Flying Coaster (B&M model)
Flying Coaster [1] | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Status | In Production |
First manufactured | 2002 |
No. of installations | 10 |
Manufacturer | Bolliger & Mabillard |
Vehicle type | Flying position |
Rows | 7 - 8 |
Riders per row | 4 |
Restraint Style | Over-the-shoulder (most common style) |
Flying Coaster [1] at RCDB |
The Flying Coaster is a model line from Bolliger & Mabillard. It has produced 10 models in 18 years of production, one of the more average selling models in the company.[3]
History[]
Bolliger & Mabillard came up with the idea in the late 1990s. Over the 5 years and with the help of John Wardley they developed and finalised the concept for the flying coaster and unveald it in 2002 with Air at Alton Towers[4][5] (renamed Galactica in 2016), followed later in the year by Superman: Ultimate Flight at Six Flags Over Georgia. In this version, the rider takes a sitting position with their legs dangling in a similar fashion to B&M's inverted roller coaster. Mechanisms in the station lift the car up to the track, placing passengers in a flying position for the duration of the ride.
Flying roller coasters from B&M use a combination chest/waist harness that is hinged above the riders' heads. Once seated, the rider pulls down the harness, which (like the Vekoma model) locks into slots in the sides of the armrests. This single mechanism locks the rider's waist in place with a large padded cushion and provides a rubberized padded vest to secure the chest. The vest includes seat-belt-style tensioners above the shoulders to support a wider range of body types. At the ankles, two flaps hold the legs in position, and close as the harness is locked in place. Tatsu at Six Flags Magic Mountain was the world's longest flying coaster until The Flying Dinosaur at Universal Studios Japan surpassed it in March 2016.
Bolliger & Mabillard currently holds the record for the tallest and fastest flying roller coaster in the world, Flying Dinosaur, at Universal Studios Japan.
Design[]
The idea of the flying coaster was to simulate the idea of flying through the air, this is done by bringing the riders to lying position.
Layout[]
At the start of the attraction the train assends the lift hill and takes a banked drop. Normally at this point of the layout, the B&M Flying coaster will normally include its signature element: The pretzel loop. This is the most intense part of the ride bringing in positive-g forces. Galactica is the only B&M flying coaster not to feature this element. Following this trains will go into helixes, inversions and brake runs let the roller coaster run smoothly.
Superman clones[]
There have been 4 clones of this version. The layout follows:[6]
Elements |
● Chain lift hill ● 78 ft Pretzel loop ● Horseshoe ● Inline twist ● Final Brake run |
Manta Clones[]
There have been 2 clones of this version. The layout follows:[7]
Elements |
● Chain lift hill ● 98 ft Pretzel loop ● Zero-g roll ● Corkscrew ● Mid-course Brake run ● Helix ● Final Brake run |
Station[]
![Flyingrollercoaster (cropped).jpg](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/Flyingrollercoaster_%28cropped%29.jpg/500px-Flyingrollercoaster_%28cropped%29.jpg)
Compared to usual roller coasters most B&M flying coasters have two stations parallel to each other to load simultaneously because of the slow nature of loading. In the station the car looks like an Inverted Coaster and when it is ready it pivots into flying position. This is shown in the image source to the right of this text.
Restraints[]
Flying roller coasters from B&M use a combination chest/waist harness that is hinged above the riders' heads. Once seated, the rider pulls down the harness, which (like the Vekoma model) locks into slots in the sides of the armrests. This single mechanism locks the rider's waist in place with a large padded cushion and provides a rubberized padded vest to secure the chest. The vest includes seat-belt-style tensioners above the shoulders to support a wider range of body types. At the ankles, two flaps hold the legs in position, and close as the harness is locked in place. Tatsu at Six Flags Magic Mountain was the world's longest flying coaster until The Flying Dinosaur at Universal Studios Japan surpassed it in March 2016.
