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Flying Scooters, also known simply as Flyers, is an amusement ride consisting of a center post with ride vehicles suspended from arms attached to the center post. The ride dates back to the 1930s and 1940s when Bisch-Rocco manufactured the ride. In the early 2000s, Larson International revived the concept. In the early 2010s, Larson partnered with Majestic Manufacturing, Inc. to create a portable version of the ride.[1]
When the ride is in operation, a motor causes the arms to spin, with centrifugal forces causing the ride vehicles to fly outwards. Each ride vehicle is equipped with a large rudder, allowing riders to control the motion of their vehicle. The minimum rider height requirement is usually 36 inches tall or more.
Cable snapping
editAlthough Flying Scooters are generally considered a mild ride, a skilled rider can "snap" the cables suspending the vehicle, and thus gain a more extreme and out-of-control experience. Snapping is caused by the cables slacking due to quick motions of the vehicle. Snapping is made easier on older and faster Flying Scooters rides such as the Flyer at Knoebels or others manufactured by Bisch-Rocco. Some newer models, such as those manufactured by Larson, are designed to prevent snapping. Snapping is sometimes discouraged due to maintenance and safety reasons, and in the case of some parks, snapping is punishable by the ride cycle being stopped early and the offending rider being removed from the ride.
Installations
edit| Name | Park | Location | Manufacturer | Opened | Status | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flyer | Knoebels Amusement Resort | Bisch-Rocco | 1972 | Operating | [2] | |
| Flying Fish | Story Land | Larson International | Unknown | Operating | [3] | |
| Flying Scooter | Bland's Park | Bisch-Rocco | Unknown | Removed | [4][5] | |
| Flying Scooter | Americana Amusement Park | Bisch-Rocco | Unknown | Removed | ||
| Flying Scooters | Erieview Park | Bisch-Rocco | Unknown | Removed | [6] | |
| Flying Scooters | Stricker's Grove | Ray Evers | Unknown | Operating | ||
| Hurricane | Lakeside Amusement Park | Bisch-Rocco | Unknown | Operating | ||
| Flying Scooters | Whalom Park | Bisch-Rocco | Unknown | Removed | [7] | |
| Rowdy Roosters | Canobie Lake Park Palisades Amusement Park |
Bisch-Rocco | Unknown | Operating | ||
| Mission Macaw Formerly SS Stingray |
Rides At Adventure Cove in Columbus Zoo | Larson International | 2008 | Operating | [8] | |
| Seabreeze Flyers | Seabreeze Amusement Park | Bisch-Rocco | C. 1944 | Removed | ||
| Spirit of Kitty Hawk | Frontier Village | Bisch-Rocco | Unknown | Removed | ||
| Falcon Flyer Flying Circus |
Wild Adventures Celebration City |
Larson International | 2010 Unknown |
Operating | ||
| Aerial Joy Ride | Hersheypark | Spillman Manufacturing | 1941 | Removed | ||
| Flying Aces | Lagoon Amusement Park | Bisch-Rocco | 1941 | Operating | ||
| Screaming Eagles | Fun Spot America (Kissimmee) | Larson International | Unknown | Operating | ||
| Dive Bombers | Santa's Workshop | Bisch-Rocco | Unknown | Operating | ||
| Flying Scooter | Bushkill Park | Bisch-Rocco | 1950 | Removed | [4] | |
| Flying Scooters | Playland Park | Bisch-Rocco | 1950 | Removed | [9] | |
| Flying Scooters | Geauga Lake | Bisch-Rocco | 1958 | Removed | ||
| Flying Eagles | Kings Dominion | Bisch-Rocco | 1975 | Operating | ||
| Eagle's Flight | Holiday World | Bisch-Rocco | 1976 | Operating | [10] | |
| Flying Scooter | Conneaut Lake Park Euclid Beach Park Old Indiana Fun Park |
Bisch-Rocco | 1997 Unknown Unknown |
Operating | ||
| Flying Eagles | California's Great America | Larson International | 2002 | Operating | ||
| American Flyers Formerly Phantom Phlyer |
Lake Compounce Kennywood West View Park |
Bisch-Rocco | 2003 1995 to 1996 1937 to 1977 |
Operating | ||
| Frontier Flyers | Hersheypark | Larson International | 2003 | Operating | [11] | |
| Air Crow | Indiana Beach | Larson International | 2004 | Operating | ||
| Tink's Flying School | Oakwood Theme Park | Larson International | 2004 | Operating | ||
| Mountain Gliders Formerly Woodstock Gliders, Phantom Flyers Formerly Flying Eagles, Flying Scooters |
Carowinds Kings Island Coney Island |
Bisch-Rocco | 2005 1972 to 2004 1940 to 1971 |
