Flying Turns Update

B.

U.

TI.

FULL!

;)

Took me a minute to figure out what you were saying Moosh! LOL! That was great. I second that notion and cant wait to ride this! Probably the single most anticipated coaster for me of the 2007 season.

^You mean if it opens in the 2007 season ;)
It does look great, it looks as if that transfer track will eat up a good bit of that back midway when built.

I am sure that the flying turns will be done soon! and it will be done for 2007 just don't know when in 2007 but i am sure it will be done sometime soon.

It will be done but "soon" is a different matter. Looks like there is still a good bit to go.

I'm guessing at LEAST another month of construction. It looks like the only section left that requires bending is the first helix... all the rest should be side friction style and should go pretty quickly. After that, maybe two weeks of fine tuning, hooking up the electronics, paving and what not as well as testing... I'd say it wouldn't be out of the question to see a late June/early July opening... unless there really is more to do then I am assuming.

Took some more photos on Saturday. I didn't even know they were giving a tour to the coaster people, so after talking to a few of the workers, they let me go in. Here are my photos --> http://thelado.photosite.com/Album1/

It was great going back. I talked to many of my old ride ops.,my old boss, a few maintenance people, and even Buddy. I was happy to hear many of them, including Buddy saw my photos. Its just a great ride and I hope that people can view my photos even 30 years from now. Be pretty neat to show them to people down the road.

Anyhow, I didn't ask much from maintenance about the ride. I knew they prolly were being flooded with questions as it is, so I left it go. Also, if you havent seen them, you can also check out my Knoebels Photo Page. They can be found here --> http://thelado.photosite.com/Knoebels/

Dalado

That third pic makes me think snapping the flyers may be extra exciting as you swing passed the Turns. :)

I was one of the coaster people there for opening day. The tour of the Flyings Turns was amazing. While they won't commit to a date yet, Dick Knoebel told the group that they were pushing very hard for an early July opening. Now I'm going to have to go back there after it opens. Darn.

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John Fetterman said:

Seriously: not sure what you mean, unless it's that we commenced skipping an intermediate rib (one not involved in holding either the upper bumper or the lower bumper) once we got into the final, straight, lower-stress section. Actually, we don't skip so much as alternate an intermediate rib, one in place on the left and next one in place on the right side of track centerline. It looks like we are using fewer ribs, but actually we are using the same number but spreading them across a wider cross-section of trough.

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I noticed that too, John. It seems as though the ribs are grouped together in threes, at least on the parts of the ride near the walking path that connects the lower area of the campground to the midway. And while walking down Twister's exit ramp today, we noticed the same thing on the helix- there seemed to be an extra cross-tie one each side of the ones connecting the bents, making them appear to be grouped in threes... rather than, say, spacing two more ties so they're equidistant from each other. Perhaps you know what I'm talking about? Perhaps not?

Anyway, it was great to see such progress made on the ride. It sure was nice of you folks to allow us enthusiasts to get such a close look at the ride- that sure was a nice treat. Too bad we didn't get to see you, but there's always next time, right?

And what do the "non-enthusiast non-dork geeks" get to tour? The handstamp booths? ;)

I think I understand what John meant about the ribs. By using only either the right or left half of the intermediate ribs in those non-critical areas, it looks like there's 3 ribs then a space, 3 ribs then a space...

Anyway, I was surprised to see how much of a drop there's going to be in the helix. I assumed it was going to be gradual and steady, but you can see from the pics how steep the drop in the second third (from 180 to 360 degrees) is going to be. And this will be enclosed, right? Is "tunnelized" a word? :)

The "non-enthusiast geeks" were given a "free" pass to Six Flags for only $299.99 (not including the rides).

I've seen the pictures but nothing really prepares you for seeing the Turns up close for the first time. The workmanship is beautiful, and I can't imagine the tedium of laying those thousands of tongue and groove strips in the barrel.

I'm glad I had the tour. It's the first time I ever walked the track of a coaster. Never thought I'd do it on a one-of-kind ride like this.

That did impress me, RGB. I like the fact that the beginning helix will be taken at a nice clip. I think the Turns is going to be a fun ride from beginning to end. Probably not intense, just F-U-N.

It truly is a work of art. Someone told me it was like bedroom furniture and they were right- I'd almost feel guilty putting heavy cars in that gorgeous trough. Getting the chance to walk all over the ride was definitely an experience... one of those "once in a lifetime" things. Thanks Knoebels- you gave us the VIP treatment, for practically nothing at all! Not like the enthusiast community isn't going to repay the debt in the coming years, though ;)

Well, not quite nothing. I paid $2 more than parking at Six Flags. :)

I spent so little for so much at Knoebels, I ended up spending $120 in one of their gift shops. There must be some correlation between the low prices and my willingness to spend so much more!

Plus the serendipitous opportunity of your wife not paying attention. :)

Yeah, but you took care of that by telling her that I dropped three times that. Thanks again.

^ Was Rob's wife conveniently distracted by the tour of the handstamp booths? ;)

You *did* drop three times that. Knoebels got $120 and I picked up the rest when you weren't looking. Thanks by the way.

^^ Nope, she was elite enthusiast just like me. She got to tour the Turns as well.

^ I saw you do that. Don't worry, I got you back. Watch for your "check engine" light to illuminate over the next hundred or so miles ;)