Installations[]
Name | Amusement Park | Country | Layout | Opened | Status | Operator | RCDb [12] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Galactica
(Formerly AIR) |
Alton Towers | ![]() |
Custom | March 16, 2002 | Operating | Merlin Entertainments | [13] |
Superman: Ultimate Flight | Six Flags Over Georgia | ![]() |
Superman | April 6, 2002 | Operating | Six Flags | [14] |
Superman: Ultimate Flight | Six Flags Great Adventure | ![]() |
Superman | April 17, 2003 | Operating | Six Flags | [15] |
Superman: Ultimate Flight | Six Flags Great America | ![]() |
Superman | May 3, 2003 | Operating | Six Flags | [16] |
Tatsu | Six Flags Magic Mountain | ![]() |
Custom | May 13, 2006 | Operating | Six Flags | [17] |
Crystal Wing | Happy Valley Beijing | ![]() |
Superman | July 9, 2006 | Operating | Happy Valley | [18] |
Manta | SeaWorld Orlando | ![]() |
Manta | May 22, 2009 | Operating | SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment | [19] |
Starry Sky Ripper | ![]() |
Custom | April 30, 2011 | Operating | N/A | [20] | |
Acrobat | Nagashima Spa Land | ![]() |
Manta | July 18, 2015 | Operating | N/A | [21] |
Harpy | ![]() |
Custom | October 26, 2015 | Operating | N/A | [22] | |
The Flying Dinosaur | Universal Studios Japan | ![]() |
Custom | March 18, 2016 | Operating | Universal Parks & Resorts | [23] |
Guinness World Records[]
Tallest flying roller coaster | Fastest flying roller coaster | Longest flying roller coaster | Longest flying roller coaster drop | |
---|---|---|---|---|
2002 | Superman: Ultimate Flight (Six Flags Over Georgia) |
Superman: Ultimate Flight (Six Flags Over Georgia) |
Superman: Ultimate Flight (Six Flags Over Georgia) |
Superman: Ultimate Flight (Six Flags Over Georgia) |
2003 | ||||
2004 | ||||
2005 | ||||
2006 | Tatsu (Six Flags Magic Mountain) |
Tatsu (Six Flags Magic Mountain) |
Tatsu (Six Flags Magic Mountain) |
Tatsu (Six Flags Magic Mountain) |
2007 | ||||
2008 | ||||
2009 | Manta (SeaWorld Orlando) | |||
2010 | ||||
2011 | ||||
2012 | ||||
2013 | ||||
2014 | ||||
2015 | ||||
2016 | The Flying Dinosaur (Universal Studios Japan) |
The Flying Dinosaur (Universal Studios Japan) |
The Flying Dinosaur (Universal Studios Japan) | |
2017 | ||||
2018 | ||||
2019 | ||||
2020 | Record now held by Vekoma |
See also[]
References[]
- ^ "Flying Coaster (RCDb)".
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Superman: Ultimate Flight (Six Flags Great America)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
- ^ "B&M Flying Coaster".
- ^ "The World's First Flying Rollercoaster Opening At Alton Towers" (Press release). Alton Towers. 10 March 2002. Archived from the original on 28 May 2005. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Galactica (Alton Towers)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
- ^ "Superman Clones Clones".
- ^ "Manta Clones Clones".
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Galactica (Alton Towers)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Tatsu (Six Flags Magic Mountain·)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Manta (SeaWorld Orlando)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "The Flying Dinasour (Universal Studios Japan)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
- ^ "Roller Coaster Database".
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Galactica (Alton Towers)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Superman: Ultimate Flight (Six Flags Over Georgia)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Superman: Ultimate Flight (Six Flags Great Adventure)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Superman: Ultimate Flight (Six Flags Great America·)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Tatsu (Six Flags Magic Mountain·)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Crystal Wing (Happy Valley Beijing)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Manta (SeaWorld Orlando)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Starry Sky Ripper (Joyland China)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Acrobat (Nagashima Spa Land)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Harpy (Xishuangbanna Theme Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "The Flying Dinasour (Universal Studios Japan)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
External links[]
- Amusement ride models by name
- Roller coasters manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard