Flying Scooters
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
[edit | edit source]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
[edit | edit source]| 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
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- ^ US patent US1912174A, Alvin Bisch, "Device to train aviators or for amusement purposes", issued Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
External links
[edit | edit source]- US1912174A - Device to train aviators or for amusement purposes
- US2142169A - Amusement device
- US2163360A - Amusement device
- US1791655A - Air-pilot-training device and the like
- US1906443A - Aviator training or amusement device
- Larson International Flying Scooter official website
- Cable snapping performed on the Flyer at Knoebels