The Flying Coaster - CoasterBuzz

Just came across this coaster at SFEG in Denver, looks like a fun coaster! While looking at the pictures, I'm still trying to figure out how it gets to the top of the first hill. I don't see any chain lift, but there is a stretch of straight track before the ascent. Is this a launched ride? If so, that would be one intense ride up to the top around that spiral.

Has anyone been on this, is it a good ride? Maybe someone can shed some light how this thing works, too!

Whoops, forgot the link, sorry...

http://www.rcdb.com/installationgallery1711.htm

Not a launch and not a chain lift. The device that runs through the center turns and pushes the cars to the top. Maybe someone else can explain more in detail.

This is a good picture to look at: http://www.rcdb.com/installationgallery1711.htm?Picture=5

This is the lift. Basically, the frame structure in the middle of the spiral rotates, with one edge pushing against an arm on the side of the car.

As it pushes this arm, it of course pushes the train forwards and therefore up the spiral lift.

This idea is also used far more spectacularly on EuroMIR and Eurosat at Europa Park in German.

In answer to whether it's a good ride, do a search on Coasterbuzz. I remember the 'buzz being very negative, mainly attributed to the poor design of the cars.

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*** This post was edited by Marcus Sheen 10/10/2003 4:20:00 PM ***

That's sort of like the lift mechanism on those old Spacewarp kits.
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Ripple Rock Amusement Park

PCW is getting one of these, sort of like a Kite Flyer (i.e., hateful restraints) running on coaster track. LOW capacity....parks with low attendance and/or parks that don't normally do POPs would be OK with that, but I wouldn't put one into a "mega-park" setting....
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We're whalers on the moon, we carry a harpoon, but there ain't no whales so we tell tall tales and sing a whaling tune...

So is Rye Playland. I'm actually kinda curious to ride it, especially if they do something to "fix" the cars.

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

I know this season Zamperla replaced the hard pads with softer ones. I haven't been on the ride this season, so I don't know if it really helped much. The problem seems to be the hard braking, it's painful. If the ride was more gentle, that would alleviate some of the issues. Then there is also the confining nature of the cars, which lessens the flying sensation. I could go into the operational issues, but I don't need to bother anyone with those.

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SFEG's #1 Most Requested Lost Item Retrieval of 2003:
Silver Motorola Flip Phone, lost under the part where it goes upside down.
*** This post was edited by J. 10/10/2003 5:57:27 PM ***

From what I have heard, it transitions badly, the cars are reallly restrictive,, and you suffer from throat banging.

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

Well, regardless on how bad this coaster is...

...I'll still be tempted to make the extra effort & visit Canada's Wonderland next year to check it out. I'm hoping that isn't their only new attraction, but capacity HAS to be halfway decent... Wonderland has one of the highest attendance of the seasonal parks out there!

They wouldn't put a crap coaster in this park if it had horrible capacity... or would they?
I still say they should shoot Zamperla and replace all their models with Vekoma !! :)

I have always thought the the line moved very quickly, but then again there hasn't been much of a line for it at all this year.

It truely is a interesting lift mechanism, and the moving floor is awsome too even though SFEG didn't have theirs running this year.

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"Here's my ten cence, my two cence is free"-Eminem

The lift mechanism works the same way an auger does.

Just think of a spiining drill bit.

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If I was part of a coaster, I would be an upstop pad on an Arrow Mine Train.
MAGNUM HAD MY BABY!

Good analogy.

The Flying Coaster is an...interesting addition to the park. I actually like it, but it's not the most comfortable ride out there. The loading and pivoting system is very clever, and the lift is great.

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--Greg, aka Oat Boy
My page
"Friendship -- more lasting than love, more legal than stalking."

So....Rye is getting one of these contraptions as well, eh? Not at all a bad choice for capacity considering Rye generally works on tickets, and a unique ride...but, the *throat banging* complaint, based solely on my Kite Flyer rides, is exceptionally valid.

If Zamperla could do something to fix the god-awful carriage design, I think Rye may have a hit on their hands....otherwise, they'll be replacing one *truly uncomfortable* Windstorm model with one truly uncomfortable Flying Coaster...

Now, as far as PCW is concerned, capacity issues just plain SCARE me....
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Tact is for people not intelligent enough to comprehend sarcasm...;)

There is a .mpg of the coaster on Zamperla's Website. I have to say it does look like fun but also uncomfortable at the same time. Here is the link:

http://www.zamperlarides.com/main/volare4.htm