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Skycoaster

Amusement park ride

Summary

Amusement park ride

Dual swing

A typical Skycoaster's entire structure, including the lifting towers and the main arch

The A-frame tower of the world's tallest SkyCoaster in Kissimmee, Florida

Skycoaster is the name of a free-fall and flight-simulating amusement park attraction produced and managed by Skycoaster Company, LLC.. On the Skycoaster, riders in groups of 1 to 3 are harnessed in specialized Flight Suits (in a face-down, prone position), and are winched to the top of a launch tower; the riders then pull a ripcord to engage their “flight”, upon which they swing several times from a cable tether, back and forth, until finally brought to a rest. The attraction is often compared to a combination of skydiving, bungee jumping, and hang gliding.

There are currently over 80 Skycoasters in operation all around the world, ranging in heights from 100 -. 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 (both found at several Six Flags parks).

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, 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 in 2018 at Fun Spot America in Kissimmee, Florida.

Ride Entertainment has partnered with KCL Engineering to offer lighting systems for the Skycoasters and Kool Replay 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 53-meter (173 ft) dual arch and 31-meter (100 foot) single arch were the most common. Monopole Skycoasters were manufactured in a variety of sizes, 31-meter (100-foot) single or dual, 56-meter (180-foot) single or dual, and one 91-meter (300-foot) unit. Earlier Skycoasters have some unique tower structures that do not fall within these categories.

Flight cables are made of 5/16 in galvanized steel, which supports 9800 lb, or stainless steel, which supports 9000 lb. However, the maximum weight for a flight is 850 lb, 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 10000 lb.

There are two types of Skycoaster loading systems:

Rolling boarding platform: A cart is rolled out to and from flight line in order to help the flyers on and off the ride.
Scissors lift: An elevator-like platform is raised up and down to allow flyers on and off the ride.

