Skycoaster is the name of a free-fall and flight-simulating amusement park attraction produced and managed by Skycoaster Company, LLC..[1] On the Skycoaster, riders in groups of 1 to 3 are harnessed in specialized Flight Suits (in a face-down, prone position), and are winched to the top of a launch tower; the riders then pull a ripcord to engage their “flight”, upon which they swing several times from a cable tether, back and forth, until finally brought to a rest.[2] The attraction is often compared to a combination of skydiving, bungee jumping, and hang gliding.[3]
| Skycoaster | |
|---|---|
.JPG) A typical Skycoaster arch tower. | |
| Ride statistics | |
| Manufacturer | Ride Entertainment Group |
| Designer | William Kitchen & Ken Bird |
| Model | Single Swing Dual Swing |
| Height | 100 ft – 300 ft |
.JPG)
There are currently over 80 Skycoasters in operation all around the world, ranging in heights from 100–300 feet (30.5–91.4 m).[4][5] The ride can be found on every continent but Antarctica.[6] Most locations operate as upcharge attractions with an additional fare charged to riders who have already paid general admission to the park.
Many installations use a variation of the Skycoaster model name, whereas others use a custom name like Dare Devil Dive (found at several Six Flags parks) or Xtreme Skyflyer (found at several Cedar Fair parks).
History
William Kitchen, founder of Sky Fun 1 Inc., and Ken Bird originally came up with the idea of the Skycoaster in 1992.[7] They wanted to find a way to let others experience the thrill of jumping out of a plane or the thrills of bungee jumping, but with the safety factor of a merry-go-round. By January 1994, there were four portable models of the ride and 16 permanent fixtures in the United States.[8]
In 1998, Bill Kitchen sold his patents for Skycoaster and most of the Sky Fun 1 Inc. company to ThrillTime Entertainment International Inc. for $12 million.[9][10][11] Skycoaster, Inc. was then sold to the Ride Entertainment Group in 2005.[10][6]
Ride Entertainment introduced Sky Sled in 2017, a new method of riding a Skycoaster.[12][13] The Sky Sled replaces the flying position with a sitting one. It was first introduced in 2018 at Fun Spot America in Kissimmee, Florida.[14]
Ride Entertainment has partnered with KCL Engineering to offer lighting systems for the Skycoasters and Kool Replay to offer automated video systems.[15][16]
Production
The company is based in Stevensville, Maryland. Parts are manufactured throughout the United States, with the attractions assembled on site.
The two most common types of Skycoasters are lattice and monopole. Lattice Skycoasters were manufactured in a variety of sizes, but the 173-dual arch and 100-foot single arch were the most common. Monopole Skycoasters were manufactured in a variety of sizes, 100-foot single, 100-foot dual, 180-foot single, 180-foot dual, and one 300-foot unit.[16] Earlier Skycoasters have some unique tower structures that do not fall within these categories.
Flight cables are made of 5⁄16 inch (7.9 mm) galvanized steel, which supports 9,800 pounds (4,445 kg), or stainless steel, which supports 9,000 pounds (4,082 kg).[2] However, the maximum weight for a flight is 850 pounds (386 kg), mainly due to the winch. The 3-ring release system used on the Skycoaster is the same kind used on parachutes. The flight suits worn are similar to hang gliding suits, and are made by a parachute company to support weight of up to 10,000 pounds (4,535 kg).
There are two types of Skycoaster loading systems:
- Rolling boarding platform: A cart is rolled out to and from flight line in order to help the flyers on and off the ride
- Scissors lift: An elevator-like platform is raised up and down to allow flyers on and off the ride.
