Skycoaster


Skycoaster is an amusement park ride produced and managed by Skycoaster, Inc., a division of Ride Entertainment Group. On the Skycoaster, riders in groups of 1 to 3 are harnessed in specialized suits, winched to the top of a launch tower, and then dropped towards the ground, swinging from a cable tether back and forth until brought to a rest. The attraction is often compared to a combination of skydiving and hang gliding.
There are currently over 80 Skycoasters in operation all around the world, ranging in heights from. The ride can be found on every continent but Antarctica. 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 or Xtreme Skyflyer.

History

William Kitchen, founder of Sky Fun 1 Inc., and Ken Bird originally came up with the idea of the Skycoaster in 1992. 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.
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. Skycoaster, Inc. was then sold to the Ride Entertainment Group in 2005.
Ride Entertainment introduced Sky Sled in 2017, a new method of riding a Skycoaster. The Sky Sled replaces the flying position with a sitting one. It was first introduced at Fun Spot America in Kissimmee, Florida.
Ride Entertainment has partnered with KCL Engineering to offer lighting systems for the Skycoasters and JoyTech AS to offer automated video systems.

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. Earlier Skycoasters have some unique tower structures that do not fall within these categories.
Flight cables are made of galvanized steel, which supports, or stainless steel, which supports. However, the maximum weight for a flight is, 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.
There are two types of Skycoaster loading systems:
Skycoaster NameParkLocationHeightOpenedClosedDetails
SkycoasterFun Spot America - KissimmeeKissimmee, Florida1997World's tallest Skycoaster. Opened on Saturday, November 22, 1997 with an appearance by 82-year-old George A. Blair.
Sydney SkycoasterRaging Waters Sydney Sydney, Australia2013Dual Skycoaster and the first with a new design with less steel than other Skycoaster designs. Second Skycoaster with the Village Roadshow group.
SkycoasterFun Spot America - OrlandoOrlando, Florida2013World's second tallest Skycoaster. Relocated from MGM Grand Adventures Theme Park. Only uses one of two former towers.
Sky ScreamerMGM Grand AdventuresLas Vegas1996Relocated to Fun Spot Orlando. After closing to the public, the ride was originally retained on property and available for rent by companies.
VertigoXtremoParque de la CostaTigre, Buenos Aires, Argentina1999
SkycoasterSkyborneLondon
SkycoasterThe American AdventureIlkeston, Derbyshire
X-FlightSix Flags MexicoMexico, Mexico City2015Tallest Skycoaster in Mexico at over tall.
SkycoasterPlayCenterSão Paulo
RipCordWorlds of FunKansas City, Missouri1996
SkycoasterKennywoodWest Mifflin, Pennsylvania1994Single Lattice A-Frame. First permanent Skycoaster installation in an amusement park.
SkyCoasterState Fair of TexasDallas
RipCordMichigan's AdventureMuskegon, Michigan2002
SkyCoasterSchlitterbahn Waterpark ResortNew Braunfels, Texas2002
SkycoasterLake CompounceBristol, Connecticut1998
RipCordValleyfairShakopee, Minnesota1996
Geronimo SkycoasterWild AdventuresValdosta, Georgia1999
Red HawkSix Flags Darien LakeDarien, New York1995Opened as Skycoaster.
Sky CoasterSix Flags Over GeorgiaAustell, Georgia1996
Ultimate RushGrand Adventure LandReno, Nevada1998
UnknownUnited Entertainment & Tourism CompanyShaab Park, Kuwait
SkycoasterKentucky KingdomLouisville, Kentucky2001
Screamin' SkycoasterSix Flags Fiesta TexasSan Antonio1995Relocated to Texas State Fair.
Sky CoasterSix Flags New OrleansNew Orleans2000Attraction still standing at abandoned park.
Dare Devil DiveGreat EscapeLake George, New York2001
HadikaliHopi HariVinhedo, São Paulo, Brazil
