Flying Scooters

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Air Crow at Indiana Beach. Note the "No snapping of cables" sign
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 dates back to the 1930s and 1940s when Bisch-Rocco manufactured the ride. 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.[1]

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]

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, 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]

Name Park Location Manufacturer Opened Status Ref
Flyer Knoebels Amusement Resort United States United States Bisch-Rocco 1972 Operating [2]
Flying Fish Story Land United States United States Larson International Unknown Operating [3]
Flying Scooter Bland's Park United States United States Bisch-Rocco Unknown Removed [4][5]
Flying Scooter Americana Amusement Park United States United States Bisch-Rocco Unknown Removed
Flying Scooters Erieview Park United States United States Bisch-Rocco Unknown Removed [6]
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 [7]
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 [8]
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 [4]
Flying Scooters Playland Park United States United States Bisch-Rocco 1950 Removed [9]
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 [10]
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 [11]
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 Operating
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 [12]
Hornet's Nest Six Flags Darien Lake United States United States Larson International 2012 Operating [13]
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 [14]
Surfside Gliders Knott's Berry Farm United States United States Larson International 2013 Operating [15]
French Quarter Flyers Six Flags America United States United States Larson International 2014 Operating
Lake Erie Eagles Cedar Point United States United States Larson International 2014 Operating
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 [16]
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 [16]
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 [17]
The Barnstormers Guyton's Fun Junction United States Unknown Unknown Closed

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Larson International, Inc". 2012-08-26. Archived from the original on 2012-08-26. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
  2. ^ Futrell, Jim (17 May 1999). "Not all the good rides are new". Amusement Business. 111 (20): 21.
  3. ^ Ruben, Paul (7 May 2009). "Story Land". Park World Magazine. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
  4. ^ a b Futrell, Jim (2002). Amusement Parks of Pennsylvania. Stackpole Books. ISBN 0811726711.
  5. ^ Futrell, Jim (10 September 2001). "Name change helps Bland's keep up with special sauce". Amusement Business. 113 (36): 53.
  6. ^ O'Brien, Tim (25 November 2002). "Attendance increase highlights 57th season". Amusement Business. 114 (47): 9.
  7. ^ O'Brien, Tim (12 November 2001). "Whalom Park assets to go on block". Amusement Business. 113 (45): 39.
  8. ^ "Columbus Zoo and Aquarium - Rides and Attractions". www.columbuszoo.org. Retrieved 2020-03-30.
  9. ^ "Playland Park (Justice, Illinois, USA)". rcdb.com. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  10. ^ Kyriazi, Gary (1 November 2006). "Holiday World: Redefining family entertainment". Park World Magazine. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
  11. ^ Barbieri, Kelly (3 February 2003). "Hersheypark prepares for new rides, food". Amusement Business. 115 (5).
  12. ^ "Dragons Fly at Castle Park: Larson Scooters now open". Park World Magazine. 30 May 2008. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
  13. ^ "Kernels – May 2012". Park World Magazine. 9 May 2012. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
  14. ^ "Screamin' Eagles at the Great Escape". Park World: 12. August 2013.
  15. ^ "New at Knott's". Park World Magazine. 12 December 2012. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
  16. ^ a b MacDonald, Brady (September 3, 2015). "Six Flags unveils new attractions for every park in 2016". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
  17. ^ "Celebration City - Flying Circus". www.themeparkreview.com. Retrieved 2020-04-11.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Flying Scooters.
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