The Death of Flying Scooters??
FlyerACE1
all know about Lake Compounce (which we won't really miss because of how they
ran them) but this past Sunday I was surprised to find a Balloon Race in the
place of the Flying Scooters at DelGrosso's Amusement Park! That's right, it's
gone and no where to be found. I wonder if they sold it to someone? Hopefully
they did.
Well, just figured I'd pass along that sad bit of news.
Live to Ride,
Adam Revesz
Runaway Mine Train
lame, but I had fun on them! No, you couldn't snap the cables or
anything, but I could get some very fun flying action going on them.
Does anyone know what Lake Compounce did with their flyers? I hope
they sold them to a park that knows how to run flat rides for maximum
fun, like Camden Park or Lake Winnie!
Mark
Today for you, tomorrow for me
RunawayMT
The Trip Report
www.thetripreport.com
Chris Lucht
>
> This is really sad! I know everybody thinks DelGrosso's flyers were
> lame, but I had fun on them! No, you couldn't snap the cables or
> anything, but I could get some very fun flying action going on them.
> Does anyone know what Lake Compounce did with their flyers?
I think Adam said he saw the tubs in their bone yard.
> I hope
> they sold them to a park that knows how to run flat rides for maximum
> fun, like Camden Park or Lake Winnie!
Hey, don't forget Strickers Grove! When we visited last year we took a
spin on their flyers. The next thing I hear is the sound of twigs
breaking. It was Tim, trimming the trees with their Flyers! And Whalom
is good too, if they re-open.
Chris.
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minn...@msn.com
Too bad about Lake Compounce's Skooters. Those Skooters were originally at
West View outside of Pittsburgh.
Greg V.G.
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Kelly
Kelly
Tim Melago
I thought Compounce were going to be reinstalled elsewhere in the park.
Hmm. They would be no big loss but they did have potential. Bring'em
back to PA! Sad to see DelGrosso's replace their scooters. They were
slow but fun. You could trim trees.
Here are the ones lost within the last year or so. Hopefully some
will reopen.
Lake Compounce
DelGrosso's
Whalom
Americana
SFO/SFWoA
The ones still open that I can think of in the US
Knoebels
Holiday World
Conneaut Lake
Canobie Lake
Lakeside
Stricker's Grove
Seabreeze
Erieview Park
PKI
PKD
Lagoon?
The problem with many of these rides, other than being slow in some
cases, is that many parks do not tolerate any kind of snapping.
I've given up on Conneaut. The old op they had didn't care but last
year I was scolded on two different visits. Gee, if you give riders
control of the ride what do you expect? If it is a problem just slow
the ride down or really restrain it or at least post some rules so I
know not to bother.
Obviously Knoebels is the best place to ride and about the only place
left to really snap. Holiday World's are fun and they don't yell but
there is almost no snapping so they don't have to. I hear people say
PKI's are good but I don't see it plus doulbling up is often required.
PKD's are now good but they don't like snapping there. But at least we
can go to Knoebels. I haven't seen any no snapping enforcement there
since the strange crackdown of 1999.
--
Tim Melago - roll...@sgi.net
http://users.sgi.net/~rollocst/rc.html
Jason Wakeling
<roll...@sgi.net> wrote
Damn I was hoping for a few places to have some fun this year. Seems
like it's going to be Knoebels and that's it. :(
I managed to trim the trees at Holiday World and get some fantastic
chain snap at PKI a couple of years ago. What with Southport UK having
some strange rules regarding wind, which weren't in force last season, I
am suffering severe Scooter withdrawal symptoms!!
14th June I will be snapping along quite merrily I think.
2001 "A Coaster Odyssey" hits the States on Monday 4th June.
BEWARE the Brits are a coming!! :)
--
Jason W
CCI Fanatic
Because they wanted to expand Splash Harbor and the only possible way to
fit Mammoth Falls was were the Flying Skooters were located.
If you ask me a good place to relocate the Flying Skooters is right
between Zoomerang and Garfield's Circus World
Charles Nungester
Knoebles flyers which BTW I am sure I will love.
