General question about the B&M flyers

Ponder this:

The only flyer I've ridden is Batwing, and I really didn't enjoy it all that much. I thought that the first flip over at the top of the lift was super cool, but after that, it was just kinda uncomfortable and not all that fun. There seemed to be a lot of pressure on my upper chest that didn't feel all that great. I'm a hefty guy, I'm not sure if that had anything to do with it. Ok, I'll stop rambling, I really didn't enjoy it all that much, and certainly wouldn't want to ride it many times in a row. I know there are some others on this board that have had the same experience.

With the new flyer being built in Jersey, I'll have a chance to ride the B&M version, is there any chance I'm going to like it better? I wanna feel that pretzel loop more than anything right now, but I'm afraid I'm just going to be "ho hum" towards the rest of the ride, or that I'm going to have just as much pressure on my chest for the rest of the ride.

I understand nobody can really predict how much someone else is going to like a ride, but i would like to hear the thoughts of people who have ridden both versions, especialy from those that maybe didn't dig the Vekoma versions too much.

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If the shoe fits, find another one.

*** This post was edited by ravenguy98 on 10/23/2002. ***

I kind of disliked all three Vekomas, but really enjoyed S:UF. I'm 6'1, 210 lbs and I did fine with the S:UF restraints. I did not find even a fraction of the discomfort that the Vekoma's caused me, especially in the upper body. I think B&M did as much as they could to eliminate discomfort, but whith the wide range of people's shapes out there I'm sure some won't dig it as much.

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- Peabody

Does Superman: Ultimate Flight have "big boy" seats? I know Air doesn't. That would eliminate a lot of customers (seeing as America is the country with the heaviest people)

I found the restraints on S:UF very comfortable, and going up the lift in the flying position even made that part of the ride somewhat entertaining. However, after the pretzel I found the ride very ho-hum and short. I was really hoping that it was going to just be a first shot coaster with future designs to incorporate more complex layouts. I'm sure that people in NJ and Chicago will enjoy this coaster, but I'm very bummed that we are going to have to wait for a flyer that is thrilling throughout the whole ride. I don't have a problem with cloning, I just think that this was a poor coaster to clone. Unlike B:TR which is the epitome of a compact, well-paced, and intense from beginning to end coaster, S:UF is only compact, not all that well-paced, and exiting only through the first drop and pretzel. Oh well, maybe Busch will get one someday and will have a creative layout.

I've found that the important thing on the Vekoma flyers is to just relax. If your body is tense they aren't very comfortable, but if you relax they are nice. Also, I think that Batwing has the best loop of any coaster that I have ridden. I love the little drop feeling at the top.

That said, Batwing still isn't in the same class as SROS.

I have been on Air, but no other flyers. I have to say though, that i thought Air was superb! It might not be ultra intense or anything but the whole ride is excellent. The 'assuming the position' bit is great and the entire ride was exciting, very comfortable and felt like you were flying. I really would like to see some more B&M Flyers appearing soon. The one dissappointment with Air is the theming, and i can't wait until a flyer comes about with some scenery and theming (looks in IOA's direction...)

Yup, I suppose its wishful thinking, but the things that the people at IOA could do with a flyer...man, it really does make the imagination fire up.

Thanks for the thought guys, I really am looking forward to riding S:UF when it opens up. It will be interesting to see how it feels.

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If the shoe fits, find another one.

Jim Fisher said:

I've found that the important thing on the Vekoma flyers is to just relax. If your body is tense they aren't very comfortable, but if you relax they are nice. Also, I think that Batwing has the best loop of any coaster that I have ridden. I love the little drop feeling at the top.
That said, Batwing still isn't in the same class as SROS.

I have to agree that the loop on this coaster is absolutely insane.

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BMCOASTER

bmcoaster@wi.rr.com

Enigma13 wrote:

"I'm sure that people in NJ and Chicago will enjoy this coaster, but I'm very bummed that we are going to have to wait for a flyer that is thrilling throughout the whole ride."

I'm sure SFMM will build one eventually ;-)

Moosh

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Does Superman: Ultimate Flight have "big boy" seats? I know Air doesn't.

