the GP goes ape over them. So I'd expect a few more to pop up before the novelty is lost.

I'll back Peabody. Give me a good sitdown (wood or steel).

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www.coasterimage.com
Dorney Park Visits in 2003: 2

*** This post was edited by Lord Gonchar 5/6/2003 7:47:40 PM ***

I kinda agree with that. The only flyer that I have ridden is the B&M one at SFOG last year. The ride is fun and comfortable, but not necessarily my favorite ride at the park. The pretzel loop is unreal like everyone has said, but the rest of the ride is just like an ordinary ride in the flying position...nothing more. I personally would not want my home park to get a flyer...for some reason I just prefer a sitdown coaster.

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-Vortex Crew 2003-

I like the Aeroaffiliates Flying Coaster, personally....... :)

--Dave Althoff, Jr

(Aeroaffiliates Flying Coaster photo)

Well, I can comment on Batwing and SUF @ SFGAdv. I think the B&M version is much better. The loading/unloading isn't much more difficult than an invert. Batwing, on the other hand, is much worse in terms of operation. I felt that the restraints on the B&M's have a 'safer' feel to them, allowing you to concentrate more on the ride itself. I think that the flying concept has potential, once there are something other than clones out there. The only real complaint that I have about Superman is that it seemed too short.

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Eastcoaster

Well I personally feel they won't grow to be as popular as inverts... they're a "gimmick coaster," so-to-speak. Now, that doesn't mean I think they suck, it just means that I think that they really aren't the greatest rides despite their unique way of carrying riders.

I wouldn't be surprised if they go the way of the dinosaurs.

Oops, I meant "stand-ups."

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Is that a Q-bot in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

I had fun on Batwing. The forces pushing you into the vest/harness are neat, particularly in the last row. A bit of a shuffle in the first half of the course, but the mid-course roll combined with the low-zone flying made for good times. Perhaps the novelty will wear off on me, but I think it's a nice addition to the arsenal.

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http://www.eecs.umich.edu/~bnoble/

Well, for ME....I'd take a Beemer train on any of the Vekoma layouts and call it a fine ride...:) The Beemer is (as usual) designed to maximize ridership, and the Vekoma is just too complicated for capacity and uncomfortable for riders....Overall, I thought the B&M flyer was just about perfect, save for the layout...the pretzel loop was just lonely as the only decent *element*...

Peabdoy, if you *enjoyed* your throat-banging experience, ride a Kite Flyer in the prone position, that should satisfy you just right...;)
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"Like most problems in life, it's nothing that can't be solved with a little bending"...Bender, Futurama

I could not imagine a B&M or a Vekoma being any worse than the Volare by Zamperla. I think flying coasters have a great future though.

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"Here's my ten cence, my two cence is free"-Eminem

Got to agree with the "novelty" aspect, I also think they will go the way of the, ahem, Standups. Don't get me wrong, I like flyers and standups okay, they aren't bad, but I'd rather ride some wood, or a hyper. But that's just my position.

I've yet to ride a Beemer flyer, but I liked the Vekoma Batwing. Actually, I wish some coaster companies with loopers would either retro fit their cars with the Premier restraints or the Vekoma Vests to keep you in.

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Yeah, if coasters WEREN'T men we'd have Raging Cow instead!;)

I thought the same way as most of you did, that it was just an average coaster after my first ride on S:UF at SFGAm (back row).

When I rode it later that day in the 2nd row, my views totally changed. The pretzel loop was now 100% comfortable and enjoyable to the point that I just wished i could pretzel loop my way back to the station. Also, by sitting more to the front, the overbanked turns had more force in them and were more enjoyable.

I do think that it is missing some elements and that the flyer can be improved tremendously, but that pretzel loop will be something that retains its value. The standup didnt really have a unique element that set it apart from the others like the p.l.

Yeah, the pretzel is cute and all but it's still not enough to make the rest of the slow, meandering and uninspired layout a winner. Rollergator said it in this thread (and others I believe) - Vekoma has the far superior layout, and B&M has the far superior trains. Mix and match (and throw a pretzel loop in for good measure) and I think that's about as good as the flyers will get anytime soon. While that's a good ride, it's still nothing to travel a long way to experience. If you're near one, great. If not, don't sweat it.

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www.coasterimage.com
Dorney Park Visits in 2003: 2

Peabody said:
Oh yeah, "The Flying Coaster" Pure crap! :) I never felt throat-banging before!

Well there is new soft padding on the ride this year. I haven't ridden it but the padding feels nice to the touch. I think it should make the ride more comfortable, although I don't know about the troatbanging.

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J.
Dead men tell no tales.