Flying Turns Update

Where are you getting all that historic data Gonch? You just using the internet archive?

Shhhh. :)

Among other creative resources, mind you.

Old brochures?

I haven't read the whole topic, so if this has been addressed before, my apologies.

But just to play devi'ls advocate...

I think this is a great project on the part of the park. However, even if they do ever get this thing up and running, will it really be any better than a "modern" bobsled coaster like Disater Transport or La Vibora?

^ People have ridden it already. Based on what people have said so far, I would have to say yes.

I have heard that the turns are quite tight, which could give a better ride.

Not to mention the lack of any block-brakes in the main section of the ride (where as DT and Vibora have, what?...four of 'em?).

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Soggy said:
However, even if they do ever get this thing up and running, will it really be any better than a "modern" bobsled coaster like Disater Transport or La Vibora?

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I've wondered this too.

On paper it seemed like a really poor time & effort to reward ratio to me, but I'm not exactly the type of person that 'gets' this sort of thing.

But now, years later, it really seems like a poor work/reward ratio for the park. Feels like a lot of hassle for something that will generate exceptional interest with only a very small segment of people. I certainly wouldn't have put as much sweat and blood into something that has so little potential payoff.

I mean, won't $6,000,000 get you a Ravine Flayer II from TGG? And it'll be up and running in a few months.

Yes, labor of love, I get that angle and I can't fault that logic, but I just can't shake the idea that beyond a segment of enthusiats, nostalgics and old timers, that this holds limited interest - especially to the average visitor who (like myself) probably won't appreciate the difference between this and the modern steel bobsleds out there.

I know Knoebels is one of the good guys and that a pet project like this is something enthusiasts go apecrap over, but I'm just trying to be realistic here.

So you've ridden it....? ;)

Never said I did.

I don't mean reward in terms of how it rides, I mean reward in terms of the park gaining anything from building it - like publicity or interest or attendance or anything positive for the park as a result of Flying Turns being built.

A lot of work, time and money have been spent for a non-working ride that when finished, I suspect still won't have much of a positive impact on the park outside of a certain niche.

Concise enough? ;)

I think they could get some good positive press from it if they seek it out, write good PR etc.

Something to the effect of: "When other amusement parks are building big steal rides with 95 degree drops and loops, Knoebels is setting itself apart by bringing back an old classic."

^^I'm not entirely sure the park is necessarily trying to get anything from it. Dick Knoebels has fond memories of riding Euclid's Flying Turns and has long-wanted to build one. He had blueprints years before the project was officially announced. I think first and foremost its a labor of love.

^^I don't think that they should advertise that other parks steal rides... ;)

^^ That's all well and good, the entire park is like that in a lot of ways. However they don't run the park for fun.

Maybe they do... how do you know what their financial standing is? Perhaps they just want to run the park for fun. I'll admit it is a stretch, but it could happen in my own little world.

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RatherGoodBear said:
AJ, the structure is finished except for the transfer track, and all the utility work is completed. That's why you don't see crews working there. There's nothing for them to do. BTW, what Flying Turns "experts" are out there for Knoebels to call?

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The point im trying to make is that this project was an in house one and if they cant get trains built for it im sure there is companies out there that can design them to get this coaster finished. Im positive that there is still designers around from the old models as well as the plans for the trains. The ones they have been testing look like something designed by Home Depot and are nothing like the original ones.

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Lord Gonchar said:
But now, years later, it really seems like a poor work/reward ratio for the park.

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Yes, that's what I mean. Sure, it may be a little better than DT, but how much better could it possibly be? The sum of it's stats make it sound like a kiddie/family coaster, no big drops just a gradual slope, and its capacity will be pretty low. The Euclid Beach FT looked a lot taller & faster (can't find stats on it).

I don't mean to sound like a hater, but all these people who keep saying its going to be thre greatest thing ever... I have to question that. No, I haven't ridden it, but neither have you.

That being said, if it IS the greatest thing since The Voyage, I'll be more than happy to eat my words.

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a_hoffman50 said:
Perhaps they just want to run the park for fun. I'll admit it is a stretch, but it could happen in my own little world.

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Nobody runs a park for the fun of it. Even Michael Jackson had ulterior motives for his amusement park. :)

-Tambo

Ha ha.

if they cant get trains built for it im sure there is companies out there that can design them to get this coaster finished

Finding a company to design the trains isn't the problem not the holdup. There is one train on-site for testing. The ride is built to run three trains but the park wont commission any company to build the remaining two until all the kinks are worked out with the first.