Skycoaster Installations
| Skycoaster Name | Park | Location | Height | Opened | Closed | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skycoaster | Fun Spot America - Kissimmee | Kissimmee, Florida | 300 feet (91.4 m) | 1997 | Open | World's tallest Skycoaster.[17][18] Opened on Saturday, November 22, 1997 with an appearance by 82-year-old George A. Blair.[17] |
| Sydney Skycoaster | Raging Waters Sydney (Formerly Wet'n'Wild Sydney) | Sydney, Australia | 251 feet (76.5 m) | 2013 | Open | World's second tallest Skycoaster. Dual Skycoaster and the first with a new design with less steel than other Skycoaster designs.[4][6][19] Second Skycoaster with the Village Roadshow group. |
| Skycoaster | Fun Spot America - Orlando | Orlando, Florida | 250 feet (76.2 m) | 2013 | Open | Relocated from MGM Grand Adventures Theme Park.[20] Only uses one of two former towers.[21] |
| Sky Screamer | MGM Grand Adventures | Las Vegas | 250 feet (76.2 m) | 1996 | 2001 | Relocated to Fun Spot Orlando.[20][22] After closing to the public, the ride was originally retained on property and available for rent by companies.[23] |
| VertigoXtremo | Parque de la Costa | Tigre, Buenos Aires, Argentina | 213 feet (64.9 m) | 1999 | Open | [24] |
| Skycoaster | Skyborne | London | 200 feet (61.0 m) | Open | ||
| Skycoaster | The American Adventure | Ilkeston, Derbyshire | 200 feet (61.0 m) | Closed | [25] | |
| X-Flight | Six Flags Mexico | Mexico, Mexico City | 197 feet (60.0 m) | 2015 | Open | Tallest Skycoaster in Mexico at over 180 feet (55 m) tall.[26][5] |
| Skycoaster | PlayCenter | São Paulo | 197 feet (60.0 m) | Closed | [27] | |
| RipCord | Worlds of Fun | Kansas City, Missouri | 189 feet (57.6 m) | 1996 | Open | [28][29] |
| Caribbean Swing | Hurricane Harbor | Arlington, Texas | 189 feet (57.6 m) | 1995 | 2014 | |
| Skycoaster | Kennywood | West Mifflin, Pennsylvania | 189 feet (57.6 m) | 1994 | Open | Single Lattice A-Frame.[4] First permanent Skycoaster installation in an amusement park.[30][31] |
| SkyCoaster | State Fair of Texas | Dallas | 189 feet (57.6 m) | Closed | ||
| RipCord | Michigan's Adventure | Muskegon, Michigan | 183 feet (55.8 m) | 2002 | Open | [32] |
| SkyCoaster | Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort | New Braunfels, Texas | 183 feet (55.8 m) | 2002 | Removed | [33] |
| Skycoaster | Lake Compounce | Bristol, Connecticut | 189 feet (57.6 m) | 1998 | Open | [34] |
| RipCord | Valleyfair | Shakopee, Minnesota | 180 feet (54.9 m) | 1996 | Open | [4][35] |
| Geronimo Skycoaster | Wild Adventures | Valdosta, Georgia | 180 feet (54.9 m) | 1999 | Open | [36] |
| Red Hawk | Six Flags Darien Lake | Darien, New York | 180 feet (54.9 m) | 1995 | Open | Opened as Skycoaster.[37] |
| Sky Coaster | Six Flags Over Georgia | Austell, Georgia | 180 feet (54.9 m) | 1996 | Open | [38] |
| Ultimate Rush | Grand Adventure Land | Reno, Nevada | 180 feet (54.9 m) | 1998 | Open | [39] |
| Unknown | United Entertainment & Tourism Company | Shaab Park, Kuwait | 180 feet (54.9 m) | Open | ||
| Skycoaster | Kentucky Kingdom | Louisville, Kentucky | 180 feet (54.9 m) | 2001 | 2009 | [40] |
| Screamin' Skycoaster | Six Flags Fiesta Texas | San Antonio | 180 feet (54.9 m) | 1995 | 2001 | Relocated to Texas State Fair. |
| Skycoaster | Six Flags New Orleans | New Orleans | 180 feet (54.9 m) | 2000 | 2005 | Attraction still standing at abandoned park.[41] |