PKI's flyers are great! We got a group of Acers on em several times this year
including last monday. We had the whole thing snapping and double snapping and
people were saying "YOU ROCK" when we got off, Of course we had to do it again
just to prove it wasn't a fluke :P
BTW. Americana still has thiers but it is SBNO and IMHO was too fast, not too
slow.
Chuck, anxiously awaiting my 6 parks in 7days trip to the NE. Only three weeks
left.
Chuck
SOB rides 113 Papa 966
Favorite Wood: #.1.5 Legend #1 Raven #2 SFWOA's Big Dipper #3 Villain #4 SOB #5
Racer (kennywood)
Favorite Steel: #1 FOF #2 Millie #3 Steel Force #4 Raptor #5 Chang
Remove the brakes to reply 8>)
Phillip Reuss
>
> Obviously Knoebels is the best place to ride and about the only place
> left to really snap. Holiday World's are fun and they don't yell but
> there is almost no snapping so they don't have to. I hear people say
> PKI's are good but I don't see it plus doulbling up is often required.
Okay, I've got to stick up for my 'home' flying scooters - not that
you're knocking it, of course, but you probably haven't had all the
great 'flying' opportunities that I've had on PKI's flyers. Yes, if the
line is long, and depending on the operator, they will double you up.
When we do have the chance to get some single rides, though, we
definitely take advantage of it and 'fest' on the flyers. I've had many
great rides on those flyers, and I'd go even go so far to say that I
prefer them to Knoebel's flyers - though I've only ridden those a few
times, at last year's PPP. They may be a bit more challenging, but once
you get the hang of it - watch out!
> PKD's are now good but they don't like snapping there. But at least we
> can go to Knoebels. I haven't seen any no snapping enforcement there
> since the strange crackdown of 1999.
Um...I have nothing good to say about the flyers at PKD except that
they definitely have potential - they just won't run them as I'd like.
Oh well!
Phillip, a big fan of a good set of Flyers
reu...@osu.edu
AIM: SCBBGiantDipper
#1 Wood: GhostRider
#1 Steel: S:ROS (SFDL)
Runaway Mine Train
wrote:
>Tim Melago wrote:
>>
>> Obviously Knoebels is the best place to ride and about the only place
>> left to really snap. Holiday World's are fun and they don't yell but
>> there is almost no snapping so they don't have to. I hear people say
>> PKI's are good but I don't see it plus doulbling up is often required.
>
> Okay, I've got to stick up for my 'home' flying scooters - not that
>you're knocking it, of course, but you probably haven't had all the
>great 'flying' opportunities that I've had on PKI's flyers. Yes, if the
>line is long, and depending on the operator, they will double you up.
>When we do have the chance to get some single rides, though, we
>definitely take advantage of it and 'fest' on the flyers. I've had many
>great rides on those flyers, and I'd go even go so far to say that I
>prefer them to Knoebel's flyers - though I've only ridden those a few
>times, at last year's PPP. They may be a bit more challenging, but once
>you get the hang of it - watch out!
I agree, Phillip! PKI's flyers are if not as good then certainly a
close second to Knoebels! Snapping is virtually involuntary on them,
and they are run at the perfect speed. My one and only complaint was
the fairly short ride cycle we got on a couple of rides. But other
than that they are great!
Mark
Mark Cole
news:8BD1WKAc...@notrims.clara.co.uk...
>
> I managed to trim the trees at Holiday World and get some fantastic
> chain snap at PKI a couple of years ago. What with Southport UK having
> some strange rules regarding wind, which weren't in force last season, I
> am suffering severe Scooter withdrawal symptoms!!
>
someone in the UK. If so, those were the scooters that my brother scared me
to death on 27 years ago! I was sure when he made it snap, that we were
going to break the cable and go skimming across Clementon Lake and sink!
Mark Cole
Joe Schwartz
> Here are the ones lost within the last year or so. Hopefully some
> will reopen.
