PKI invites enthusiasts for farewell last rides on flyers

I'm wearing a blue ribbon next season.

Well guys, look on the bright side (hard, I know), atleast they aren't being scrapped completely. I mean, they're coming to PCar, and us southern folk will take good care of them for you I'm sure.

I'm going to make some Save the Flyers and Tribute to the Flyers buttons to distribute at the final ridethe 17th.

PKI needs to just move the ride, Re-theme it cheaply to SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW and buy PCAR their own set of Larsons to do the same.

Chuck

Maybe it was not PKI's call folks to take your wonderful flyers out and move them. I mean after all you guys are getting a brand new coaster in 05.

I am sure people from Carwinds would love to trade you your flyers back for that brand new coaster.

*** This post was edited by Coasterdave 10/10/2004 9:58:08 PM ***

PCAR can get a Larson for the cost of a couple area market commercials. And they have Top Gun.

Chuck, who says PCAR got Borg this year and PKI got a waterpark They go pretty even on the BIG RIDES.

Here's a good question: would it really cost much more to buy a new ride than to move the Flying Eagles to PCar?

I highly doubt that after atleast 3 newly re-themed areas, 5 coasters, a fully re-themed log flume, and a killer dark ride, all since 1999, mind you, that anybody from PCar is going to complain about getting some nice new flyers and another flat while PKI gets a new coaster...

Its sad they are removing, no doubt, especially since it would seem much easier to move them across the park, but for all of you who are THAT upset, take a cruise out east next year and go to Knoebels, where they will let you "snap" until your hearts content! And while you are out here you can hit Hydra, Kingda Ka , Tsunami and the new one at Hershey too!

To all of you folks who are saying "so what, you're getting a coaster" I have to ask if you've ever even been to PKI. The flyers aren't just a ride: they're an experience. They're a place to show off skills. They're a place to meet people. You don't get that kind of atmosphere and sense of community on *any* roller coaster in the world.

I'd gladly miss Italian Job and keep the flyers.

I don't think you would be the only one, Michael.

Sad to see such a great ride leaving. Glad that I was up at the park this year and got to ride it one last time. It's a great family ride and PKI needs those. It was just in a bad location. It would make sense on the old Flight Commander pad. Would look pretty cool up there and add to the excitement. Maybe enough outcry can keep the ride at the park. Worth a shot...write PKI and I'd suggest the Cincinnati Enquirer.*** This post was edited by Shawn 10/11/2004 10:10:13 AM ***

I just rode the ones at Knoebels and I must say...

The Flying Scooter at Kings Island has a different type of rigging for the tub suspension, and the result is a dramatic difference in the ride performance. Kings Island's ride has the tubs suspended in a way which makes them more stable in the yaw axis, which means you get less rotation and more translation out of the tub when you fly it. At Knoebels I was able to almost get the tub turned around backward, but I couldn't get that suspension cable to go slack at all!

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

A little bit of the past on the flyers...was just speaking with my boss about it, Dennis Speigel and he was telling me about a time at Coney when he worked there and they had moved the flyers next to the carousel building and running tests...long story short, the ride was a little close to the building and hit. He said it was quite funny.

Also, he recalled on year when he started full-time and he was involved in recovering the ride...muslim, airplane dope coating. I'll see if I can get some more from him.

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To all of you folks who are saying "so what, you're getting a coaster" I have to ask if you've ever even been to PKI. The flyers aren't just a ride: they're an experience. They're a place to show off skills. They're a place to meet people. You don't get that kind of atmosphere and sense of community on *any* roller coaster in the world.

I'd gladly miss Italian Job and keep the flyers.

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Is it that serious........Im sure their other rides you can met people at and DDR is quite a cool place to show off your skills.......but thats just me.

Michael,

What you said above is exactly what I have been trying to tell people. There isn't a single ride in any park I have been to that has provided as much unity as the Flying Eagles. That ride is responsible for a lot of friendships I have today. There are people I have flown with and have known for years, yet, I have never ridden a coaster with them.

I was at work yesterday considering I should go down and get in as many rides as I could. After work I headed straight down to the park and went right back to the Eagles. Instead or riding, I decided to sit back and watch the reaction of riders for a while. The line was pretty long and filled with familes. As they exited the ride everyone was smiling and most people went back into the line to ride again. I didn't see a single "flyer freak" the entire time. To say that just enthusiast will miss the ride is unreal. I have co-workers that were shocked and upset when I told them the news, and they go to the park only once a year and are not enthusiasts.

Some people say a carousel is the soul of a park. If that is true, then I think the heart of PKI is the Flying Eagles.

-Sean

Sean...I could not agree more!

The frienship and fun that the eagles have brought over the years is immeasurable. I still can't believe that they won't be there next season. Other than The Beast, they are what a day PKI is all about.

I am sooooo sad:(
I suppose that we'll just all have to go to Carowinds now (which I heard is great, so now I have a good excuse to make it there).
I still have my "Save the Flyers" sign from last weekend, shall we all send them in like we discussed?

If you feel you should, yes. Send the park your thoughts. Tell them that you don't want your wings clipped.

You guys are making me a little scared to even lay eyes on it! Sounds like a drug you guys are talking about...........maybe I can get "hooked" or "snapped"