Old PKI flat ride question.

I came across some old vaction photos from KI. And I found a flat ride that's not there any more. If I remember right this flat ride look sort like Huss's Jump2, but it had inclosed 'cabins' and each cabin was controled by the rider. The rider was able to make the cabin move up and down, also the rider can 'roll' or spin the cabin. I think it was built between '88 and '91. I'm tring to find out what is was and why it was took down. If I can get my scaner to work, I'll scan the photo and post the link.

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Is it May yet??

http://www.zerognetwork.com

That was Flight Commander. It stood where the Euro Bungy stands now. The reason that the ride was taken down was because a drunk woman rolled inverted, slipped out of the restraint, and landed on the ground with a thud. A study was done to see if she did indeed wiggle out under her own power, but it was found that if someone else was not riding with you, the rider can easily slip out of the restraint. Therefore, KI tore the ride down.

The lot stood vacant, complete with the queue still up, for several years, until a couple of years ago, PKI installed Euro Bungy. If you look off to the left of EB, you can still see the queue house.

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SOB crew in twenty 02
111 SOB laps, and wishing the park was still open

Yeah the queue area is still there but full of leaves and spooky. When they put eurobungy in they filled in an aear with concrete. The queue almost goes under Eurobungy and then stops. The wall are still painted to the theme of the ride. Almost Top Gun-ish. I would still love to see those pictures since I never got to ride that and don't really even remember it in the park.

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Wood Rules!

I believe Flight Commander premiered in 1991. I went in 1992 about a month after the accident and rode it and found it to be a very fun ride. It wasn't really thrilling, but it was fun. Sort of like a Roto-Jet that you were able to flip from side to side. I also rode PKD's version called SkyPilot, which was removed at the end of the 1998 season. PGA also had one (called SkyHawk) as did Knott's Berry farm (called XK-1). I think all of them have been removed.

BTW- the ride was made by Intamin.

ray p.

Flight Commander was added in 1989. The ride was not removed because of the accident. The ride was removed to to low ridership years after the fatality.

A season or two after it's removal, a drop tower was supposed to take it's place. However a waterpark expansion over-rode the tower installation for 1997. Drop Zone then premiered in 1999 in a competely different area of the park.

Shaggy

Shaggy, just out of couriousity, is there any way that we will be seeing a different attraction, I.E. non pay per play up there one day? I can see it happening due to the queue still remaining

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SOB crew in twenty 02
111 SOB laps, and wishing the park was still open

Shaggy (or anyone)-
Are the rumors about Premier Rides being given the contract for the drop ride, then having it killed because of FOF problems, true?

Adam

I loved Flight Commander. It was neat waiting in the underground queue and then coming up the stairs into the center of the ride. I also liked to spin upside down, then wiggle the joystick back and forth and see how long you could keep yourself upside down.

I rode before and after the accident.

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A day is a drop of water in the ocean of eternity. A week is seven drops.

I think the area may be used in the future... maybe not for a particular ride, but possibly as a cut-through to grounds on the other side of Racer.

The park knows that it is a VERY dead area of the park so I doubt they will let it sit idle any longer than they have to. The problem is getting the right thing to fit there.

Did you know that over the years, 5 rides have had foot path markers painted on the pavement leading up to their que lines? Flight Commander was one of them.... the others were Vortex, FOF, Beastie and Beast.

Shaggy

Flat ride removal at PKI, a sore subject with some of us. That particular ride replaced one of their best flat rides, the Zodiac.

Actually, Shaggy, I think you missed one. I remember the first couple of years that Express was open, there was a path that went in front of Cobras loop.

Also, the new restaraunt taking the place of Oktoberfest wouldnt be Long John Silvers or the Fish Market, would it?

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SOB crew in twenty 02
111 SOB laps, and wishing the park was still open

*** This post was edited by SOB_TOM on 1/21/2003. ***

Flight Commander dose ring a bell. Yea, it was a very cool ride. It's sad that they had to remove it. I'll see if I can hunt down some more photos of the ride and scan 'em later on today.

Is there anything simlar to FC that's still operateing at any park? And I don't mean the kiddie rides, lol.

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Is it May yet??

http://www.zerognetwork.com

I still think drop zone would be better there. I think it would have brought more crowds out of action zone. Down by the vortex there isnt much but the vortex and action thearter. Acually I would like to see some sort of B&M in vortexs place. Other parks are getting rid of there arrow loopers and I certainly wouldnt mind to get rid of the vortex. But im the only one around here who really feels that way. But id take a nice B&M anywhere.

*** This post was edited by Beast_rocks on 1/21/2003. ***

Actually, I thought Water Works was 1989 and Flight Disaster was 1990. (with the accident in 1991)

It not only had the neat undergound queue area that came up into the center of the ride (which speeded up loading with people mere inches from their ride vehicles), it also had, I believe the first queue-tv's which played a pre show video which was more of a "How to operate the craft" type video. More of a running spial actually.

Not that I rode the thing too much :) but I think it went something like:

(cue Top Gun inspired bumper) "Welcome to Flight Commaner, the finest craft to take to the sky! There are a few things you should know before your flight. When you reach the top of the stairs, a gate agent will give you a gate number. When you get your gate number proceed directly to that gate and wait for the red light to change to green. When the light changes to green you may push forward on the orange gate in front of you and board your craft.

Once seated in the raft, first pull back on the lapbar, and then lower the shoulder harness. A flight attendant will be around to make sure you are properly secured for flight.

Once up in the air, use the joystick to control your craft. To rise, pull the stick back, to go down, push the stick forward, to roll left, move the stick left, to move right, push the joystick to the right.

At the end of your flight, your craft will automatically right itself and lower to the ground, you may then push up on the shoulder harness and push the lapbar away from you. Then exit the craft and follow the painted arrows to the exit ramp"

(tape then re-loops)

Flight Commander fans - how close am I?

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David Bowers
Mayor, Coasterville

I only rode PKD's sky pilot a couple of times,of course it was located where Drop Zone stands today.

When I first rode it the ride actually had the canopy on each car that would close much like that of a fighter jet but they subsequently removed that part of the ride a few years later & then the ride itself was entirely removed.

It was a rather fun but frightening experience being suspended some 65 ft or so above the ground(which is why I only rode it twice) & it was a unique design due to the control that you actually had over the vehicle during the ride,which is what I miss most about it.

shaggszgn-

I think Flamingoland has one, I believe called Top Gun (or themed to some military flight experience).

Adam

SOB_TOM: Think of another seafood place. I know you've read the name on another site. I think it will make Bubba proud.

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Wood Rules!

Oh I miss Flight Commander. That was one of the coolest rides at the park and among my favorite flats at the time. I also rode Kings Dominion's Sky Pilot in 1992.

I remember Zodiac being there as well. It was one of the trademarks of the "early years" at the park.

X Factor

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SFWoA: An Unofficial Guide
http://sfohio.tripod.com

On my first(and so far only)trip to PKI in either 1994 or 1995, we rode Flight Commander 2 times, and loved each one. In fact, it's the outstanding memory I have of the park, and the only ride we rode twice that day. I wondered if it was still there, when we went, it was after the accident, and it was a walkon ride. I'd love to go on another one of them someday...

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Sdrawkcab siht daer ot emit eht koot yllautca uoy?

I wonder if the Flight Comander is on the Brady Bunch episode where they go to PKI?

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