Questions about "-O-Plane" rides

If you do ride the only theme park Fly-O-Plane in the world at Lake Winnie , make sure to get an orange one , they move the best.

And it's way more insane if you ride by yourself ;)

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Record so far:18 Barrelrolls

Ahhh Rideman, you are correct. It has been a long time since I have ridden one. I remember riding when I was younger I always assumed I wasn't strong enough to hold the pod in place, or that it "slipped". That clears it up, thanks.

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paul ruben
ran lube up

Last time I rode a Rock-O-Plane was at Americana (LL) last year. The operator was great and would let you ride for as long as you wanted since there was nobody at the park. He would lock the tubs down from the outside for a couple of spins, forcing riders to be inverted at the top. He didn't get me though, there was no need. He went after my wife though, I laughed pretty hard at that. My only complaint is that the restraints hurt like hell when you are inverted.

If the tub is locked, all you have to do is pull back on the handle to release it..but you have to pull it *hard*. You can also lock the handle yourself...pull back hard with one hand, and with the other, shove the spring-steel arm to the right, into the sawtooth, and release the handle. Can you tell I've done both? In fact, I've been known to come into the platform inverted at the end of the ride, then when the ride stops, release the brake so that the car would rock around, then when it hit 'upright' I'd jerk hard on the handle and lock the tub in the loading position. :)

Incidentalist, there is a solution to your problem, too: Make sure that the belt is snug! The belt is about 3" wide, while the lap bar is only about 1" in diameter. You want the belt tight so that it holds you in the seat instead of the lap bar. Back when Wyandot Lake had a Rock-O, I'd ride that thing mostly pain-free while wearing swim trunks (=thin, no padding).

I miss that ride.......!

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Unfortunately I didn't have time to get the belt snug. The operator just eyeballed it until it touched my body and then shut the cage.

About the locking the tubs thing. I didn't realize that but it makes sense from a safety standpoint. The operator was only locking the cages of the kids that were unwilling to hold the brake all the way through an inversion. Generally the younger kids and some screaming teenaged girls. Well, I guess you could add my wife to the list also.

That Lesourdsville Lake guy did the same thing to my wife too. I remember him shouting "You have to go upside down, it makes you Happppy!"

There's usually a Rock-O at the Circleville Pumpkin Show (for those who miss the one at Wyandot).
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Ripple Rock Amusement Park

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk has a rock-o-plane... it is soooooo much fun.

I only saw Kennywood's Roll-O-Plane run for a few hours and didn't get a chance to ride it. Every other time I saw it, it was closed.

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-Parker My Coaster Count
www.SFMWZone.com

on the fly-o-plane, is the heartline roll positioned around the center of the rider, or the center of the train? because after several talks about heartlines on this site, if it was centered around the car, it would be very painful.

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I am one.
I am Turbo.
Top Thrill in the front row... anything else is lame
X...Whoa

Geauga Lake park used to have a fly-o-plane. All tho I've never ridden one, they do look kind fun.

Turbo, the fly-o-planes spin around the center of the car(there's no train, lol). Here's a closer look at an upside down plane:

http://members.tripod.com/sfohio/Fly_o_Planes_1958.htm

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Zero g Network

I think the Roll O Plane is another of those classic rides parks like Kennywood, Kings Island and Cedar Point ought to keep around. Well maintained, properly lubricated, with up to date upholstery and painting, it is an entertaining family ride that rocks you from side to side without actually going upside down. It is not expensive to maintain, can be tucked into a small corner somewhere, and is almost as much fun to watch as it is to ride.
We've tried to build a working model of this ride for a long time without success. Ferris Wheels, Scramblers, TiltaWhirls, Spiders, Carousels, Swings, Whips and Roller Coasters are fairly easy to build and operate, but Roll o Planes are really technical.
it's just the opposite of a Tilt A Whirl. They use extremely simple physics to create extremely complex motion. The Roll o Plane uses extremely complex physics to create extremely simple motion.
But I also agree that, now that the Flying Scooters are back in production, somebody needs to update and manufacture new Roll o Planes.

Well, Lagoon Amusement Park In Farmington Utah used I think used to have 3 or 4 of the o plane rides, but now they only have one. Last season, however, they had Rock o Plane and Roll o Plane, But the Roll o Plane was removed last year after it bent in the middle during the ride cycle or somthing. The other(s) was (were) removed a while ago, before my time. Anyone know more?
*** This post was edited by CoasterFanUtah 10/5/2003 12:04:02 PM ***

The third o plane ride Lagoon had was a Loop O Plane called "Looper". It was located where the skycoaster is now and was removed after the 1989 season.

If you want a new Roll-O-Plane, Rock-O-Plane, Loop-O-Plane, maybe even a Fly-O-Plane, certainly a Sidewinder, Spider, Octopus, Monster, Midge-O-Racer, Toon Kar, Ladybug, or any of that old Eyerly stuff, Oregon Rides is probably willing to build it to original specs. That's how Kennywood got their Roll-O...!

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

There is also a roll-o-plane at Little A-Merrick-A, just east of Madison, WI. They restored the thing so well, I thought it was new until the operator told me it had been built in the fifties!

Later,
EV
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"Everybody has desperate days of quiet questioning.
Everybody has times when they feel like they don't fit in."
- Color Theory, So Many Ways, 2001

I had no idea that Eyerly was responsible for the Spider/Octopus/Monster rides too!

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-Rob
A.C.E. member since 1990
Posting @ Coasterbuzz since 2000
E.C.C. member since 2002

Eyerly at one time offered an "upgrade" kit that enabled owners of the first generation Spider and Octopuss rides to convert them into the later style Spider and Monsters with the curved sweeps and fiberglass tubs.

I sure do miss Mo Mo the Monster at SFOG.
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Nashville needs a theme park!

Dave: Did Oregon Rides purchase the designs from Eyerly Aircraft at some point, or did Eyerly Aircraft just "become" Oregon Rides? I heard that they are the ones to go to if you want any of those "-O-Plane" rides but never choose to market themselves. Too bad, for them and for us!

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-Rob
A.C.E. member since 1990
Posting @ Coasterbuzz since 2000
E.C.C. member since 2002

What is the difference between an Octopus and Spider? Both types of creatures have eight arms right? Does the spider have two tubs per sweep?

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"I go out at 3 o' clock for a quart of milk and come home to my son treating his body like an amusement park!" - Estelle Costanza

I make a point of avoiding anything with 'O-Plane' in the name.

They all look like puke-fests to me.