What is a Flying Coaster? Wilbur and Orville Wright had the right idea, but if you really want to experience flight first-hand look no further than one of the ten flying coasters in the U.S. Flying coasters are steel roller coasters where riders are secured in a face down flying position with the track overhead. There are several different designers and the loading is done in a variety of ways. Currently, Vekoma(3), Bolliger & Mabillard(6), Zamperla (5), and Wiegand (1) have built flying coasters. As with most early designs, the first few installations were nearly identical clones. Vekoma started the new trend when they debuted Stealth at Paramount’s Great America in Santa Clara, CA in 2000. In 2003, it was removed and sent to sister park Carowinds. It was reborn as Nighthawk in 2004. (Pictured right.) Air at Alton Towers in the UK was B&M’s first flying roller coaster. Then, B&M built several Superman Ultimate Flight coasters for Six Flags starting with this one at Six Flags Over Georgia in 2002. In 2006, Tatsu was opened at Six Flags Magic Mountain. It easily broke the mold as the world’s tallest, fastest, and longest flying coaster because the early designs were so small and safe. Find the nearest flying coaster to you: Complete List of Flying Coasters Think you’re ready to fly? Check out this onride roller coaster video of the massive Tatsu at Six Flags Magic Mountain: Note – This video was filmed by a professional with permission from the park. For safety reason, please DO NOT take a camera on a roller coaster. Got a suggestion for Coasterology 101? Leave a comment below. 11 Responses Lucas September 17, 2009 I remember riding the world's first flying coaster. It was Stealth It was GREAT!!! Reply CFC March 18, 2010 Isn't that now Nighthawk/Borg at Carowinds? Reply Prof. BAM March 17, 2010 The inversions that these coasters claim to have, I would't count all of them. Like the Fly to Lie/Lie to Fly. That is the train itself inverting. I define an inversion on a roller coaster as the occupants in a fashion similar to standing on their heads. In the Fly to Lie/Lie to Fly-you jsut roll over. You don't invert. Reply JaMeS March 17, 2010 is the lie to fly a pretzel loop? because when you start heading down, you do feel like you are standing on your head Reply Prof. BAM March 18, 2010 The Fly to Lie/Fly to Lie are reminiscent of barrel rolls Prof. BAM April 5, 2010 Am I the only one who has noticed that only Vekoma flyers are located at Cedar Fair parks? Six Flags has the B&Ms, so where and when is one going to fly to a Cedar Fair park. Personally, I believe that the first B&M flyer will land somewhare around Cedar Point's property. Reply CFC April 5, 2010 Prof. BAM, look at the article more closely. It says that B&M has already made six flyers. Vekoma has built three, Zamperla has built 5, and Wiegand has built one. Reply Tom April 7, 2010 Flying roller coasters are my favorite type of roller coaster. I just love the feeling of being hung in midair with nothing but a seat belt holding you in, the G-forces you can get on one that you can't get on any other type of roller coaster, and the feeling of your blood rushing to your head on the pretzel loop. Reply marijn December 15, 2010 you're very lucky to get so amazing coasters especially flying in US to compare with europe behalve air in UK.so i'm french and the coasters are vey boring.so how many Gs do you think you feel in your body with the ptrezel loop the most intensive inversion? Reply The Coaster Critic December 15, 2010 Not sure about the exact number of g-forces in a pretzel loop. Maybe someone who plays coaster simulator games might know. Thanks for dropping in from France! Reply Quil December 16, 2010 It depends on the size of the loop and the speed you go into the loop. The avareage is about 3.5 G's (I got that from Ultimate Ride Coaster Deluxe-Great Game.) Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Lucas September 17, 2009 I remember riding the world's first flying coaster. It was Stealth It was GREAT!!! Reply
Prof. BAM March 17, 2010 The inversions that these coasters claim to have, I would't count all of them. Like the Fly to Lie/Lie to Fly. That is the train itself inverting. I define an inversion on a roller coaster as the occupants in a fashion similar to standing on their heads. In the Fly to Lie/Lie to Fly-you jsut roll over. You don't invert. Reply
JaMeS March 17, 2010 is the lie to fly a pretzel loop? because when you start heading down, you do feel like you are standing on your head Reply
Prof. BAM April 5, 2010 Am I the only one who has noticed that only Vekoma flyers are located at Cedar Fair parks? Six Flags has the B&Ms, so where and when is one going to fly to a Cedar Fair park. Personally, I believe that the first B&M flyer will land somewhare around Cedar Point's property. Reply
CFC April 5, 2010 Prof. BAM, look at the article more closely. It says that B&M has already made six flyers. Vekoma has built three, Zamperla has built 5, and Wiegand has built one. Reply
Tom April 7, 2010 Flying roller coasters are my favorite type of roller coaster. I just love the feeling of being hung in midair with nothing but a seat belt holding you in, the G-forces you can get on one that you can't get on any other type of roller coaster, and the feeling of your blood rushing to your head on the pretzel loop. Reply
marijn December 15, 2010 you're very lucky to get so amazing coasters especially flying in US to compare with europe behalve air in UK.so i'm french and the coasters are vey boring.so how many Gs do you think you feel in your body with the ptrezel loop the most intensive inversion? Reply
The Coaster Critic December 15, 2010 Not sure about the exact number of g-forces in a pretzel loop. Maybe someone who plays coaster simulator games might know. Thanks for dropping in from France! Reply
Quil December 16, 2010 It depends on the size of the loop and the speed you go into the loop. The avareage is about 3.5 G's (I got that from Ultimate Ride Coaster Deluxe-Great Game.)