Skycoaster installations

Skycoaster name	Park	Location	Height	Opened	Closed	Details
Skycoaster	Fun Spot America - Kissimmee	Kissimmee, Florida	300 ft	1997		url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/235000642/	title=More travelers taking a trip to cyberspace for vacation plans	last=Clark	first=Lesley	date=November 17, 1997	work=The Orlando Sentinel	access-date=January 28, 2020}} Opened on Saturday, November 22, 1997, with an appearance by 82-year-old George A. Blair.
Sydney Skycoaster	Raging Waters Sydney (Formerly Wet'n'Wild Sydney)	Sydney, Australia	251 ft	2013		url=https://ragingwaterssydney.com.au/skycoaster	title=Skycoaster	date=2018-11-08	website=Raging Waters Sydney	language=en	access-date=2020-01-29}} Second Skycoaster with the Village Roadshow group.
Skycoaster	Fun Spot America - Orlando	Orlando, Florida	250 ft	2013		url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/269232760/	title=New coasters may spice up Fun Spot	last=Bevil	first=Dewayne	date=November 2, 2012	work=The Orlando Sentinel	access-date=January 28, 2020}} Only uses one of two former towers.
Sky Screamer	MGM Grand Adventures	Las Vegas	250 ft	1996		url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/123653093/	title=I'll see your $2 steak and raise you a SkyScreamer	date=September 8, 1996	work=Arizona Republic	access-date=January 28, 2020}} After closing to the public, the ride was originally retained on property and available for rent by companies.
VertigoXtremo	Parque de la Costa	Tigre, Buenos Aires, Argentina	213 ft	1999
Skycoaster	Skyborne	London	200 ft
Skycoaster	The American Adventure	Ilkeston, Derbyshire	200 ft
X-Flight	Six Flags Mexico	Mexico, Mexico City	197 ft	2015		Tallest Skycoaster in Mexico at over 180 ft tall.
Skycoaster	PlayCenter	São Paulo	197 ft
RipCord	Worlds of Fun	Kansas City, Missouri	189 ft	1996
Caribbean Swing	Hurricane Harbor	Arlington, Texas	189 ft	1995
Skycoaster	Kennywood	West Mifflin, Pennsylvania	189 ft	1994		url=https://www.kpconnection.com/rides/thrill-rides/skycoaster/	title=Skycoaster – Kennywood Connection	language=en-US	access-date=2020-01-29}}
SkyCoaster	State Fair of Texas	Dallas	189 ft
RipCord	Michigan's Adventure	Muskegon, Michigan	183 ft	2002
SkyCoaster	Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort	New Braunfels, Texas	183 ft	2002
Skycoaster	Lake Compounce	Bristol, Connecticut	189 ft	1998
RipCord		Valleyfair	Shakopee, Minnesota	180 ft	1996		url=https://www.valleyfair.com/play/rides/ripcord	title=RipCord Bungee Jumping Minnesota Valleyfair	website=www.valleyfair.com	language=en	access-date=2020-01-29}}
Geronimo Skycoaster	Wild Adventures	Valdosta, Georgia	180 ft	1999
Skycoaster	Six Flags Darien Lake	Darien, New York	180 ft	1995		Opened as "Skycoaster".
Sky Coaster	Six Flags Over Georgia	Austell, Georgia	180 ft	1996
Ultimate Rush	Grand Adventure Land	Reno, Nevada	180 ft	1998
Unknown	United Entertainment & Tourism Company	Shaab Park, Kuwait	180 ft
Skycoaster	Kentucky Kingdom	Louisville, Kentucky	180 ft	2001
Screamin' Skycoaster	Six Flags Fiesta Texas	San Antonio	180 ft	1995		Relocated to Texas State Fair.
Skycoaster	Six Flags New Orleans	New Orleans	180 ft	2000		Demolished in 2025.
Skydiver	Walibi Holland	Biddinghuizen, Netherlands	177 ft	2002
Dare Devil Dive	Six Flags Great Escape and Hurricane Harbor	Queensbury, New York	175 ft	2001
Hadikali	Hopi Hari	Vinhedo, São Paulo, Brazil	174 ft
Catapulte	La Ronde	Montreal, Quebec, Canada	173 ft	2008
Skycoaster	Opryland USA	Nashville, Tennessee	173 ft	1995		Originally opened in park's State Fair area before being relocated within park for 1997 season. Park was closed and demolished following 1997 season.
Xtreme SkyFlyer	Canada's Wonderland	Vaughan, Ontario, Canada	173 ft	1996		url=https://www.canadaswonderland.com/play/rides/xtreme-skyflyer	title=Xtreme Skyflyer Canada's Wonderland	website=www.canadaswonderland.com	language=en	access-date=2020-01-29}}
SKY-X	Seoul Land	Gwacheon, South Korea	165 ft	2000
Sky Coaster	Superland	Rishon LeZion, Israel	165 ft	1998
SkyCoaster	Wet'n'Wild Gold Coast	Gold Coast, Australia	164 ft
XLR8R	Elitch Gardens	Denver	160 ft	1996
Xtreme Skyflyer	Kings Island	Mason, Ohio	153 ft	1995		Opened as "Drop Zone", named after Paramount movie Drop Zone. Renamed in 1996 to "Xtreme Skyflyer".