| Skydiver | Walibi Holland | Biddinghuizen, Netherlands | 177 feet (53.9 m) | 2002 | Open | |
| Dare Devil Dive | Six Flags Great Escape and Hurricane Harbor | Queensbury, New York | 175 feet (53.3 m) | 2001 | Open | [42] |
| Hadikali | Hopi Hari | Vinhedo, São Paulo, Brazil | 174 feet (53.0 m) | Open | [43] | |
| Catapulte | La Ronde | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | 173 feet (52.7 m) | 2008 | Open | [44] |
| Skycoaster | Opryland USA | Nashville, Tennessee | 173 feet (52.7 m) | 1995 | 1997 | Originally opened in park's State Fair area before being relocated within park for 1997 season.[7] Park was closed and demolished following 1997 season. |
| Xtreme SkyFlyer | Canada's Wonderland | Vaughan, Ontario, Canada | 173 feet (52.7 m) | 1996 | Closed | Dual Skycoaster.[4][45] |
| SKY-X | Seoul Land | Gwacheon, South Korea | 165 feet (50.3 m) | 2000 | Open | [46] |
| Sky Coaster | Superland | Rishon LeZion, Israel | 165 feet (50.3 m) | 1998 | Open | [47] |
| SkyCoaster | Wet'n'Wild Gold Coast | Gold Coast, Australia | 164 feet (50.0 m) | Open | [48] | |
| XLR8R | Elitch Gardens | Denver | 160 feet (48.8 m) | 1996 | Open | [49] |
| Xtreme Skyflyer | Kings Island | Mason, Ohio | 153 feet (46.6 m) | 1995 | Open | Opened as Drop Zone, named after Paramount movie Drop Zone.[50] Renamed in 1996 to Xtreme Skyflyer.[51] |
| Dive Devil | Six Flags Magic Mountain | Valencia, California | 153 feet (46.6 m) | 1996 | Open | [52] |
| Xtreme SkyFlyer | Kings Dominion | Doswell, Virginia | 153 feet (46.6 m) | 1996 | Open | [53] |
| RipCord | Carowinds | Charlotte, North Carolina | 153 feet (46.6 m) | 1995 | Open | Opened as Skycoaster. Renamed in 1996 to Xtreme Skyflyer.[54] Relocated next to Nighthawk in 2014.[55] |
| Xtreme SkyFlyer | California's Great America | Santa Clara, California | 153 feet (46.6 m) | 1997 | Open | [56] |
| Dare Devil Dive | Six Flags Great Adventure | Jackson, New Jersey | 153 feet (46.6 m) | 1997 | Open | [57] |
| Dive Bomber Alley | Six Flags Over Texas | Arlington, Texas | 153 feet (46.6 m) | 1996 | Open | [58] |
| Dragon's Wing | Six Flags St. Louis | Eureka, Missouri | 152 feet (46.3 m) | 1996 | 2023 | [59] |
| Barnstormer | Six Flags AstroWorld | Houston | 151 feet (46.0 m) | Closed | [60][61] | |
| Sky Coaster | Lagoon Amusement Park | Farmington, Utah | 143 feet (43.6 m) | 1995 | Open | [3][62] |
| Vertigo | Oakwood Theme Park | Pembrokeshire, Wales | 140 feet (42.7 m) | 1997 | Open | [4][63] |
| I-5 Sky Dive | Wild Waves Theme Park | Federal Way, Washington | 125 feet (38.1 m) | 1998 | Open | [64] |
| Dare Devil Dive | Six Flags Great America | Gurnee, Illinois | 125 feet (38.1 m) | 1997 | 2023 | [65] |
| Skycoaster | Wet 'n Wild Emerald Pointe | Greensboro, North Carolina | 125 feet (38.1 m) | Closed | ||
| Professor Delbert's Frontier Fling | Cedar Point | Sandusky, Ohio | 153 feet (46.6 m) | 1996 | Open | Originally opened as Ripcord in Cedar Point's Challenge Park.[66] Relocated in 2017 to Frontier Trail and renamed.[67] |
| Skycoaster | South Pier, Blackpool | Blackpool | 120 feet (36.6 m) | 1994 | Open | [68] |
| Skycoaster | Six Flags America | Prince George's County, Maryland | 100 feet (30.5 m) | 2001 | Closed | Removed to make way for Harley Quinn Spinsanity. |
| Sky Shark | Magic Springs and Crystal Falls | Hot Springs, Arkansas | 115 feet (35.1 m) | 2014 | Open | [69] |
| Geronimo Skycoaster | Frontier City | Oklahoma City | 113 feet (34.4 m) | 1995 | Open | [70] |
