Flying Scooters

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File:Flyers-IndianaBeach.jpg
Air Crow at Indiana Beach. Note the "No snapping of cables" sign
File:Flyers-StrickersGrove.jpg
Flyers in operation at Stricker's Grove

Flying Scooters, also known simply as Flyers, is an amusement ride consisting of a center post with ride vehicles suspended from arms attached to the center post. The ride was developed in the 1920s and 1930s by Alvin Bisch and his partner, Ralph Rocco. They applied for a patent for a “Device to train aviators or for amusement purposes” in 1929.[1] The first ride manufactured by the Bisch-Rocco Amusement Company was installed at Riverview Park (Chicago) in 1935.[2]

In the early 2000s, Larson International revived the concept. In the early 2010s, Larson partnered with Majestic Manufacturing, Inc. to create a portable version of the ride.[3]

When the ride is in operation, a motor causes the arms to spin, with centrifugal forces causing the ride vehicles to fly outwards. Each ride vehicle is equipped with a large rudder, allowing riders to control the motion of their vehicle. The minimum rider height requirement is usually 36 inches tall or more.

Cable snapping

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Although Flying Scooters are generally considered a mild ride, a skilled rider can "snap" the cables suspending the vehicle, and thus gain a more extreme and out-of-control experience. Snapping is caused by the cables slacking due to quick motions of the vehicle. Snapping is made easier on older and faster Flying Scooters rides such as the Flyer at Knoebels or others manufactured by Bisch-Rocco. Some newer models, such as those manufactured by Larson International, are designed to prevent snapping. Snapping is sometimes discouraged due to maintenance and safety reasons, and in the case of some parks, snapping is punishable by the ride cycle being stopped early and the offending rider being removed from the ride.

Installations

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Name Park Location Manufacturer Opened Status Ref
Flyer Knoebels Amusement Resort United States United States Bisch-Rocco 1972 Operating [4]
Flying Fish Story Land United States United States Larson International Unknown Operating [5]
Flying Scooter Bland's Park United States United States Bisch-Rocco Unknown Removed [6][7]
Flying Scooter LeSourdsville Lake Amusement Park United States United States Bisch-Rocco Unknown Removed
Flying Scooter Waldameer & Water World United States United States Bisch-Rocco 1944 Removed
Flying Scooters Erieview Park United States United States Bisch-Rocco Unknown Removed [8]
Flying Scooters Stricker's Grove United States United States Ray Evers Unknown Operating
Hurricane Lakeside Amusement Park United States United States Bisch-Rocco Unknown Operating
Flying Scooters Whalom Park United States United States Bisch-Rocco Unknown Removed [9]
Rowdy Roosters Canobie Lake Park
Palisades Amusement Park
United States United States Bisch-Rocco Unknown Operating
Mission Macaw
Formerly SS Stingray
Rides At Adventure Cove in Columbus Zoo United States United States Larson International 2008 Operating [10]
Seabreeze Flyers Seabreeze Amusement Park United States United States Bisch-Rocco C. 1944 Removed
Spirit of Kitty Hawk Frontier Village United States United States Bisch-Rocco Unknown Removed
Falcon Flyer
Flying Circus
Wild Adventures
Celebration City
United States United States Larson International 2010
Unknown
Operating
Aerial Joy Ride Hersheypark United States United States Spillman Manufacturing 1941 Removed
Flying Aces Lagoon Amusement Park United States United States Bisch-Rocco 1941 Operating
Screaming Eagles Fun Spot America (Kissimmee) United States United States Larson International Unknown Operating
Dive Bombers Santa's Workshop United States United States Bisch-Rocco Unknown Operating
Flying Scooter Bushkill Park United States United States Bisch-Rocco 1950 Removed [6]
Flying Scooters Playland Park United States United States Bisch-Rocco 1950 Removed [11]
Flying Scooters Geauga Lake United States United States Bisch-Rocco 1958 Removed
Flying Eagles Kings Dominion United States United States Bisch-Rocco 1975 Operating
Eagle's Flight Holiday World United States United States Bisch-Rocco 1976 Operating [12]
Flying Scooter Conneaut Lake Park
Euclid Beach Park
Old Indiana Fun Park
United States United States Bisch-Rocco 1997
Unknown
Unknown
Operating
Flying Eagles California's Great America United States United States Larson International 2002 Operating
American Flyers
Formerly Phantom Phlyer
Lake Compounce
Kennywood
West View Park
United States United States Bisch-Rocco 2003
1995 to 1996
1937 to 1977
Operating
Frontier Flyers Hersheypark United States United States Larson International 2003 Operating [13]
Air Crow Indiana Beach United States United States Larson International 2004 Operating
Tink's Flying School Oakwood Theme Park United Kingdom United Kingdom Larson International 2004 Removed
Mountain Gliders
Formerly Woodstock Gliders, Phantom Flyers
Formerly Flying Eagles, Flying Scooters
Carowinds
Kings Island
Coney Island
United States United States Bisch-Rocco 2005
1972 to 2004
1940 to 1971
Operating
Flying Scooters Camden Park United States United States Larson International 2006 Operating
Flying Aces Idlewild Park United States United States Premier Rides 2007 Operating
Dragon Flyer Castle Park United States United States Larson International 2008 Operating [14]
Hornet's Nest Six Flags Darien Lake United States United States Larson International 2012 Operating [15]
Thunderbirds
Formerly Flying Scooters
Eldridge Park
Fun Spot Amusement Park & Zoo
Fantasy Farm
United States United States Bisch-Rocco 2012
Unknown
Unknown
Operating
Lakeside Gliders Michigan's Adventure United States United States Larson International 2013 Operating
Screamin' Eagles Six Flags Great Escape United States United States Larson International 2013 Operating [16]
Surfside Gliders Knott's Berry Farm United States United States Larson International 2013 Operating [17]
French Quarter Flyers Six Flags America United States United States Larson International 2014 Closed
Lake Erie Eagles Cedar Point United States United States Larson International 2014 Operating
Honeybee Buzzers
Formerly Professor John's Flying Machines
Kentucky Kingdom United States United States Larson International 2014 Operating
Winged Warrior Frontier City United States United States Larson International 2014 Operating
MT Buckets
Formerly Cedar Creek Flyers
Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom United States United States Larson International 2015 Operating
Kong Morey's Piers United States United States Larson International 2015 Operating
Franklin's Flyers
Formerly Woodstock Gliders
Kings Island United States United States Larson International 2015 Operating
Flying Eagles Canada's Wonderland Canada Canada Larson International 2016 Operating
Flying Eagles Valleyfair United States United States Larson International 2016 Operating
Phoenix La Ronde Canada Canada Larson International 2016 Operating [18]
Woodstock Gliders Worlds of Fun United States United States Larson International 2016 Operating
Wonder Woman Flight School Six Flags Over Georgia United States United States Larson International 2016 Operating [18]
Flying Scooter Fox Creek Amusement Company United States United States Bisch-Rocco 2016 Operating
The Mad Mocking Bird Dollywood United States United States Larson International 2019 Operating
Flying Circus Celebration City United States United States Larson International Unknown Closed [19]
The Barnstormers Guyton's Fun Junction United States Unknown Unknown Closed

See also

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References

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