Flying Coaster

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Flying Coaster
An overview of Flying Coaster's layout from Sidewinder.
Location	Six Flags Elitch Gardens
Type	Steel
Status	Open
Opened	5/18/2002
Manufacturer	Zamperla
Designer	Werner Stengel
Model	Flying roller coaster
Lift/launch system	Spiral Lift
Height	50 ft (15.2 m)
Length	1282 ft (390.8 m)
Max speed	25.7 mph (41.4 km/h)
Inversions	2
Duration	1:10
Max G force	3.3
Height Restriction	50 in (127 cm)
Flying Coaster at RCDB
Pictures of Flying Coaster at RCDB

Flying Coaster is a steel roller coaster located at Six Flags Elitch Gardens in Denver, Colorado. The ride was the first ever Zamperla "Volare" roller coaster (Volare is Italian for "to fly"). The Volare is the cheapest option for a flying roller coaster and boasts a compact layout with a unique spiral lift hill.

The ride opened in 2002 and quickly became one of the most popular rides in the park.

[edit] Layout

Riders begin their experience of the Flying Coaster by boarding the four-across trains as they pass slowly along a moving walkway. The trains are originally upright so riders can walk up from behind and enter from a standing position. Each rider must select their desired height on a five rung series of ladder-like steps which determine how a rider will be positioned when the train tilts to the horizontal position upon leaving the station. Before departure, a cage is latched down over the backs of the trains to secure the riders for the duration of the trip. The train then heads up the spiral lift hill, which slowly twirls the train upward. After the lift, the train then heads down a short, steep drop and then ascends slowly back up. A hairpin turn then occurs and takes riders through the first Barrel Roll inversion. The train then hits another hairpin turn into another short drop. Another hairpin turn then leads the train into the second Barrel Roll and turns again.

The train is then slowed by the trim brakes and then twists through another set of hairpin turns and twists until the train slows by the final brake run. The train enters the station and completes the experience.