RCoasterny

Kit Kat, M&M's with peanuts, and SweetTarts.

Chain lifts will always be around, just that it has gotten steeper recently to reduce the space it takes up as coasters get taller. In the article it states that there's no family-friendly launch systems. The writer is wrong. There is one already out there- the Vekoma Booster Bike. Vekoma also promotes a Family launched coaster as well: http://www.vekoma.com/rides_fam_coasters/family_launch_coaster.htm Given the reliability of the Intamin hydraulic launch system, I don't think the chain lift will be going away soon.

Found this on RCDB: http://www.rcdb.com/id1968.htm It looks like a powered coaster, with the track photoshopped since the bus bar is intact but there's no strip for the tire contact, or has a powered section for the lift hill then a non powered section, similar to the Schwartzkopf speedracer coasters with the spiral lift hill. RCDB doesn't state what the manufacturer was, but it was recently built, about 5 years ago.

They can be found right here at TPR!

You can walk throughout the park any time during the off season. There's a security guard monitoring the place and while I walked right past him at one point with my camera in plain view, he did not even stop me and ask what I was doing. There were also some people fishing in the creek in the park that day too. What's more, I even ran into John Fetterman who's the designer of the Flying Turns at the park with his family!

Nope, it's not a Move-It 32. Move-It 32 is made by KMG, has suspended seats, and the whole ride sits on a rotating platform, just like it's little brother, Move-It 24 (also called a Spin-Out). Here's a Move-It 32: http://www.kmg.nl/kmg/factory/moveit32_en.html , and the ride in action: http://www.kermismovies.be/new/?a=view&b=202 . I've seen rides similar to what you have posted, but they were mounted on a rotating platform. Some names were Mega-Spin, SpinBall ( http://www.kermismovies.be/new/?a=view&b=237 ), etc..

That's because they can be found elsewhere...

While visiting my parents over Easter weekend, I stopped by Knoebels to see how things were progressing on the Flying Turns. Things are moving along nicely, with footers in place and the wood being laid down on the trough. There have been a lot of work being done elsewhere in the park. I'm looking forward to the 2006 season, even though the Flying Turns won't be open yet! And finally- the webcam that's been letting us know how things are progressing with the Flying Turns! Footers waiting to be born.. Footers! Lots of them! The Big Evil Worm... More noodly stuff Noodly stuff Things that keep Flying Turns from Falling Apart. Medevial Wood Bending Torture Device More bent wood... There's wires to keep their form... Numbers that would make a gay man squeal with delight! Piles of bent wood Poor Rick Knoebels- he has no place to park! Wood strips waiting to be installed. The Flying Turns Workshop... if you look closely, you can see the elves! If you can install wooden flooring and build a deck, you can build your own Flying Turns! The prototype track has been moved to the project site from a campsite. Here's the Flying Turns! Spinning Squirrel Cages... Okay- Enough of the park.. You're waiting for the Flying Turns, right? The Flyers ready for the Todd Long Workout! Most Greasiest Hot Dog in the park! 2 swans a swimming... Flying Frog's new home after being evicted by Flying Turns. Another new for 2006 - Dog Pounder! Flying Tiger Siezure-Inducing Sign New for 2006- The Flying Tigers is now Inclement-Weather-Friendly! Another Spiffy Paintjob for the High Speed Thrill Coaster! The Satellite gets a new main column and a spiffy paint job! The main column for the Satellite laying in the midway, however... A new roof (and skylights?) for Totem Treats The Skyfighters in it's nekked glory... Signs stashed away behind the Hawaiian Bandshell (I think it used to say Auto Speed Way at one point) New spiffy restrooms behind Cesari's Pizza... One of the private bathrooms even has a bed in it! *raises eyebrows* Yet Another Water Shooting Game.. (I think there's 3 variations now!) The North Pole- Nekked! Remanants of the Flying Frog game

I was just at the park Easter Sunday and took pictures.. I'll put them up as soon as I get them off my camera and resize the pictures. While walking around the park I ran into John Fetterman who was there with his family! I mentioned to him that the layout that was posted on the website and the actual footers don't match. He said that he hasn't seen the online version yet so he didn't have an answer for that. I asked if he was using the Ecluid Beach FT layout, and he said, no- they are using the Riverview FT blueprint. As for when the ride will open, it was a big question mark. It may be this year, it might be next year. I think it's best to expect this ride as a "new for 2007". I just checked the webcam which was down for the past few days and OMFG!! A huge bent is going up! I will try to post a TR tonight.. I just realized that the taxes are due in the mail today and I haven't printed them yet!

It's a Nauta-Bussink (Now Ronald Bussink) Imperator. I think it's listed in the World Guinness Book of Records as the largest amusement ride. Here's an onride video: http://www.kermismovies.be/new/?a=view&b=346 I also have another off-ride video that's on a CD somehwere. Once I find that CD with the ride clip, I will upload that into the video gallery. www.giantrides.com is the company website that builds the Imperator.