Operating | ||
| Flying Scooters | Camden Park | Larson International | 2006 | Operating | ||
| Flying Aces | Idlewild Park | Premier Rides | 2007 | Operating | ||
| Dragon Flyer | Castle Park | Larson International | 2008 | Operating | [12] | |
| Hornet's Nest | Six Flags Darien Lake | Larson International | 2012 | Operating | [13] | |
| Thunderbirds Formerly Flying Scooters |
Eldridge Park Fun Spot Amusement Park & Zoo Fantasy Farm |
Bisch-Rocco | 2012 Unknown Unknown |
Operating | ||
| Lakeside Gliders | Michigan's Adventure | Larson International | 2013 | Operating | ||
| Screamin' Eagles | Six Flags Great Escape | Larson International | 2013 | Operating | [14] | |
| Surfside Gliders | Knott's Berry Farm | Larson International | 2013 | Operating | [15] | |
| French Quarter Flyers | Six Flags America | Larson International | 2014 | Operating | ||
| Lake Erie Eagles | Cedar Point | Larson International | 2014 | Operating | ||
| Professor John's Flying Machines | Kentucky Kingdom | Larson International | 2014 | Operating | ||
| Winged Warrior | Frontier City | Larson International | 2014 | Operating | ||
| MT Buckets Formerly Cedar Creek Flyers |
Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom | Larson International | 2015 | Operating | ||
| Kong | Morey's Piers | Larson International | 2015 | Operating | ||
| Franklin’s Flyers Formerly Woodstock Gliders |
Kings Island | Larson International | 2015 | Operating | ||
| Flying Eagles | Canada's Wonderland | Larson International | 2016 | Operating | ||
| Flying Eagles | Valleyfair | Larson International | 2016 | Operating | ||
| Phoenix | La Ronde | Larson International | 2016 | Operating | [16] | |
| Woodstock Gliders | Worlds of Fun | Larson International | 2016 | Operating | ||
| Wonder Woman Flight School | Six Flags Over Georgia | Larson International | 2016 | Operating | [16] | |
| Flying Scooter | Fox Creek Amusement Company | Bisch-Rocco | 2016 | Operating | ||
| The Mad Mocking Bird | Dollywood | Larson International | 2019 | Operating | ||
| Flying Circus | Celebration City | Larson International | Unknown | Closed | [17] | |
| The Barnstormers | Guyton's Fun Junction | United States | Unknown | Unknown | Closed | |
References
edit- ^ "Larson International, Inc". 2012-08-26. Archived from the original on 2012-08-26. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
- ^ Futrell, Jim (17 May 1999). "Not all the good rides are new". Amusement Business. 111 (20): 21.
- ^ Ruben, Paul (7 May 2009). "Story Land". Park World Magazine. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
- ^ a b Futrell, Jim (2002). Amusement Parks of Pennsylvania. Stackpole Books. ISBN 0811726711.
- ^ Futrell, Jim (10 September 2001). "Name change helps Bland's keep up with special sauce". Amusement Business. 113 (36): 53.
- ^ O'Brien, Tim (25 November 2002). "Attendance increase highlights 57th season". Amusement Business. 114 (47): 9.
- ^ O'Brien, Tim (12 November 2001). "Whalom Park assets to go on block". Amusement Business. 113 (45): 39.
- ^ "Columbus Zoo and Aquarium - Rides and Attractions". www.columbuszoo.org. Retrieved 2020-03-30.
- ^ "Playland Park (Justice, Illinois, USA)". rcdb.com. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
- ^ Kyriazi, Gary (1 November 2006). "Holiday World: Redefining family entertainment". Park World Magazine. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
- ^ Barbieri, Kelly (3 February 2003). "Hersheypark prepares for new rides, food". Amusement Business. 115 (5).
- ^ "Dragons Fly at Castle Park: Larson Scooters now open". Park World Magazine. 30 May 2008. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
- ^ "Kernels – May 2012". Park World Magazine. 9 May 2012. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
- ^ "Screamin' Eagles at the Great Escape". Park World: 12. August 2013.
- ^ "New at Knott's". Park World Magazine. 12 December 2012. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
- ^ a b MacDonald, Brady (September 3, 2015). "Six Flags unveils new attractions for every park in 2016". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
- ^ "Celebration City - Flying Circus". www.themeparkreview.com. Retrieved 2020-04-11.
External links
editWikimedia Commons has media related to Flying Scooters.