A typical Skycoaster arch tower.A typical Skycoaster's entire structure, including the lifting towers and the main archFile:Floridaskycoaster.JPGThe arch tower of the world's tallest SkyCoaster in Kissimmee, Florida
Skycoaster, most commonly also named Ripcord (in Cedar Fair, L.P.-owned theme parks) or Xtreme SkyFlyer (in former Paramount-owned theme parks), is an amusement park ride, produced and managed by Skycoaster, Inc.. On the ride, riders in groups of 1 to 3 are winched to the top of a launch tower and then dropped to the ground, swinging from a cable tether back and forth until brought to a rest. Sky Coasters can range from 100–300 feet (30–91 m) in height. In most cases, riders who already paid admission to the park must pay again to ride the Skycoaster.
Notable facts
Bill Kitchen took his first skydive in 1990 He wanted other people to be able to have the same experience without having to jump from a airplane.
The first Skycoaster ride opened in 1993; since then, Skycoaster, Inc. has opened more than 108 rides, all around the world.
Flight cables are made of 5/16 inch (0.8 cm) galvanized steel, which supports 9,800 pounds (4,445 kg), or stainless steel, which supports 9,000 pounds (4,100 kg). However, the maximum weight for a flight is 850 pounds (385 kg), mainly due to the winch.
The flight suits worn are similar to hang gliding suits, and are made by a parachute company to support weight of up to 10,000 pounds (4,535 kg).
Each flight lasts about 5 minutes.
The 300 foot tall Skycoaster is located in Kissimmee, Florida. It's the tallest SkyCoaster in the world.
The first amusement park to make a permanent installation of a SkyCoaster is Kennywood Park.
The Royal Rush Skycoaster in Canon City, Colorado momentarily hangs fliers at a height of 1200ft above the Arkansas River at the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park.
Sky Coaster Operation
Sky Coaster Operations are strictly followed from the Sky Coaster Owners Manual. This is published each year.
Positions
Customer Representative: This position is generally the cashier. They are responsible for answering general questions about the ride and selling tickets.
Video Person: This person is the one that video tapes the fliers on the ride.
Flight Suiter: A flight suiter is the first trained person according to the Owners Manual. The Flight Suiter's responsibility is to ensure all fliers are correctly suited in one of five sizes of flight suits.
Expediter: This crew member is responsible for helping the controllers. They brief the flier on what is required of them during their flight, and escort the flier to the lift platform and assist in lowering the launch bridle.
Assistant Controller: The assistant controller hooks the fliers to the Flight Cables and the Launch Release System.
Controller: This is the person that winches the fliers to the top of the tower. Although they work with the Assistant controller on the platform, they do not assist in the hooking up of the fliers, rather they watch the Assistant controller do it and make sure all carabiners are locked and fliers are hooked up safely.
Site Controller: This position is the most trained of all the crew at Sky Coaster. They receive over 24 hours of training. They are also certified by Sky Coaster, INC. In addition to performing other tasks such as controlling, they will check important mechanical aspects of the Skycoaster ride to make sure they are within guidelines for operational compliance.
Senior Site Controller: This is a title more than a certification. They are responsible for the training and overall operation of the ride.
Types of Sky Coasters
There are two types of sky coasters:
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.
Sky Coaster University
A yearly convention takes place. The senior site controller from each site is required to attend.
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