The "Flyers" Thread

[jamesdillaman]

I ran the ride for a 10-minute cycle for a bunch of acers that had all 10 tubs on the ride snapping like mad, and they never hit the ground... I seriously doubt that any well maintained ride would be in any danger of hitting the ground. That was a common saying though. I heard many times (being the ride op) some unknowing bystander when someone snapped one say: "OMG, Stop the ride, they're hitting the ground!!" LOL, to which I'd calmly explain they're not and that's normal operation of the ride, as my supervisor taught me...

-James "Glad he has a real job now, no offense..." Dillaman

[easytoremember]

that would be a fun thing to watch

[jamesdillaman]

It was actually the highlight of me working for paramount. One of the coolest things I've seen.

-James Dillaman

[easytoremember]

Is that like the dream job at the Carawinds?

[dragoncoaster1292]

Wow, I never thought this thread would get so much responce! Elissa, I promise not to break the Flyers when I go to Knoebels this August!

[Jumboshrmp]

I had never even heard of these. I saw the thread and thought it was about B&M Flying Coasters.

Does anyone have a video of one of these things in motion?

[RCoasterny]

Actually, I posted on RRC a while ago what makes a cable "snap". I've ridden the flyers for 20 years, (yeesh, saying that makes me sound old..) and even ran Knoebel's flyers for a few years...

 

Here's the technical information revolving around a cable snap on the Flyers:

 

You have a tub suspended between two sweeps via steel wire rope cables. The tub is centered between those two sweeps. One cable goes slack when you go off-center between the sweeps. For example- if your tub moves towards the front (leading) sweep, the front cable goes slack. If your tub moves towards the rear (trailing) sweep, your rear cable goes slack.

 

During the ride, the sweeps move at a constant speed, but your tub will change speeds in relation to the sweeps. If your tub moves faster, your front cable will go slack. If your tub moves slower, your rear cable will go slack. Also, the opposite (non-slack) cable will always be pulling on your tub.

 

Now, I do not condone cable snapping. Doing so damages the ride somewhat, and causes parts to wear out faster. Not only to mention the aceleration of metal fatiguing on the support components of the ride. Yes, when I ride the flyers, my cable do go slack, but I modulate the sail just right that the speed changes are more gradual, causing the cable to "snap" gently, rather than a hard snap, generating loud noises. I'm all about going higher with minimal cable snaps so the ride can be around longer for many generations to enjoy.

[verticalzero]

I have only seen pic's of these rides and not been on one, the nearest is at "Oakwood" in Wales UK, this is 4 hours drive away.

 

I just wondered:

 

Why don't the ops like you "snapping" the wires/cables..?

 

Is the ride suppose to do this and hit the ground?

[CoasterFanatic]

Boo to Holiday World's Flyers! They are the only ones that I just can't seem to do much of anything with.

 

I am usually pretty good with the flyers, but even I show some restraint on the ones at Conneaut and only snap them gently. Lord knows that the park can't afford any type of serious maintenance.

 

For some great snapping demonstrations, check out these two videos:

 

Knoebel's Opening Day 2005

Knoebel's PPP 2004

[Jumboshrmp]

Boo to Holiday World's Flyers! They are the only ones that I just can't seem to do much of anything with.

 

I am usually pretty good with the flyers, but even I show some restraint on the ones at Conneaut and only snap them gently. Lord knows that the park can't afford any type of serious maintenance.

 

For some great snapping demonstrations, check out these two videos:

 

Knoebel's Opening Day 2005

Knoebel's PPP 2004

Thats a really weird looking ride.

Thanks for the links, thats really cool.

I'm looking for a video where I can hear what it sounds like.

[viking86]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCx9g_ey97o&search=flyer

[bgwfreak]

Boo to Holiday World's Flyers!

 

Agreed. I can't do anything with them either or the ones at Camden Park.

 

Phantom flyers rock though!

 

 

And for some reason I don't think this was mentioned but I think the technical term for this ride is "Flying Scooters" not just flyers. I'll be quiet now.