Dive Devil	Six Flags Magic Mountain	Valencia, California	153 ft	1996
Xtreme SkyFlyer	Kings Dominion	Doswell, Virginia	153 ft	1996
RipCord	Carowinds	Charlotte, North Carolina	153 ft	1995		Opened as "Skycoaster". Renamed in 1996 to "Xtreme Skyflyer". Relocated next to Nighthawk in 2014.
Xtreme SkyFlyer	California's Great America	Santa Clara, California	153 ft	1997
Dare Devil Dive	Six Flags Great Adventure	Jackson, New Jersey	153 ft	1997
Dive Bomber Alley	Six Flags Over Texas	Arlington, Texas	153 ft	1996
Dragon's Wing	Six Flags St. Louis	Eureka, Missouri	152 ft	1996
Barnstormer	Six Flags AstroWorld	Houston	151 ft	1997
Sky Coaster	Lagoon Amusement Park	Farmington, Utah	143 ft	1995		url=http://www.lagoonpark.com/xventure/sky-coaster/	title=Sky Coaster Lagoon	website=www.lagoonpark.com	language=en-US	access-date=2020-01-29}}
Vertigo	Oakwood Theme Park	Pembrokeshire, Wales	140 ft	1997		url=https://www.oakwoodthemepark.co.uk/at-the-park/thrill-rides/	title=Thrill Rides Oakwood Theme Park	website=www.oakwoodthemepark.co.uk	date=14 June 2018	access-date=2020-01-29}}
I-5 Sky Dive	Wild Waves Theme Park	Federal Way, Washington	125 ft	1998
Dare Devil Dive	Six Flags Great America	Gurnee, Illinois	125 ft	1997
Skycoaster	Wet 'n Wild Emerald Pointe	Greensboro, North Carolina	125 ft
Professor Delbert's Frontier Fling	Cedar Point	Sandusky, Ohio	153 ft	1996		Originally opened as "Ripcord" in Cedar Point's Challenge Park. Relocated in 2017 to Frontier Trail and renamed.
Skycoaster	South Pier, Blackpool	Blackpool	120 ft	1994
Skycoaster	Six Flags America	Prince George's County, Maryland	100 ft	2001		Removed to make way for Harley Quinn Spinsanity.
Sky Shark	Magic Springs and Crystal Falls	Hot Springs, Arkansas	115 ft	2014
Geronimo Skycoaster	Frontier City	Oklahoma City	113 ft	1995
Dive Devil	Bell's Amusement Park	Tulsa, Oklahoma	113 ft
Skycoaster	The Track Family Fun Center	Gulf Shores, Alabama	110 ft	1995
Skycoaster	Zero Gravity	Dallas	110 ft	1994
Sky Coaster	Indiana Beach	Monticello, Indiana	110 ft	1995
Skycoaster	Big Kahuna's	Destin, Florida	110 ft	1993
Skycoaster	Tusenfryd	Oslo, Norway	110 ft	1996
Skycoaster	Parque Mundo Aventura	Bogotá D.C., Colombia	110 ft
Skycoaster	Six Flags New England	Agawam, Massachusetts	110 ft	1995		Formerly known as "Taz's Daredevil Dive". Featured a unique curved tower. Replaced with Star Flyer.
Sky Coaster	Funtown Pier	Seaside Heights, New Jersey	110 ft	2007		Demolished after Hurricane Sandy destroyed most of the pier.
Boardwalk Flight	Luna Park, Coney Island	Coney Island, New York	110 ft	2012
Skycoaster	Casino Pier	Seaside Heights, New Jersey	109 ft	2015
The Skycoaster	El Rollo Waterpark	Acapulco, Mexico	109 ft	2015		{{Convert	109	ft	m
Skycoaster	Broadway Grand Prix	Myrtle Beach, South Carolina	100 ft	1996
Skycoaster	Ozark Mountain Skycoaster	Branson, Missouri	100 ft
Skycoaster	Extreme World/Mt. Olympus	Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin	100 ft
Skycoaster	Andy Alligator's Fun Park and Water Park	Norman, Oklahoma	100 ft	2016
Sky Coaster	Morey's Piers – Adventure Pier	Wildwood, New Jersey	100 ft	1994
Sky Coaster	Adventure Park USA	Monrovia, Maryland	100 ft	2018
Royal Rush Skycoaster	Royal Gorge Bridge and Park	Royal Gorge, Colorado	100 ft	2003		Positioned over a 1200 ft canyon.
Sky Swing	Seacoast Adventures	North Windham, Maine	100 ft
Skycoaster	Six Flags Discovery Kingdom	Vallejo, California	100 ft	2001
Drop Zone	Playland	Vancouver, Canada	100 ft	1998
Ripcord	Geauga Lake	Aurora, Ohio	100 ft	1999		Sold at auction for $85,000, then put up for sale by third-party company ITAL International LLC for $105,000.
The Slingshot	Ratanga Junction	Century City, Cape Town	100 ft	1999
Sky Coaster		Joyland Park	Wichita, Kansas	100 ft
Sky Coaster	Morey's Piers – Surfside Pier	Wildwood, New Jersey	100 ft
Skycoaster	Kissimmee, Florida	Kissimmee, Florida	100 ft	1994		Located one mile east of Old Town (amusement park).
Parachute Drop	Mitsui Greenland	Arao-shi, Japan
Flying Carpet	Tokyo SummerLand	Tokyo, Japan
Skycoaster	Orlando, Florida	Orlando, Florida				Formerly known as "Bungee Mania".

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Wikipedia Source

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