Flying Coaster

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This article is about a roller coaster named "The Flying Coaster", for the general roller coaster model, see flying roller coaster

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Flying Coaster
An overview of Flying Coaster's layout from Sidewinder.
Location	Elitch Gardens
Type	Steel
Status	SBNO
Opened	May 18, 2002
Manufacturer	Zamperla
Designer	Werner Stengel
Model	Flying roller coaster
Track layout	steel
Lift/launch system	Spiral Lift
Height	50 ft (15 m)
Drop	17 ft (5.2 m)
Length	1,282 ft (391 m)
Max speed	25.7 mph (41.4 km/h)
Inversions	2
Duration	1:10
Max vertical angle	31°
Max g-force	3.3
Height restriction	4 ft 2 in (130 cm)
Flying Coaster at RCDB Pictures of Flying Coaster at RCDB
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Flying Coaster is a steel roller coaster located at 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, even though the lack of padding in the cars can become uncomfortable during the inverted corkscrew part of the track.

[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.