>
> Lake Compounce
> DelGrosso's
> Whalom
> Americana
> SFO/SFWoA
>
> The ones still open that I can think of in the US
>
> Knoebels
> Holiday World
> Conneaut Lake
> Canobie Lake
> Lakeside
> Stricker's Grove
> Seabreeze
> Erieview Park
> PKI
> PKD
> Lagoon?
I think Santa's Workshop (Pikes Peak, CO) still has their Scooters.
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Tim Vaughan
"Phillip Reuss" <reu...@osu.edu> wrote in message
news:3B159128...@osu.edu...
> Um...I have nothing good to say about the flyers at PKD except that
> they definitely have potential - they just won't run them as I'd like.
I'm assuming you haven't been to PKD this year? Their flyers are running
great. They've been relocated, refurbished, and repainted, and are running
better than they ever have. You can snap cables, the employees just don't
like it much. :-)
Harry...@webtv.net
<<The ones still open that I can think of in the US
Knoebels
Holiday World
Conneaut Lake
Canobie Lake
Lakeside
Stricker's Grove
Seabreeze
Erieview Park
PKI
PKD
Lagoon?>>
You forgot Fun Spot (Angola, IN), FWIW. :)
-Jason
-
--
Spinning in ye olde CD player as of late:
Wasp Star (Apple Venus Volume 2) - XTC
Author Unknown - Jason Falkner
Can You Still Feel? - Jason Falkner
Blue Cave - Hoodoo Gurus
You Will Go to the Moon - Moxy Fruvous
Live Noise - Moxy Fruvous
..and now in stores: Homegrown (the Wasp Star demos) - XTC
Tyler Eaves
The following is from Tom Riley, DelGrossos PR guy.
Tyler -
Your information is correct. The flying skooters will not be on the
midway at DelGrosso's Amusement Park this season. We certainly have
retained ownership of the ride and fully expect it to return when we
embark on our next phase of land expansion.
The ride has been replaced by a Sea Dragon and a Balloon Race.
Thank you for your interest!
Tom
---------
Tom Riley
DelGrosso's Amusement Park
Old Route 220 - Tipton Station
Post Office Box 117
Tipton, PA 16684-0117
(814) 684-1350
fax (814) 684-0370
Bruce
I thought I heard during a tour by Rich Henry that part of the structure
was original but the cars themselves were remanufactured around 1995
when Lost Kennywood opened.
BRC
Bruce
My Brother did the same thing to me about 30 years ago, i got so sick &
dizzy when he insisted we go on the Tilt A Whirl next I threw up during
the ride, on him of course!
After that I was always affraid to go on spinning rides again until the
early 1990's when I started to ride again.
BRC
Bruce
were really snapping cables. There were at least 4 guys riding ( can't
remember who) The ride op called Security, who then came over and give
these guys the evil eye.
They didn't say anything to them and they actually got back in line to
re ride.
BRC
Tim Melago
>
> Tim Melago wrote:
>
> <<The ones still open that I can think of in the US
>
> Knoebels
> Holiday World
> Conneaut Lake
> Canobie Lake
> Lakeside
> Stricker's Grove
> Seabreeze
> Erieview Park
> PKI
> PKD
> Lagoon?>>
>
> You forgot Fun Spot (Angola, IN), FWIW. :)
Yes, I remembered when Chuck mentioned that Americana's went too
fast. They did and so do (No) Fun Spots.
Tim Melago
> Okay, I've got to stick up for my 'home' flying scooters - not that
> you're knocking it, of course, but you probably haven't had all the
> great 'flying' opportunities that I've had on PKI's flyers. Yes, if the
> line is long, and depending on the operator, they will double you up.
> When we do have the chance to get some single rides, though, we
> definitely take advantage of it and 'fest' on the flyers. I've had many
> great rides on those flyers, and I'd go even go so far to say that I
> prefer them to Knoebel's flyers - though I've only ridden those a few
> times, at last year's PPP. They may be a bit more challenging, but once
> you get the hang of it - watch out!
I remember having a decent ride in the past but last year I had a chance
to ride solo and I couldn't get it going. And I can get some of the
tougher ones going. As far as Knoebels goes, I've seen some totally
insane and sick moves on those things. As you mentioned PKI takes a
good effort and I don't think the insane moves which come easily
at Knoebels can be matched anywhere. PKI may have the potential to
match Whalom's which provided great action but Knoebels is in its
own universe IMHO. I just don't get PKI period so it's no wonder
I don't get their flying scooters.
> Um...I have nothing good to say about the flyers at PKD except that
> they definitely have potential - they just won't run them as I'd like.
> Oh well!
Somebody else mentioned it but PKDs are running with potential this year.
They used to be totally lame.
Also, as Joe Schwartz mentioned Santa's Workshop does have flying scooters
too. I rode them two years ago.
Sean Flaharty
Tim Vaughan <mtpel...@home.com> wrote in message
news:3IhR6.39539$qc.55...@news1.rdc1.va.home.com...
> I'm assuming you haven't been to PKD this year? Their flyers are running
> great. They've been relocated, refurbished, and repainted, and are
running
> better than they ever have. You can snap cables, the employees just don't
> like it much. :-)
You can say that again! =:^)
--
Sean( but I didn't mean to.......really I didn't) Flaharty
Irishcoast's Homepage
http://www.geocities.com/irishcoast
Rig2
scooter" rides being removed from parks and the joys of "snapping" the cables,
let me ask you folks a question regarding your understanding of just what your
snapping might do to a cable. Wire rope is a complex machi9ne within itself.
As I remember flying scooters from my youth, they were designed as a relatively
fast circulat swing ride which gave the rider some control of the vehicle by
manipulating a large fin at the front of the car. You could swoop up and down
- climb and dive - and I loved them. Wire rope is carefully designed to
support loads and function in a multitude of ways but every snap you make inb
the cable applies a shock or dynamic load which may, momentarily, exceed the
working load limit of the cable and which will, eventually cause failuite in
the rope. Perhaps, the parks which are removing the ride or which frown ypon
your eceeding the design parameters of the system are acting in their best
interest. You want parks to retrain classic joys such as the scooters, then
you must respect the design parameters of the ride and the costs of the park in
replacing suyspension cables, the internal sweep guy struts, the shackles,
fittings, sweep fatigue, and all those factors ehich create unnecessary
maintenance costs to sustain classic systems. Dynamic loading of wire rope in
almost any application is among the primary causes of failure.
Want to learn more? Read the "Wire Rope Users Manual" produced by the wire
rope technical board or any number of manuals or catalogues produced by wire
rope manufacturers.
I read this newsgroup to keep up with what is going on in the industry that
pays my salary. I'm a rigging designer and supervisor for a major central
florida non-disney theme park/resort. You folks are so quick to complain if a
ride is not run to your satisfaction but outside of a few, most of you don't
ever think about the mechanics and physics of design of the components which
make the ride work at all. While it is possible to design ride systems and
coasters that would run brakeless, violate every law of physics, and virtually
ignore the efects of gravity, friction, abrasion, fatigue, and stress; nobody
could afford to build them. Enjoy rides for what they are - the fun and
excitement and smiles - after all, there are no bad rides.
I have Kracken, Dragons, Tower of Terror, Hulk, Spiderman, Journery to
Atlantis, Rock'nRoller coaster (or however you want to spell it) and others in
my backyard. What a joy it would be to ride some of the old classics - a
scooter, a fly-o-plane or any of the -o-planes, a real catepillar (not a
raupenbahn), or any of the rides of my childhood. Ease up a little folks -
treasure what you have and enjoy. The best ride in the world is the one you
are riding right now - give the parks thaqt try to maintain the classics a
break. Maybe one day the rides and attractions I have helped build will be
classics for today's youth but for me, I want to see my favorites stay around
to enjoy as they were meant to ride - not what I want them to be in my6
imaginbation.