CatapulteLa RondeMontreal, Quebec, Canada2008
SkycoasterOpryland USANashville, Tennessee1995Originally opened in park's State Fair area before being relocated within park for 1997 season.
Xtreme SkyFlyerCanada's WonderlandVaughan, Ontario, Canada1996Dual Skycoaster.
SKY-XSeoul LandSeoul, South Korea2000
Sky CoasterSuperlandRishon LeZion, Israel1998
SkyCoasterWet'n'Wild Gold CoastGold Coast, Australia
XLR8RElitch GardensDenver1996
Xtreme SkyflyerKings IslandMason, Ohio1995Opened as Drop Zone, named after Paramount movie Drop Zone. Renamed in 1996 to Xtreme Skyflyer.
Dive DevilSix Flags Magic MountainValencia, California1996
Xtreme SkyFlyerKings DominionDoswell, Virginia1996
RipCordCarowindsCharlotte, North Carolina1995
Xtreme SkyFlyerCalifornia's Great AmericaSanta Clara, California1997
Dare Devil DiveSix Flags Great AdventureJackson, New Jersey1997
Dive Bomber AlleySix Flags Over TexasArlington, Texas1996
Dragon's WingSix Flags St. LouisEureka, Missouri1996
BarnstormerSix Flags AstroWorldHouston
Sky CoasterLagoon Amusement ParkFarmington, Utah1995
VertigoOakwood Theme ParkPembrokeshire, Wales1997
I-5 Sky DiveWild Waves Theme ParkFederal Way, Washington1998
Dare Devil DiveSix Flags Great AmericaGurnee, Illinois1997
SkycoasterWet 'n Wild Emerald PointeGreensboro, North CarolinaInvolved in an August 2003 accident where an operator, testing the ride, collided with the rolling board platform that had not been moved out-of-the-way.
Professor Delbert's Frontier FlingCedar PointSandusky, Ohio1996Originally opened as Ripcord in Cedar Point's Challenge Park. Relocated in 2017 to Frontier Trail and renamed.
SkycoasterSouth Pier, BlackpoolBlackpool1994
SkycoasterSix Flags AmericaPrince George's County, Maryland2001
Sky SharkMagic Springs and Crystal FallsHot Springs, Arkansas2014
Geronimo SkycoasterFrontier CityOklahoma City1995
Dive DevilBell's Amusement ParkTulsa, Oklahoma
SkycoasterThe Track Family Fun CenterGulf Shores, Alabama1995
SkycoasterZero GravityDallas1994
Sky CoasterIndiana BeachMonticello, Indiana1995
SkycoasterBig Kahuna'sDestin, Florida1993
SkycoasterTusenfrydOslo, Norway1996
SkycoasterParque Mundo AventuraBogotá D.C., Colombia
SkycoasterSix Flags New EnglandAgawam, Massachusetts1992Formerly known as Taz's Daredevil Dive. Featured a unique curved tower. Replaced with Star Flyer.
Sky CoasterFuntown PierSeaside Heights, New Jersey1995Demolished after Hurricane Sandy destroyed most of the pier.
Boardwalk FlightLuna Park, Coney IslandConey Island, New York2012
SkycoasterCasino PierSeaside Heights, New Jersey2015
The SkycoasterEl Rollo WaterparkAcapulco, Mexico2015 single tower.
SkycoasterBroadway Grand PrixMyrtle Beach, South Carolina1996
SkycoasterOzark Mountain SkycoasterBranson, Missouri
SkycoasterExtreme World/Mt. OlympusWisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
SkycoasterAndy Alligator’s Fun Park and Water ParkNorman, Oklahoma2016
Sky CoasterMorey's Piers – Adventure PierWildwood, New Jersey1994
Sky CoasterAdventure Park USAMonrovia, Maryland2018
Royal Rush SkycoasterRoyal Gorge Bridge and ParkRoyal Gorge, Colorado2003Positioned over a canyon.
Sky SwingSeacoast AdventuresNorth Windham, Maine
SkycoasterSix Flags Discovery KingdomVallejo, California2001
Drop ZonePlaylandVancouver, Canada1998
RipcordGeauga LakeAurora, Ohio1999Sold at auction for $85,000, then put up for sale by third party company ITAL International LLC for $105,000.
The SlingshotRatanga JunctionCentury City, Cape Town1999
Sky CoasterJoyland ParkWichita, Kansas
Sky CoasterMorey's Piers – Surfside PierWildwood, New Jersey
SkycoasterKissimmee, FloridaKissimmee, Florida1994Located one mile east of Old Town.
Parachute DropMitsui GreenlandArao-shi, Japan
Flying CarpetTokyo SummerLandTokyo, Japan
SkycoasterOrlando, FloridaOrlando, FloridaFormerly known as Bungee Mania.