Flying Turns Update

^^ I thought it was the HP/KG/DuWo triangle. Sky Princess...err Kingdom Coaster...really is some good stuff!

How about the HP/KG/DP/Dutchie rhombus?

How about the SFDK/DCA/IOA/BB/SFA/CP polygon.

I was at ACE's Coaster Bash XIX at The Bradley House in Pittsburgh, PA this past Saturday. Coastin' Steve was there to give us that latest on Flying Turns.

1. They still haven't decided if the first helix will be tunneled or not. It will at least have a roof.

2. There will be lots of video monitoring on the ride. There is concern about loose articles ending up in the trough.

3. The main break run is currently tented and being heated to 80 or 90 degrees to keep the cars at summer operating temperatures.

4. The end of season rumor is not true. They only have one more issue with the trains. They may need a weight ahead of the first car. (Perhaps like the 0 cars on other coasters?) Anyway, they are still trying for opening day

5. They can't build any more trains until they are 100% with the modifications with the first train. This means that, best case scenario, we probably won't see a second train until the end of the season at the earliest. It's more likely that the second train will show up next season. There will most likely be even more changes made to the second train before it is built. I asked him, "Since the second train will be built different, and since you've made so many "in field" modifications to the first train, is it possible that the original train would be replaced eventually?" He said yes.

6. Someone asked what the ride cost to build. Steve said he couldn't remember but thought it was around 4 or 5 million. He said that it has probably cost less since the construction has been spread out over such a long period. In addition, they are in a "low salary area and labor is cheaper. Plus, you have the Lumber yard. He said if this coaster were built at any other park, it would likely have cost twice as much.

Last but certainly Not Least, he brought us some POV video. It's 88MB, so save it to the computer before trying to watch it. (i.e. right click and "save as")

Flying Turns POV Video
*** Edited 3/4/2008 3:52:00 AM UTC by Jason Hammond***

looks fun! Those cars look out of control!

Neat.

The S-curve section lasts longer than I thought it would. Very disorienting.

Ahh, the thread that would not die. Two years old and counting! CLICK HERE and you will find 10 pictures I took this past Saturday of the Flying Turns at Knoebel's. Two shots include the bunny hop, and you can also see that they have begun work on the transfer track, which they had two guys working on while I was there.

Enjoy,

Tom

the other week when i was working one of the maintance guys from knoebles came into my work. so i asked him about the flying turns... he said he would rather not talk about it so from there i knew bad news... he said they are having alot of issues with the trains. (something how they are riding) he said they are trying to get it open this year but he don't think it will happen. :( ... he said he did not know that much about the project becuase he works on twister... he did say that twister has new track steel so that this year it would go faster... so that means twister= fast & twisty + new track steel= crazy fast twister.

I think it's a little too early in the season to make predictions about whether or not the ride will open in 2008, but maybe someone knows something that we don't?

Just curious, what is the longest known "construction period" for a coaster?

*** Edited 3/25/2008 6:11:35 PM UTC by Rob Ascough***

Wow! This thing is looking better every time new pictures pop up!

That bunny hop looks crazy! It's taking a long time, but it will be worth it when it opens. I could see Holidayworld getting one of these in a few years.

The POV looks like a water slide. Is it going to move faster than that when its actually moving? Looks like it could get sketchy at points.

^^They better start now.. *** Edited 3/25/2008 9:18:27 PM UTC by realmadrid311***

Strickers took three years to construct Tornado. They built it as the funds became available to do so.

Chuck

I seriously doubt ANYONE else is going to be building one of these. The materials cost for someone who DOESN'T own a lumber yard would be virtually prohibitive. And I doubt anyone but Knoebels could convince the State that they had the expertise to build one that could operate safely. With both Strickers and Knoebels, they've got more time to build since there aren't investors wringing their hands about construction delays, cost overruns, and ROI... ;)

Knoebels ROI doesn't come from one investment but overal experience and resort experience. Strickers is purely a picnic park and made money before he coaster was installed.

In Fact many of it's park rentals don't include the Tornado and it is a pay per ride attraction while the rest is included in the RENTAL.

Back when I worked there in the early eighties it was 10 grand to rent the park for a day (Without hall) It was 8 grand for the park without rides which we operated on a ticket basis. Sometimes a certain number of tickets were purchased by the rental company to be included in each of its guest packages.

Chuck

Do I win a prize for the longest running forum? LOL I really never expected the turns or Knoebels to captivate everyone so much for so long. I am sure we will still be talking about the ride for many years after it actually opens. For my sake I am just hoping it is before I relocate south.

I guess I need a trip to ride this thing! It's gonna be a unique ride!

I don't recall this being posted, but sorry if it already has:

http://www.storytellersmediagroup.com/Flying%20Turns/FlyingTurns.htm

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phoenixphan :-) said:
Do I win a prize for the longest running forum? LOL I really never expected the turns or Knoebels to captivate everyone so much for so long.

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Well, most new rides captivate us while they are being built. And this one is taking a while (justifyably so).

If it had taken the Voyage longer than it had, someone else would be gloating (sorry, couldn't find the thread...perhaps someone smarter than me could help.)