S9orry to offend so many of you
Warren
Dave Althoff Jr
: Harry...@webtv.net wrote:
: >
: > Tim Melago wrote:
: >
: > <<The ones still open that I can think of in the US
: >
: > Knoebels
: > Holiday World
: > Conneaut Lake
: > Canobie Lake
: > Lakeside
: > Stricker's Grove
: > Seabreeze
: > Erieview Park
: > PKI
: > PKD
: > Lagoon?>>
: >
: > You forgot Fun Spot (Angola, IN), FWIW. :)
: Yes, I remembered when Chuck mentioned that Americana's went too
: fast. They did and so do (No) Fun Spots.
What happened to the ones Geauga Lake took out last year? They're
bringing back other rides that they yanked in the past...I think the
Rocket Ships and the Flying Scooters should both be returned, perhaps over
on the Sea World side someplace.
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
--
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Knobear
Wolf
Out of curiosity, why was the ride not designed taking 'snapping' into
account? The designers had to have seen it coming. Redundant systems and
such, as I'm sure tether systems exist for dynamics loading situations.
Sails, if nothing else.
--
|\-/|
<0 0>
=(o)=
-Wolf
Jim Westland
> > <<The ones still open that I can think of in the US
> >
> > Knoebels
> > Holiday World
> > Conneaut Lake
> > Canobie Lake
> > Lakeside
> > Stricker's Grove
> > Seabreeze
> > Erieview Park
> > PKI
> > PKD
> > Lagoon?>>
There is actually a good set of Flying Scooters at an amusement park in Gulf
Shores Alabama, about a mile from Waterville USA.
Jim Westland
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Chris Lucht
>
> Out of curiosity, why was the ride not designed taking 'snapping' into
> account? The designers had to have seen it coming. Redundant systems and
> such, as I'm sure tether systems exist for dynamics loading situations.
the cables on some Scooters, like the ones at Knoebels.
Ted Ansley
Plus, from some of the old-timers I've talked to at Knoebels people have been
bouncing the tubs and snapping the cables since the beginning! I find it
hard to believe that the possible maximum load WITH bouncing and snapping
was not taken into account during the design of the flying scooters.
Ted Ansley
**Rollercoaster Fan<atic>**
tan...@att.net
Shawn Mamros
>Out of curiosity, why was the ride not designed taking 'snapping' into
>account? The designers had to have seen it coming. Redundant systems and
>such, as I'm sure tether systems exist for dynamics loading situations.
Don't forget, the ride was designed well over 60 years ago. Back then,
ride designs in general were much simpler, because they had to be. For
an example of what happens when you take a simple concept and put too
much modern engineering (and modern complexity) into it, see the
Chance Aviator. (Are any parks still running one?)
Over the years, parks have found ways to rig the cables and run the ride
at speeds that still allow the up-and-down action, but little or no
snapping. Holiday World's seem to be set up that way, and IMO it's
still a fun ride.
I think a lot of enthusiasts are somewhat (dare I say the word?) spoiled
by the action that Knoebels' Flyers provide, then go and expect other
parks to run their Flying Scooters that way. Simply put, that just ain't
gonna happen.
-Shawn Mamros
E-mail to: mam...@mit.edu
minnievan
In reply to:
http://www.etin.com/article/Article.jsp?
messageID=25132894&folder=rec.roller-coaster
There is actually a good set of Flying Scooters at an
amusement park in Gulf Shores Alabama, about a mile from
Waterville USA.
Jim Westland
_____________________________________________
Jim,
For the uninitiated, what would be the name of said
amusement park and its location?
Greg V.G.
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Tim Melago
> I think a lot of enthusiasts are somewhat (dare I say the word?) spoiled
> by the action that Knoebels' Flyers provide, then go and expect other
> parks to run their Flying Scooters that way. Simply put, that just ain't
> gonna happen.
Whenever I see old footage from a park and they show the flying scooters
running in the old days, the ride is always running like Knoebels. The
tubs are unrestrained and people are going crazy, probably not even
trying or knowing what they are doing. But anymore when many types of
rides are not run to full potential at parks. We can't expect to find all
rides running all out everywhere these days. That is probably due to
insurance concerns and maintenance costs.
