Flying Roller Coaster

Flying
Statistics
Description	Riders are positioned in a face-down position underneath the track.
First Installation	Skytrak (1997)
Oldest in Operation	Batwing Coaster (2001)
Newest Installation	Starry Sky Ripper (2011)
Manufacturers	Bolliger & Mabillard - Vekoma - Zamperla

A flying roller coaster is a type of a steel roller coaster with cars designed to simulate the sensations of flight. The roller coaster cars are suspended below the track, with riders secured so that their backs are parallel to the track. Flying roller coasters come in a variety of sizes and designs depending on the intended demographic for the ride. Some flying roller coasters are intended for children and, thus, are relatively slow and gentle; others are meant for older children and adults and can be very fast and intense.

History

The world's first flying roller coaster was Skytrak, built in Manchester, United Kingdom at Granada Studios in 1997. Skytrak used a single-passenger car. Riders would climb into the car in much the same fashion as climbing a ladder, then the car would be raised up to the track before being dispatched. The single-passenger design kept the ride's capacity low, at only 240 riders per hour. The park, and Skytrak itself, were short-lived, both closing in 1998, but nevertheless the ride was the first of its kind.

In 2000, flying coasters were taken to a completely new level and started a new stage of their life when Stealth (built by Vekoma) debuted in Paramount's Great America featuring not only a lay-down running but also a 6-car with rows of 4 pasenger train pasing through twisting inversions that featured both lay-up and lay-down segments. After its success this layout was later commercialized as Flying Dutchman.

A Vekoma and B&M flying train.

Notable coasters

Name	Park	Manufacturer	Opened	Status
Skytrak	Granada Studios	Skytrak International	1997	Defunct
Komet	Encounter Zone	Select Contracts	1998	Defunct
Batwing Coaster	Six Flags America	Vekoma	2001	Operating
Air/Galactica	Alton Towers	Bolliger & Mabillard	2002	Operating
Superman - Ultimate Flight	Six Flags Over Georgia	Bolliger & Mabillard	2002	Operating
Flying Coaster	Elitch Gardens	Zamperla	2002	Relocated to Luna Park
Superman - Ultimate Flight	Six Flags Great Adventure	Bolliger & Mabillard	2003	Operating
Superman - Ultimate Flight	Six Flags Great America	Bolliger & Mabillard	2003	Operating
Hexenbesen	Seilbahnen Thale	Wiegand	2003	Operating
Nighthawk Formerly Stealth	Carowinds California's Great America	Vekoma	2004 2000	Operating Closed 2003
Flying Coaster	Genting Theme Park	Zamperla	2004	Operating
Super Flight	Playland	Zamperla	2004	Operating
Time Warp	Canada's Wonderland	Zamperla	2004	Operating
Volare	Wiener Prater	Zamperla	2004	Operating
Trombi	Särkänniemi	Zamperla	2005	Operating
Tatsu	Six Flags Magic Mountain	Bolliger & Mabillard	2006	Operating
Crystal Wing	Happy Valley	Bolliger & Mabillard	2006	Operating
Flying Coaster	Genting Highlands Outdoor Theme Park	Zamperla	2006	Operating
Firehawk Formerly X-Flight	Kings Island Geauga Lake	Vekoma	2007 2001	Defunct Closed 2006
Manta	SeaWorld Orlando	Bolliger & Mabillard	2009	Operating
Stingray	Giant Wheel Park of Suzhou	Vekoma	2009	Operating
Sky Scrapper	World Joyland	Bolliger & Mabillard	2011	Operating