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Tranan

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Coordinates: 58°24′29″N 13°33′11″E / 58.408159°N 13.552940°E / 58.408159; 13.552940
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Tranan
One of Tranan's trains leaving the station
Skara Sommarland
LocationSkara Sommarland
Coordinates58°24′29″N 13°33′11″E / 58.408159°N 13.552940°E / 58.408159; 13.552940
StatusOperating
Opening dateMay 29, 2009 (2009-05-29)
CostSEK35 million[1]
General statistics
TypeSteel – Suspended
ManufacturerS&S Worldwide
ModelFree Fly
Lift/launch systemChain lift hill
Height57 ft (17 m)
Length1,312 ft (400 m)
Speed24.9 mph (40.1 km/h)
Inversions0 (2 track inversions)
Duration64 seconds[2]
Capacity720 riders per hour
G-force2.5
Height restriction110 cm (3 ft 7 in)
Trains4 trains with a single car. Riders are arranged 4 across in 2 rows for a total of 8 riders per train.
Tranan at RCDB

Tranan (Template:Lang-en) is a steel suspended roller coaster at the Skara Sommarland amusement park in Sweden.[3] Opening in May 2009, the ride is S&S Worldwide's first and only Free Fly roller coaster.

History

On 1 July 2008, a patent was filed by Timothy R. Jacobi and Stanley J. Checketts for a "Longitudinally Spinning Suspension Roller Coaster".[4] This concept was later revealed to be a new model of roller coaster by S&S Worldwide named the Free Fly.[5]

Shortly after the filing of the patent, Parks & Resorts Scandinavia announced their plans to add new roller coasters at three of their parks in 2009.[6] This announcement included Tranan at Skara Sommarland which was the world's first Free Fly roller coaster.[6] After a period of construction from late 2008 through to early 2009, Tranan officially opened to the public on 29 May 2009.[7][8]

Ride experience

One of Tranan's trains passing overhead

The ride begins with a left turn out of the station.[9] Upon reaching the top of the 57-foot-tall (17 m) chain lift hill,[8] the train descends down a small dip into a series of helices and track inversions (one clockwise and one anti-clockwise).[2][10] For the majority of the ride, the vehicles remain vertical with only slight banking occurring on various turns.[4][10] Riders therefore do not experience traditional roller coaster inversions.[8] On-ride photos can be purchased following the ride.[1]

Ride system

Tranan features four trains, each consisting of two, bobsleigh-style vehicles.[5] These vehicles each seat four people inline and are suspended from a central, cantilevered support structure.[4] The two vehicles, which rest on either side of a roller coaster track, feature an air suspension system which allows for smooth, longitudinal rotations.[4][11] The ride was installed by Ride Entertainment Group.[12]

Reception

Tranan and the wider Free Fly concept was well received by park guests and the amusement industry alike.[13] In late 2009, the Free Fly concept won the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions Best New Product Award in the Major Theme/Amusement Park Ride/Attraction category as well as the Impact Award.[13][14] During 2010, S&S Worldwide was in discussions with several amusement parks about the opening of their own Free Fly rides the following year.[13] However, as of January 2013, no other Free Fly rides have been built.[15] S&S Worldwide have cited the ride's relatively low operating capacity of 480 to 600 riders per hour as a contributing factor as to why the ride didn't take off.[16] As a potential market replacement, S&S Worldwide unveiled a new concept in 2012 which features trains seating between 24 and 32 riders.[16] Seats would face both backwards and forwards with the ride experience featuring the same longitudinal rotations performed by the Free Fly.[16]

References

  1. ^ a b Jakobsson, Tommy (31 July 2009). "Sommarland Skara: 2009 season". Parksmania. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Free Fly opens in Sweden". Park World Online. Datateam Business Media Limited. 30 June 2009. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  3. ^ "Tranan" (in Swedish). Skara Sommarland. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  4. ^ a b c d US application 20100326312, Jacobi, Timothy R. & Checketts, Stanley J., "Longitudinally Spinning Suspension Roller Coaster", published 30 December 2010, assigned to S&S Worldwide 
  5. ^ a b "Free Fly". Engineering Excitement. S&S Worldwide. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  6. ^ a b "Swedish group announces trio of new coasters". Park World Online. Datateam Business Media Limited. 7 November 2008. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  7. ^ "Free Fly Coaster". Park World Online. Datateam Business Media Limited. 31 December 2008. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  8. ^ a b c Marden, Duane. "Tranan  (Skara Sommarland)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  9. ^ Scherz, Mathias. "Tranan - Skara Sommarland (Skara, Västra Götaland, Sweden)". Trips'n'Pics. Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  10. ^ a b "Tranan - Skara Sommarland (POV)". Trips'n'Pics. YouTube. 14 October 2009. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  11. ^ "'Free fly' coaster lands in Swedish park". InterPark. 17 September 2009. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  12. ^ "Projects". Ride Entertainment Group. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
  13. ^ a b c "S&S approaches 2010 with confidence". Park World Online. Datateam Business Media Limited. 2 February 2010. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  14. ^ "IAAPA Awards 2009". Park World Online. Datateam Business Media Limited. 8 December 2009. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  15. ^ Marden, Duane. "Roller Coaster Search Results  (Model = Free Fly)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  16. ^ a b c Alvey, Robb; Rowher, Kevin (13 November 2012). "IAAPA 2012 Trade Show Coverage Part 1 - S&S Silver Dollar City Rocky Mountain Construction". Theme Park Review. YouTube. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
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