Charles Nungester
It seems to me that snapping and wacky rides are given weather you try or not!
I do like the fact that PKI's require some skill to do it, Your one of a few
that can get that thing going like crazy and people stare in awe and ask for
tips.
I can make em give some really hilarious rides as I have seen quite a few
people be able to do. This comes from a Flyer who started in 1968 on
Lesourdesville Lakes (When they were good and had metal tubs and wings. )
Chuck, who thinks the overhead lattice should be fine for snapping but dosn't
know about the V shaped armed flyers. It just may be they look weaker and
actually arn't
Chuck
SOB rides 128 Papa 974
Wolf
> >Out of curiosity, why was the ride not designed taking 'snapping' into
> >account? The designers had to have seen it coming. Redundant systems and
> >such, as I'm sure tether systems exist for dynamics loading situations.
>
> Don't forget, the ride was designed well over 60 years ago. Back then,
> ride designs in general were much simpler, because they had to be. For
> an example of what happens when you take a simple concept and put too
> much modern engineering (and modern complexity) into it, see the
> Chance Aviator. (Are any parks still running one?)
On the other hand, we've still got top-10 caliber coasters from the same era
w/ the same engineering. Heck, we still have top-10 skyscrapers from that
era. If you didn't know, you overbuilt. All modern engineering has goven is
better numbers and more control of the ride. Designing for tolerances has
always been there, it's just that now the tolerances can be smaller. That
doesn't excuse them from underbuilding the cables.
> Over the years, parks have found ways to rig the cables and run the ride
> at speeds that still allow the up-and-down action, but little or no
> snapping. Holiday World's seem to be set up that way, and IMO it's
> still a fun ride.
>
> I think a lot of enthusiasts are somewhat (dare I say the word?) spoiled
> by the action that Knoebels' Flyers provide, then go and expect other
> parks to run their Flying Scooters that way. Simply put, that just ain't
> gonna happen.
Perhaps, but Knoebels' shows that you *can* run them that way.
Shawn Mamros
[replying to me, who wrote:]
>> Don't forget, the ride was designed well over 60 years ago. Back then,
>> ride designs in general were much simpler, because they had to be. For
>> an example of what happens when you take a simple concept and put too
>> much modern engineering (and modern complexity) into it, see the
>> Chance Aviator. (Are any parks still running one?)
>
>On the other hand, we've still got top-10 caliber coasters from the same era
>w/ the same engineering. Heck, we still have top-10 skyscrapers from that
>era. If you didn't know, you overbuilt. All modern engineering has goven is
>better numbers and more control of the ride. Designing for tolerances has
>always been there, it's just that now the tolerances can be smaller. That
>doesn't excuse them from underbuilding the cables.
If the cables were truly underbuilt, Knoebels would surely have lost
a few ride tubs by now. ;-) It's more a question of how often the cables
need replacing. Most if not all of the coasters from that era have
had their structural wood replaced many times over the years too...
Wolf
> >> ride designs in general were much simpler, because they had to be. For
> >> an example of what happens when you take a simple concept and put too
> >> much modern engineering (and modern complexity) into it, see the
> >> Chance Aviator. (Are any parks still running one?)
> >
> >On the other hand, we've still got top-10 caliber coasters from the same
era
> >w/ the same engineering. Heck, we still have top-10 skyscrapers from that
> >era. If you didn't know, you overbuilt. All modern engineering has goven
is
> >better numbers and more control of the ride. Designing for tolerances has
> >always been there, it's just that now the tolerances can be smaller. That
> >doesn't excuse them from underbuilding the cables.
>
> If the cables were truly underbuilt, Knoebels would surely have lost
> a few ride tubs by now. ;-) It's more a question of how often the cables
> need replacing. Most if not all of the coasters from that era have
> had their structural wood replaced many times over the years too...
I'm curious -- could the cables be replaced w/ chains? They seem to work
fine on Chance Yo-Yo, which at leats are somewhat dynamic in action.