Greatest flyers I've been on so far.

[CoasterFanatic]

Agreed. I can't do anything with them either or the ones at Camden Park.

 

The Larson ones are a little more challenging, but the seasoned "snapper" can get them to dance pretty good. I had no problem at all getting the ones at Oakwood to snap. I actually think I scared the op a little bit.

 

I have mixed feelings on the Flying Eagl .... er ... I mean Phantom Flyers at Carowinds. The problems with these is they fly too tight. I think a lot of that has to due to their weight and the stability it adds. Although they are the same manufacturer as Knoebels, the tubs have steel supports for the seats and weigh more overall. Also, they are TOO easy to snap really hard which only encourages people to really bust them up. If you watch carefully, almost everybody has the same technique. What fun is that?

[BeemerBoy]

^^ Well I'm certainly looking forward to Carowinds' then, since Holiday World was my introduction to flyers, er, Flying Scooters.

 

 

 

 

 

Scott "who still wishes all flyers fans had the opportunity to ride Kick Boodie" B.

[easytoremember]

Ya, I am heading up to holiday world in a few days, and this will be my first introduction to flyers.

[bgwfreak]

^^^ I guess I'm a loser then since I can't get the Larson ones to snap. lol

 

I got some movement, but theirs atleast at Camden seemed like you couldn't get it in that rythem like on the flyers at Carowinds.

 

It was weird for me, something like the cables are too long or short or something.

 

But maybe I just don't know how to do it on those.

[Inferno Insane]

The Mistral Flying Machine at Pleasureland Southport, snap pretty well with a mild/strong wind from the sea. After 1st riding them last year so much better than Oakwood which I found hard to snap, and when you do snap you get either evil looks or a shorter ride than other people. Bummer Southport's are close for Health and Safety this year would of rode most of the day when I visited in April

 

Knowsley Safari Park had some when I visted sadly close like half of there park

[Absimilliard]

Last week, I visited a small animal park south of Montreal, QC and to my surprise... they add a set of Flying scooters! No, not the Larson ones, but an old Bisch-Rocco 10 tubs ride. They were ridiculously easy to snap... anyone who barely moved the sail got them to move everywhere! I got like 10 rides that day and snapped them gently... The place is called Parc Safari.

[USRoadTripper]

I rode the Phantom Flyers earlier today and was happy that I could get them to snap. I thought I was doing it wrong this whole time! Turns out that I was just riding crappy fliers. Every park needs a set like the Carowinds ones.

 

-Julie

[CoasterFanatic]

^ There isn't neccesarily a right and wrong way to do it. I could use my technique to get both the Carowinds and Larson flyers to snap, but there are also techniques that will work on the Carowinds version that won't do anything on the Larson models.

 

This is what makes the Flyers so great. Every set is different.

[Ed]

I 'snapped' the things at Oakwood. I'm not sure how extreme others get but they were really fun! It's so easy once you get the rythem going.

[pgathriller]

So who makes the best flyers? I have only been on the flying eagles at PGA a long time ago and i dont think i snapped them. Well then again I had no idea what snapping was. My local amusement park (Western Playland) just bought flyers from Larson but they look completely different from the Flying Eagles version. The tubs are smaller and look really light. Can you snap smaller tubs easier than the bigger heavier ones?

[CoasterFanatic]

So who makes the best flyers?

 

Bisch Rocco (10-Tub Version is better). These are like the holy grail of flying scooters and can be found at: Knoebels, Carowinds, Kings Dominion, Conneaut Lake, Southport Pleasureland, Erieview and more.

 

There used to be a census page that listed more on the old "coastersaver.com" site, but it has since closed.

[dragoncoaster1292]

I would think that the heavier ones would be easier to snap, but harder to control. But that's just me.

[bgwfreak]

The heavier ones are a lot harder to snap and get going.

 

Plus if you're a heavier person that hurts as well.

 

Little kids can snap a lot easier than adults. I've seen it at Carowinds so many times.