You've brought up a good point. I think the warning posted on the ride has become more of a generic warning found on ANY ride today. The precautionary warnings found on a wooden roller coaster would probably be also found on a carousel. Also those warning signs are treated at the same level as a software licensing agreement that you have to click on the "Agree" button before installing it. Do you take the time to read the entire SLA before installing it? I usually don't, as it has become very generic. Also, at Epcot, Test Track and Mission Space are the only 2 thrill rides at the park, while the rest of the park are just people movers past scenery and theaters. Since the majority of the park are gentle rides, people are led to believe that Mission: Space is just another gentle ride. Maybe they should put a sign up on every door that leads to the capsules that says in big bold letters: "Did you read the warnings about this ride?"

Have we heard of anyone die on a normally operating Rotor? How many G's does it pull? I know that Mission Space pulls 2 G's which is probably less than a Rotor, Gravitron, or a Huss Take Off (they produce 6 G's!). What about a Chance Skywheel where you do outside looping?

That's normal. CO2 sensors usually last about 100,000 miles before needing replacement. Today's ECU's actually throws a CEL once the car hits 100K saying that the CO2 sensor needs replacing.

Here's what John Fetterman had to say over at the CoasterBuzz forums: From what John has explained, CoasterFanatic is pretty much right in his guess. The long straight section next to the Flyer is probably the brake run, while the 2nd long section running in the back of the ride is the 3rd lift hill.

A overhead view of the layout is now up. Here's the link to the page that shows the layout that Knoebels is building now: http://www.knoebels.com/update.htm There are three straight sections of track before it hits the curvy part which is in a very odd location! The station is curved and what's more interesting is the storage track! It's circular and both ends meet with the station, which allows it to store two trains and either train can be taken on and off the track via a single storage track. I'm not sure which direction the train will travel through the station normally. If it goes counter-clockwise, then there will be 3 long straight sections before you hit the twisty track, otherwise you will climb the hill and then hit the twisty track right away and then 3 long sections before coming back to the station. It's also odd that while the lift and the brake sections are right next to each other, the twisty section is off to the side. It looks like the twisty section will be on the side closest to the Flyer while the lift hill / brake run will be on the other side.

204 HP out of a 3.5l? Please! My 3.0l puts out more than that!

Yes, but those Intamin trains are known to chuck people. Which is better, a $200 wheel or a $20000000 lawsuit?

Here's what has happened since the last update: More footers- It looks like there's a figure eight section going on. http://www.flyingturnsproject.com/FT_Webcam.html The ribs that functions as a backbone for the trough has been installed last Saturday (April 1st). http://www.flyingturnsproject.com/FT_Photos.html It also appears that Knoebels has begun to get ready for the 2006 season as Roto Jet's tower has gone up, and the installation of the upper panels on the Looper has begun.

go figure, y'know? I mean, don't forget tthat the same thign happened with rollercoasters. Flip flap raliway and loop de loop were the worl'ds firs tlooping coasters. loop de loop caused injuries and flip flap railway pulled 12Gs(thats fatal). so nobody dared build loops for years to come, but then in the 1970s Anton schwartskopf(RIP) built Revolution - the world's first coaster with a safe, working vertical loop, and since then they've been popping up like mushrooms. Don't forget- Flip Flap Railway had NO upstops. I don't think you would want it to slow down before going through a loop. That's why it went through the loop very quickly. There were broken neck injuries due to the high speed, but as far as I know, no one died on it.

Someone compared riding Raging Wolf Bobs before the retracking to riding a shopping cart over a washboard.

Nice April Fools Joke... Just like the one where a 13 roller coaster amusement park coming to Wiscosin. I knew it was a joke when it said the park would take up 780 square feet...

Yes, they did commericals before, but they basically showed the rides, and didn't have a storyline to open up with. For the past two years, I've seen Knoebels commericals on the FOX channel all the way up in Rochester, which is about a 4 hour drive away. They were shown late at night, around 10 pm. I will be watching the FOX channel to see if they show it during primetime..

Knoebels now has two new commericals posted on their website! They are being aired right now and I'd have to say that the commerical is a HUGE difference from what they've been showing lately! The professionalism of the commerical is on par with what you would see during the SuperBowl! Here's the links to two separate pages with the commericals: Commerical #1 Commerical #2 (Edited to show some of Knoebel's rides) Also, over on their FlyingTurns page, they show the final cypress layer being applied.

For me, trackwise, it would have to be the Jack Rabbit at Seabreeze. The closest entrance would be the Bear Trax, but I can't ride it without borrowing a kid..

Something is springing up at Knoebels... Bents!!!! They're going up where the footers were poured last January! Here's a picture of the first bent that went up on St Patrick's Day!: http://www.knoebels.com/update.htm And, if you check out the webcam, more have sprung up! http://www.flyingturnsproject.com/FT_Webcam.html Finally, things are moving along..