Dave Althoff Jr
about wire rope, actually.
The seat on Kings Island's Flying Scooter is 32 inches wide. According to
current ASTM guidelines, that means a maximum passenger load of
approximately 384 pounds. I figure the tubs weigh about 100 pounds each.
So each tub represents about a 500-pound load suspended from four wire
ropes. I'm not positive of the size of the rope in question, but it looks
to be in excess of a half-inch.
What I don't know is what kinds of working loads various sizes of wire
rope are designed for. What I do know is that static loads far in excess
of the 500 pounds associated with a Flying Scooter tub can be held with a
rope about the size of the safety tether attached to the Scooter.
Knowing what I know about amusement ride manufacturers, I think it is
reasonable to assume that shock loading and maximum dynamic load was
probably NOT considered by Mr. Bish when he designed the thing, but Alvin
Bish's patent is dated 01/03/1939, and was filed in 1934. The common
practice in the amusement industry at the time was not to take advantage
of all the engineering know-how we have today, but rather to apply known
properties of the proposed building materials and simply overbuild to a
ridiculous safety margin. I'm guessing that in the past sixty years the
industry has gained enough experience with the Flying Scooter to come up
with a reasonable idea of how to preserve the life of the machine in the
face of maniacal patrons. Oversize components, for instance, short wire
rope life cycles, and maintenance of the center structure are just a few
points to consider. Furthermore, if shock loading of the sweep assembly
or the wire rope proved to be a serious problem, a shock absorbing system
could be adapted into the design with very little effort, and with very
little effect on the ride apart from reducing the violence of certain
maneuvers. And yet, to the best of my knowledge, this has never been done
with a Flying Scooter, which suggests to me that the ride owners have not
deemed it necessary.
In fact, as nearly as I can tell, the biggest problems with the Flying
Scooter which are leading to the removal of the ride are that it lacks
flash, it lacks appeal to inexperienced riders, and it takes up valuable
space on the midway that could be given over to something bigger,
flashier, and computer controlled. Add to that the fact that some
operators are more than a little squeamish about any ride that has no
safety interlock systems, has tubs that can move about during load and
unload, and offers any form of patron control....there are plenty of
reasons for pulling Scooters that have nothing to do with maintenance
or equipment longevity issues!
Rig2
>about wire rope, actually.
Mr Altoff,
Please e-mail me your questions regarding wire rope and I will be happy to
assist you in finding answers. It is not particullary exciting - in fact very
dull - reading but can be quite fascinating.
As far as redesigning the flysing scooter type ride, I am unsure if anyone even
manufactures the ride anymore and would want to redo the engineering. Chance
Rides apparently failed in there attempt to modernize this classic.
As far as using chain, chain is less able than wire rope to sustain dynamic
loading and has a higher weight to strength ratio than wire rope. Chains used
on simple circular swing rides are subject to dynamic loading only in the fact
that the load is movind. There are no shock loads applied - shock loading is
the key element in the equation in this discussion.
Just increasing the size of the rope does not necessarily improve the ability
of the rope to sustain the loads. The construction and material of the rope in
today's world of wire rope design are far more important.
Designing a shock adsorbing mechanism for the sweep might seem a possibility
but to be effective, you could not get your desired snap action. Also, why
would anyone do this?
My point is this, I guess. If you want a snapping flying scooter with long
life cycles in the components to minimize maintenance costs, insure maximum
reliability, and meet our current safety/legal situation, then you need to
redesign the entire ride. Perhaps a manufacturer would do this but I just
don't see it happening. Enjoy the ride - swoop and dive and soar - but don't
slam the park for operating the ride as they feel is safe. We are loosing too
many of the old classics as it is - support the parks that maintain the old
guys for us to enjoy.
Is there an operating fly o plane anywhere? Let's not forget flying coasters,
sidewinders that actually tilt, sky wheels, and other classics as well
Warren
Wolf
dynamic
> loading and has a higher weight to strength ratio than wire rope. Chains
used
> on simple circular swing rides are subject to dynamic loading only in the
fact
> that the load is movind. There are no shock loads applied - shock loading
is
> the key element in the equation in this discussion.
