Great news from the Jersey Shore!

Zamperla's Air Race is coming to Casino Pier!

You don't have to "like" this post, but you'd better LOVE this announcement. One of the greatest flat rides of the 21st Century....awesome!

Wasn't that the ride they showed at IAAPA?

Looks like there was one at Coney Island in 2010...

The only ones that I know of right now are Coney's and Lagoon's (think there MIGHT have been one sent to Europe). It apparently did make a showing at IAAPA 2012...not sure about 2013.

As far as I'm concerned, this is what the Fly-O-Plane would have done with an expert pilot.

(I'm kind of NOT an expert on the Fly-O-Plane, so don't trust me on this).... :-P

Brighton, no less, Bill. I'm just about to hit the sack but I'm sure I read somewhere that this is a smaller (possibly portable) version of Air Race.

I may even push my barf-o-meter for this one lol

The Air Race not only appears at Luna (Zamperla show-room prototype) and Lagoon, but also have been sold to Tivoli Gardens (a very cool Art Nouveau version) and Australia's Dreamworld. (that ride is Asian dragon themed with rickshaws for seats and the guests can choose from mild to wild for their ride experience.) I read where other models were sent to China, North Korea, Portugal, the Ukraine, and Chile. I think all of those are the large, 24 passenger permanent/park models. I hear the company has come out with an even larger one that holds 36 passengers.

The ride that showed at IAAPA was the portable version, slightly smaller with each plane holding only two passengers. I had the chance to ride it on the independent midway of last February's Florida State Fair, where it went by the name Air Raid. It's also played other large midways, like Texas and Minnesota. Since Casino's rides are portable, I'd guess offhand it will be that version, and if by chance it's a lease arrangement with the pier, may be that exact one.

But this is good news, I like the ride a lot. I've said it somewhere here before, but I think a large version of the Air Race ride would be a perfect fit for Kings Island's old Flight Commander pad. (lose the dinosaur party house first...) It would certainly be a boost to their line up of flats.

^I think it's the smaller 2 passenger model that's on Brighton Pier...

There's one of these in ocean city New Jersey already

Playland in Ocean City, NJ opened one in July, 2013. You will see about a dozen in the next 2-3 years in the US.

RCMAC said:
... I think a large version of the Air Race ride would be a perfect fit for Kings Island's old Flight Commander pad. (lose the dinosaur party house first...) It would certainly be a boost to their line up of flats.

Kings Island needs a replacement for the Flying Scooter before anybody brings in anything that could be construed as a substitute for it!

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

I suppose. The way Cedar Fair seems to be snapping them up (pun intended) these days, I'd watch for it.

RideMan said:

Kings Island needs a replacement for the Flying Scooter before anybody brings in anything that could be construed as a substitute for it!

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Amen. Still peeved about losing those to Carowinds.

Not as much as Chuck, I'd assume. :)

I've been to the park three times since they lost em and haven't bought a ticket to the park yet, Even if they got em in some version, if you couldn't fly em the way they can be flown. It wouldn't be worth it.

Sorry, Sour Grapes I know. Pretty sure it was the plan to move em to the flight commander spot and then someone formerly at KI got em moved South. Non of it was CF's fault. Just park isn't as fun as it used to be. Big coasters or not.

I am on board with that, Chuck. KI is definitely a different place than it used to be. You know I just like giving you a hard time, because that's how we roll around here. :)

I really don't like the whole placement of the stunt coaster, not to mention, the Eagles could have stayed where they were.

I can give you both the number of my therapist if you want. This doesn't seem like something to hold on to for a decade.

I'm not holding on to it. I didn't say I didn't like the way KI has become. I was just saying.

Now that CF owns KI, I really like what it's turned into. I don't miss Paramount at all.

The kind of stuff happening at KD for the big anniversary this year (mushrooms, floral clock, etc.) seems to suggest that CF understands what Paramount DID do right...I want the best of both!

invy - do what you need, take one ride on the Air Race - thank me later!

Amen.^

My underpants aren't exactly in a permanent bunch over the flying scooters either, but I will say this. When I turned the corner for the first time and saw the empty spot where the Flying Eagles stood, I was pissed. So I'm in agreement with Josh, the new coaster in all actuality came no where near the Eagles and they might've stayed anyway. So, IMO, it was some dirty trick.
I guess I'm in agreement with Chuck as well, (!) who I think is saying that if a replacement for the scooters should come our way, it won't be the superior, original Bisch-Rocco ride we fans knew and loved, but the slightly inferior version that Larson is supplying these days. No thanks, don't bother.

I still say a super-sized version of the Air Race ride would be the best fit for the Flight Commander spot. It would be nicely elevated, a visual treat, and (for most) fun to ride.

Edit to add: And for the record, I'm pleased as punch with CF's treatment of KI. I had become weary of the place before, sadly, and it's the closest home park I have. Now I'm all about it again.

It was a corporate decision that did not involve the park.