Flying Scooters

Flying Scooters, also known simply as Flyers, is an amusement ride consisting of a center post with ride vehicles suspended from arms attached to the center post. The ride was developed in the 1920s and 1930s by Alvin Bisch and his partner, Ralph Rocco. They applied for a patent for a “Device to train aviators or for amusement purposes” in 1929. The first ride manufactured by the Bisch-Rocco Amusement Company was installed at Riverview Park (Chicago) in 1935.

In the early 2000s, Larson International revived the concept. In the early 2010s, Larson partnered with Majestic Manufacturing, Inc. to create a portable version of the ride.

When the ride is in operation, a motor causes the arms to spin, with centrifugal forces causing the ride vehicles to fly outwards. Each ride vehicle is equipped with a large rudder, allowing riders to control the motion of their vehicle. The minimum rider height requirement is usually 36 inches tall or more.

Cable snapping Although Flying Scooters are generally considered a mild ride, a skilled rider can "snap" the cables suspending the vehicle, and thus gain a more extreme and out-of-control experience. Snapping is caused by the cables slacking due to quick motions of the vehicle. Snapping is made easier on older and faster Flying Scooters rides such as the Flyer at Knoebels or others manufactured by Bisch-Rocco. Some newer models, such as those manufactured by Larson International, are designed to prevent snapping. Snapping is sometimes discouraged for maintenance and safety reasons, and in the case of some parks, snapping is punishable by the ride cycle being stopped early and the offending rider being removed from the ride.

Installations

Name Park Location Manufacturer Opened Status Ref Flyer Knoebels Amusement Resort United States Bisch-Rocco 1972 Flying Fish Story Land United States Larson International Flying Scooter Bland's Park United States Bisch-Rocco Flying Scooter LeSourdsville Lake Amusement Park United States Bisch-Rocco Flying Scooter Waldameer & Water World United States Bisch-Rocco 1944 Flying Scooters Erieview Park United States Bisch-Rocco Flying Scooters Stricker's Grove United States Ray Evers Hurricane Lakeside Amusement Park United States Bisch-Rocco Flying Scooters Whalom Park United States Bisch-Rocco Rowdy Roosters Canobie Lake ParkPalisades Amusement Park United States Bisch-Rocco Mission MacawFormerly SS Stingray Rides At Adventure Cove in Columbus Zoo United States Larson International 2008 Seabreeze Flyers Seabreeze Amusement Park United States Bisch-Rocco C. 1944 Spirit of Kitty Hawk Frontier Village United States Bisch-Rocco Falcon FlyerFlying Circus Wild AdventuresCelebration City United States Larson International 2010Unknown Aerial Joy Ride Hersheypark United States Spillman Manufacturing 1941 Flying Aces Lagoon Amusement Park United States Bisch-Rocco 1941 Screaming Eagles Fun Spot America (Kissimmee) United States Larson International Dive Bombers Santa's Workshop United States Bisch-Rocco Flying Scooter Bushkill Park United States Bisch-Rocco 1950 Flying Scooters Playland Park United States Bisch-Rocco 1950 Flying Scooters Geauga Lake United States Bisch-Rocco 1958 Flying Eagles Kings Dominion United States Bisch-Rocco 1975 Eagle's Flight Holiday World United States Bisch-Rocco 1976 Flying Scooter Conneaut Lake ParkEuclid Beach ParkOld Indiana Fun Park United States Bisch-Rocco 1997UnknownUnknown Flying Eagles California's Great America United States Larson International 2002 American FlyersFormerly Phantom Phlyer Lake Compounce Kennywood West View Park United States Bisch-Rocco 2003 1995 to 19961937 to 1977 Frontier Flyers Hersheypark United States Larson International 2003 Air Crow Indiana Beach United States Larson International 2004 Tink's Flying School Oakwood Theme Park United Kingdom Larson International 2004 Mountain GlidersFormerly Woodstock Gliders, Phantom FlyersFormerly Flying Eagles, Flying Scooters CarowindsKings IslandConey Island United States Bisch-Rocco 20051972 to 20041940 to 1971 Flying Scooters Camden Park United States Larson International 2006 Flying Aces Idlewild Park United States Premier Rides 2007 Dragon Flyer Castle Park United States Larson International 2008 Hornet's Nest Six Flags Darien Lake United States Larson International 2012 ThunderbirdsFormerly Flying Scooters Eldridge ParkFun Spot Amusement Park & ZooFantasy Farm United States Bisch-Rocco 2012UnknownUnknown Lakeside Gliders Michigan's Adventure United States Larson International 2013 Screamin' Eagles Six Flags Great Escape United States Larson International 2013 Surfside Gliders Knott's Berry Farm United States Larson International 2013 Flying ScootersFormerly French Quarter Flyers Six Flags Great Adventure Six Flags America United States Larson International 20262014 to 2025 Lake Erie Eagles Cedar Point United States Larson International 2014 Honeybee Buzzers Formerly Professor John's Flying Machines Kentucky Kingdom United States Larson International 2014 Winged Warrior Frontier City United States Larson International 2014 MT Buckets Formerly Cedar Creek Flyers Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom United States Larson International 2015 Kong Morey's Piers United States Larson International 2015 Franklin's FlyersFormerly Woodstock Gliders Kings Island United States Larson International 2015 Flying Eagles Canada's Wonderland Canada Larson International 2016 Flying Eagles Valleyfair United States Larson International 2016 Phoenix La Ronde Canada Larson International 2016 Woodstock Gliders Worlds of Fun United States Larson International 2016 Wonder Woman Flight School Six Flags Over Georgia United States Larson International 2016 Flying Scooter Fox Creek Amusement Company United States Bisch-Rocco 2016 The Mad Mocking Bird Dollywood United States Larson International 2019 Flying Circus Celebration City United States Larson International The Barnstormers Guyton's Fun Junction United States Unknown Unknown

Flying Scooters

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