Air does have big boy seats actually, they can be located in rows 3 and 5 I think on all 3 trains. Alton installed them because they receieved a lot of complaints from people who could not ride it simply because they were too large to ride. I dont know if Superman has these, does anyone know if it does????

Moosh, Am I detecting Sarcasm in that SFMM reply? :)

Chuck, who thinks SFMM's version will probably be the same as SFGADV's, SFOG's, SFGAM's.

Unless of course it is mirror image! That makes all the difference in the world. :)

Chuck, sarcasm, Nungester

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Charles Nungester.
Is it about coasters or friends? I say both!

SFOG Supeman-Ultimate Flight does not have "big boy" seats at this time.

Chuck - nope, I'm merely saying that when SFMM eventually builds a flyer it'll probably not be a clone. There's nothing wrong with a clone and SFMM happens to have two: Batman and Deja. All the Cy-clones are slightly different, and let's face it...ain't nuttin like Psyclone - thankfully!

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Coaster & Amusement Park Christmas Cards and Merchandise...coming soon! Details in new sig any day now!

In general, I think the Vekomas have the best layout by far of the two, but the pretzel loop on SUF is just enough along with the more comfortable restraints to swing my vote as the B&Ms being better in general. The restraint design seemed slightly more open on Superman, so I'm looking forward to ride another custom design from them. I've never had a problem with a Vekoma though besides Hangman at WA, so you may want to scratch that part of my opinion out. ;)

After the pretzel loop, don't expect anything majorly intense, but I thought the rest of the turns and dives throughout the ride were extremely fun nonetheless. Enjoy!

Danny

Having ridden both of the B&M flyers, and two of the three Vekoma flyers (X-Flight and Batwing), I have to say that I found the B&M trains to be FAR more comfortable. The vertical loop on the Vekoma rides is a nice element, though.

As for Superman becoming dull after the pretzel loop, I can see why people would think that, but I personlly don't agree. The ride gives some nice moments of "flying" after that loop -- they may not be exhilerating, but they ARE fun.

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--Greg
"For all we know, Stonehenge is just the ruined supports for an early roller coaster." -- RCT2 manual
My page

I've ridden X-Flight, Batwing and SUF, and I have to say that SUF was far superior in comfort and layout.

As for a bigboy seat, I believe they all are. Reason why I state this is b/c one of my friends requires a bigboy seat on every B&M coaster....if it doesn't have one, he doens't ride (BTR). But in every seat that he sat in on SUF, he had no troubles.

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"...they came like a winged curse. A twin plague of demonic dragons!" - Dueling Dragons

I rode Batwing twice the first time it was great the next season, it felt like being hung in a stray jacket and being swung around etc. The harnest was hard,and dug into my shoulders and the whole ride felt slow,and shakie, not to forget I smacked my jaw a few times on the harnest. After looking at B&m's creations I noticed the cars look more open, and easyer to load, as with Verkomas you have to find yourself wiggeling into the vest like harnest.The only thing that disapoints me about the B&M design is that I feel that they will be cloneing it like the next Batman The Ride, and Batman is great, but Superman looks a bit on the short side, aswell as not too intense other then the pretzel loop,but I wont know till I ride it so... cant say much right now.

Danny, Too me, Hangman at Wild Adventures was the smoothest of about any SLC I have ridden on my visit new years eve. 2001

That double riding rollerskater there was a blast too and even had one hop of airtime on it :)

Chuck, who really liked Wild Adventures and found that the more you looked around, The more interesting the park became. I guess because it was winter I never did see that one of a kind raft ride.

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Charles Nungester.
Is it about coasters or friends? I say both!

Chuck, I completely agree and had a great time at Wild Adventures in general. Hangman is the only SLC I would give a thumbs down to, but I'll try again next time. Maybe my head was already hurting from the bumpiness on Cheetah, but you're right about Ant Farm Express!! That is one kickin' roller skater! I went around on that about 12 times I think. :)

It's nice to see more of B&M's flyers being built....heck, they willbe doubling there numbers next year ...hehe.. I can't wait to see what else they will do in terms of layout in future ones.

Speaking of Vekomas and B&Ms, since Paramount was rumored about planning on putting the Vekoma version in more of their parks, and didn't, do you think it's possible they might use B&Ms version in the future instead?