Not a surprise to see the weight to strength, but weight to strength doesn't
always scale well. In micro, silk is stronger than steel, but I don't think
we'll see any silk anchor cables any time soon. Still, if I can get the
absolute strength necessary with an allowable weight, why not?
When I mentioned the wave swing, I was referring to a Chance Yo-Yo, which
has an eccentric pulse to it that is more dynamic than merely swinging
around.
I do have a question, though -- S&S uses steel wire rope in their Frog
Hoppers, which surely is a dynamics load -- it bounces! How is their usage
any less rigorous than a Flyer?
> My point is this, I guess. If you want a snapping flying scooter with
long
> life cycles in the components to minimize maintenance costs, insure
maximum
> reliability, and meet our current safety/legal situation, then you need to
> redesign the entire ride. Perhaps a manufacturer would do this but I just
> don't see it happening. Enjoy the ride - swoop and dive and soar - but
don't
> slam the park for operating the ride as they feel is safe. We are loosing
too
> many of the old classics as it is - support the parks that maintain the
old
> guys for us to enjoy.
--
MxPx2
>Hoppers, which surely is a dynamics load -- it bounces! How is their usage
>any less rigorous than a Flyer?
>
They also use it on the towers, and those bounce, too. As we've seen evident in
Mexico, those cables don't always hold up.
Josh
arkwheels
apply in this instance.
Arkwheels
MS/CF, HSNP,AR
*continuous to either end of a turnbuckle
"MxPx2" <mx...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20010610211413...@ng-mp1.aol.com...
Richard Michael Morency
s I am using a shell account for the summer, and am unfamiliar with
the editor used to post to newsgroups, vi.
Anyway, to attempt to answer your question regarding the dynamic loads
of a frog hopper: yes, the loads would also be dynamic, but still different
than the dynamic loads of snapping cables on a flying scooter. Keep in
mind that I have only seen one frog hopper in action, but it appears to
me that the dynamic impulse loads on the cables are slightly damped, i.e.
the ride is not immediately stopped when it bounces (jerking the cable).
On the scooters, the cable is has a very large impulse-type force placed
upon it when the cable snaps, resulting in a larger dynamic load. I have
no doubt that over time this will weaken the cable, but such cables can be
replaced. However, these forces can also be transmitted up the cable into
the sweep arms, which may be slightly harder to replace ;)
--Richard
Wolf
Okay, so why not damp the cables? Snapping is achieved by swinging out and
then stalling, with the snap coming as the cables retighten, correct? How
would a damper affect the snapping ability?
Maddox Cox
> Runaway Mine Train wrote:
> >
> > This is really sad! I know everybody thinks DelGrosso's flyers were
> > lame, but I had fun on them! No, you couldn't snap the cables or
> > anything, but I could get some very fun flying action going on them.
> > Does anyone know what Lake Compounce did with their flyers?
> I think Adam said he saw the tubs in their bone yard.
> > I hope
> > they sold them to a park that knows how to run flat rides for maximum
> > fun, like Camden Park or Lake Winnie!
> Hey, don't forget Strickers Grove! When we visited last year we took a
> spin on their flyers. The next thing I hear is the sound of twigs
> breaking. It was Tim, trimming the trees with their Flyers! And Whalom
> is good too, if they re-open.
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
> Remove the LARD from lucht...@worldnet.att.net when replying.
> Posted with Netscape Navigator 4.76
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
Surf Dance Chris
Though it makes me wonder about Flying Scooters...
Fun Spot America in Kissimmee now has one (and a pretty good one, at that). I believe it was used, not sure where from.
Are there more Flyers now than in 2001?
CanobieFan
> Fun Spot America in Kissimmee now has one (and a pretty good one, at that). I believe it was used, not sure where from.
>
> Are there more Flyers now than in 2001?
Didn't Morey get a set in the last few years too?