Flying Turns Update

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Jason Hammond said:
I know you were just kidding tom, but he did say, "when in place".

Anyway, get some good pictures.

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Not to be funny here, but if I'm looking at it right, that little roof section IS in place, and it is visible on webcam number 2! :)

As for pictures, If I get there count on it. The problem is posting them. I used to have Photosite but they went under. Snapfish has been problematical at best. Any good free sites out there with a good interface that I can sign up for? (Do a google you lazy bum or Moosh will slap you) Ok fine, how about user recommendations?

Tom

I stand corrected. It is visible from webcam #2. Sorry for the confusion.

Wow, I guess I hadn'tt seen it since they moved it. The last time I saw it it was sitting on the ground. Sorry for the confusion. When someone said it was over the break run, I thought they meant the break run on the other side of the coaster. (Which is out of both camera's views.)

As you can see from these pictures, they started doing test runs again.

http://rollercoasterfreak.com/Knoebels/2008-01-23_Test_Runs/index.htm

Anyone think this coaster will live up to the hype?

It has to live up to the hype because I've been wanting to ride the flying turns ever since I was afraied to ride it when I was 10 years old back in 1958

Depends on what the hype is about. I rode the Bobsled at Coney Island on several occasions. It was a very tight, fast ride - zip, zip, zip and it was suddenly over. By its very nature, the Flying Turns has no negative G's, no lateral G's, and no stomach-taking steep drops, the three most important features I look for in a good wood coaster. Assuming they can get it running reliably, I think Knoebel's Flying Turns will be very popular, successful, and fun to ride because of its novelty and historical throwback, but I think people will be disappointed if they are expecting a knock-your-socks-off thriller.

It's always important not to get your hopes too high about any coaster, regardless od what you hear or read from others. I went to Beech Bend to ride Rumbler with low expectations and came away with much higher opinion. It may be part psychological but I'll do the same with the FT.

When I timed one of the PPP test runs, the main section was 25 seconds. That's about as long as TTD or KK, but the Flying Turns will be making a lot more directional changes than either of those so it might seem longer. (On the other hand, like Tom Halterman I think the force on the rider will remain perpendicular into the floor of the car, so the excitement of the ride will be entirely visual.)

It is a record breaker though, longest construction of a coaster. lol

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Jim S. said:
so the excitement of the ride will be entirely visual.)

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Correct me if I'm wrong but shouldn't there be some pretty good positive g's flying up into some of the curves? All of that plus the direction changes make me think this will be a lot more than exlusively visually exciting.

Yeah, there should be positive g's going into the curves, just how much I don't know. But I don't think there will be lateral g's because the cars will be able to move up and down freely on the curves, so the forces will just be holding you in your seat.

I know many of you will be thinking "this isn't that thrilling". I'll be the one giggling the entire time, and getting off with a tear in my eye.

The comparable times I've had on coasters: CI Cyclone, DL's Matterhorn, Lakemont's Leap-the-Dips. It's going to be a nostalgia trip...

Here, here being into coasters most of my life, family loved to take trips cross country and when I finally got into the history that's one ride I wish I could have rode, but know i'm really going to ride it. I did get to ride something smilar at Saltair resort before it flooded. A fiber glass one car version of a flying turns. I have a video of it after going thur my family's super 8 film. I'll try and post a link to the video when I get it transfered to DVD and my computer.

That's great Mark. I've wanted to see movies of that Saltair water slide/coaster conversion for years! I look forward to the video posting. Thanks in advance.

I doubt it will be less exciting than Avalanche at Kings Dominion and that's a great ride! I'm guessing this will be more intense with its tighter turns and more direction changes (and no midcourse brake). It should be a real hoot!

Had so much fun just watching it test at PPP... should be even more fun actually riding it.

The 2008 price list is up. Flying Turns is $2.50. I know they have to limit the traffic somehow, but when it was announced last year it was $2.00 :(

The good news is Phoenix and Twister are the same prices as last year. The bad news is, HSTC is $1.00, the Flyer is $1.20, and the bumper cars are $1.20.

Armbands are $37 :(

I love Knoebels, but for that price they should have a major new ride a lot bigger than the Flying Turns, no matter how much the cost ran over.

There is one positive change: tickets now cost 15% off face value on weekdays instead of 10%, and 10% off face value on weekends and holidays instead of full price. I doubt I'll ever buy a full-price armband again.

*** Edited 1/28/2008 3:36:44 AM UTC by Jim S.***

Maybe Flying Turns isn't the only new ride this year?

^I was wondering that as well, usually they will toss in a flat or something as well, not that I mind too much with the turns this year but it would be cool and I have been curious. The letters for campers are sent out in Feb. so we'll find out I'm sure if anything else is up.

*** Edited 1/28/2008 5:06:27 AM UTC by P18***