| Dive Devil | Bell's Amusement Park | Tulsa, Oklahoma | 113 feet (34.4 m) | Closed | ||
| Skycoaster | The Track Family Fun Center | Gulf Shores, Alabama | 110 feet (33.5 m) | 1995 | Open | [71] |
| Skycoaster | Zero Gravity | Dallas | 110 feet (33.5 m) | 1994 | Open | [72] |
| Sky Coaster | Indiana Beach | Monticello, Indiana | 110 feet (33.5 m) | 1995 | Open | [73] |
| Skycoaster | Big Kahuna's | Destin, Florida | 110 feet (33.5 m) | 1993 | Open | [74] |
| Skycoaster | Tusenfryd | Oslo, Norway | 110 feet (33.5 m) | 1996 | Open | [75] |
| Skycoaster | Parque Mundo Aventura | Bogotá D.C., Colombia | 110 feet (33.5 m) | Open | [76] | |
| Skycoaster | Six Flags New England | Agawam, Massachusetts | 110 feet (33.5 m) | 1995[77] | 2013 | Formerly known as Taz's Daredevil Dive. Featured a unique curved tower.[78] Replaced with Star Flyer.[79] |
| Sky Coaster | Funtown Pier | Seaside Heights, New Jersey | 110 feet (33.5 m) | 2007 | 2012 | Demolished after Hurricane Sandy destroyed most of the pier.[80] |
| Boardwalk Flight | Luna Park, Coney Island | Coney Island, New York | 110 feet (33.5 m) | 2012 | 2014 | [81] |
| Skycoaster | Casino Pier | Seaside Heights, New Jersey | 109 feet (33.2 m) | 2015 | Open | [82][83] |
| The Skycoaster | El Rollo Waterpark | Acapulco, Mexico | 109 feet (33.2 m) | 2015 | Closed | 109 feet (33 m) single tower.[5] |
| Skycoaster | Broadway Grand Prix | Myrtle Beach, South Carolina | 100 feet (30.5 m) | 1996 | Open | [84] |
| Skycoaster | Ozark Mountain Skycoaster | Branson, Missouri | 100 feet (30.5 m) | Open | [85] | |
| Skycoaster | Extreme World/Mt. Olympus | Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin | 100 feet (30.5 m) | closed | [86] | |
| Skycoaster | Andy Alligator’s Fun Park and Water Park | Norman, Oklahoma | 100 feet (30.5 m) | 2016 | 2021 | |
| Sky Coaster | Morey's Piers – Adventure Pier | Wildwood, New Jersey | 100 feet (30.5 m) | 1994 | Open | [87] |
| Sky Coaster | Adventure Park USA | Monrovia, Maryland | 100 feet (30.5 m) | 2018 | Open | [88] |
| Royal Rush Skycoaster | Royal Gorge Bridge and Park | Royal Gorge, Colorado | 100 feet (30.5 m) | 2003 | Open | Positioned over a 1,200-foot (370 m) canyon.[4][89] |
| Sky Swing | Seacoast Adventures | North Windham, Maine | 100 feet (30.5 m) | Open | [90] | |
| Skycoaster | Six Flags Discovery Kingdom | Vallejo, California | 100 feet (30.5 m) | 2001 | 2021 | [91] |
| Drop Zone | Playland | Vancouver, Canada | 100 feet (30.5 m) | 1998 | 2023 | [92] |
| Ripcord | Geauga Lake | Aurora, Ohio | 100 feet (30.5 m) | 1999 | 2007 | Sold at auction for $85,000, then put up for sale by third party company ITAL International LLC for $105,000.[93] |
| The Slingshot | Ratanga Junction | Century City, Cape Town | 100 feet (30.5 m) | 1999 | Closed | |
| Sky Coaster | Joyland Park | Wichita, Kansas | 100 feet (30.5 m) | Closed | ||
| Sky Coaster | Morey's Piers – Surfside Pier | Wildwood, New Jersey | 100 feet (30.5 m) | 2015 | ||
| Skycoaster | Kissimmee, Florida | Kissimmee, Florida | 100 feet (30.5 m) | 1994 | Closed | Located one mile east of Old Town (amusement park). |
| Parachute Drop | Mitsui Greenland | Arao-shi, Japan | Unknown | Open | ||
| Flying Carpet | Tokyo SummerLand | Tokyo, Japan | Unknown | Closed | ||
| Skycoaster | Orlando, Florida | Orlando, Florida | Unknown | Closed | Formerly known as Bungee Mania.[94] |
References
External links
