Ravine Flyer II

Ravine Flyer II
Waldameer Park
Coordinates 42°06′33″N 80°09′25″W / 42.109256°N 80.157041°WCoordinates: 42°06′33″N 80°09′25″W / 42.109256°N 80.157041°W
Status Operating
Opening date May 17, 2008
Cost $6 million
General statistics
Type Wood
Manufacturer The Gravity Group
Designer The Gravity Group
Track layout Terrain
Lift/launch system Chain
Height 85 ft (26 m)
Drop 120 ft (37 m)
Length 2,900 ft (880 m)
Speed 60 mph (97 km/h)
Inversions 0
Duration 1:30
Max vertical angle 60°
G-force 3.5
Height restriction 48 in (122 cm)
Ravine Flyer II at RCDB
Pictures of Ravine Flyer II at RCDB
The Ravine Flyer II's lift hill.

Ravine Flyer II is a hybrid wooden roller coaster that is located at Waldameer Park in Erie, Pennsylvania, United States. It was ranked as the best new ride of 2008 by Amusement Today Magazine. The Ravine Flyer II took place of the park's old Ravine Flyer, which was removed in 1938 due to a tragedy resulting in a man's death. Initial concepts for the replacement ride were developed by Custom Coasters International in the early 1990s, further developed by Dennis McNulty several years later, then finalized and constructed by The Gravity Group with Jeff Mason overseeing construction. It currently holds the record for the tallest drop on a wooden roller coaster (120 feet) in Pennsylvania and the 9th largest drop on a wooden roller coaster in North America.

The roller coaster traverses State Route 832 along its course, emulating the course of the Ravine Flyer.[1][2][3]

The trains

Created by Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters, the passengers are secured by a seatbelt and a lapbar. There are two six-car trains (red and a blue), both of which carry 24 passengers.

Ride Experience

After leaving the station, the trains immediately travel over the transfer track, making a short drop and left hand turn to the lift hill. After climbing the lift hill, the train immediately descends the first drop, turning sharply to the right, and travels an airtime hill, crossing Peninsula Drive. The tracks curve to the right, then left, while ascending into the far turn around, curving to the right and ascending to the top of the second major drop. The trains descend into the second crossing of Peninsula Drive over an air time hill. This is immediately followed by a pair of tunnels enclosing small air time hills, and an ascending turn to the left. The track makes a slight descending left hand turn before entering the 90° banked right turn, then travels underneath the lift hill. The track continues turning to the right, traveling a bunny hop hill and making a final right hand turn before entering the brake run and returning to the station.

Awards

Ravine Flyer II won best new ride at the 2008 Golden Ticket Awards and was voted 11th best wooden roller coaster at the same awards.

Golden Ticket Awards: Top wood Roller Coasters
Year2008200920102011201220132014
Ranking 11[4]6[5]6[6]6[7]6[8]6[9]6[10]
Mitch Hawker's Best Roller Coaster Poll: Best wood-Tracked Roller Coaster[11]
Year200820092010201120122013
Ranking 955676

References

  1. ↑ Cuneo, Kevin (2008-05-18). "New coaster creates excitement, wonder". Erie Times-News. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
  2. ↑ Zurcher, Neil (2009-06-11). "Erie's Waldameer is an old-fashioned amusement park". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
  3. ↑ Ravine Flyer II. Waldameer official website. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
  4. ↑ "Top 50 wood roller coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today 12 (6.2): 42–43. September 2008. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Top 50 wood roller coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today 13 (6.2): 38–39. September 2009. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Top 50 wood roller coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today 14 (6.2): 38–39. September 2010. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Top 50 wood roller coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today 15 (6.2): 46–47. September 2011. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Top 50 wood roller coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today 16 (6.2): 46–47. September 2012. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  9. ↑ "2013 Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today 17 (6.2): 40–41. September 2013. Archived from the original on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  10. ↑ "2014 Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today 18 (6.2): 38–39. September 2014. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  11. ↑ Hawker, Mitch. "Wooden Roller Coaster Poll 20 Year Results Table (1994–2013)". Best Roller Coaster Poll. Retrieved February 6, 2014.