Top 10 Flying Roller Coasters
Humans have always been fascinated by flight, so there understandably have been several flying roller coasters built across the globe. They have been primarily manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard and Vekoma. In this video, I will rank the 10 best flyers I have experienced.
Video Credits
Flying Dinosaur Off-Ride (ElToroRyan)- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhbvpAQLMl8&t=8s
Hexenbesen (The Red Coaster Channel)- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CscoK5Vr8gU
Jinma Flying Coaster (Jinma Rides)- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-DuAp88n4Q
Nighthawk Off-Ride (Airtime Thrills)- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haGgq2NtvSE
Starry Sky Ripper (psyclonesteve)- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNojmtNQiQk
Stingray (Sean Flaharty)- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-McYzXYnhg
Background Music
Cinematic Drone Documentary by Infraction [No Copyright Music] Flight- https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=XsUycBwrAlE&t=0s
29 Comments
FLY and Flying Dinosaur are high on my bucket list. I’ve been on the 4 B&M flyer models in the US, as well as Batwing (a long time ago) and Starry Sky Ripper (this summer). Starry Sky Ripper is definitely my favorite among those 6. The lack of the pretzel loop is a plus for me as I find those elements uncomfortable on my neck. Your mileage may vary on the vertical loop it has. I don’t think the positive g’s are as crushing as the typical pretzel loop, but I find it much more comfortable and enjoyable. The sequence of elements is so awesome with a straight drop followed by a swooping turn over some trees, then a 540 zero g roll to fly-to-lie right into the vertical loop. And then a double inline twist near the end. One of my favorite coasters in China for sure.
My first flying coaster experience was on Firehawk, and was barely tall enough. So my lower ankle was barely hanging into the leg guards and terrified the crap out of me the whole ride 😂
Thankfully, it became much easier to enjoy flyers as I got older.
Hyped to ride Starry sky ripper in may
Ive only ridden Galactica and F.L.Y but would love to try some of the others on this list, especially Flying Dinosaur and TATSU
Flying coasters are not my favorite types of rides but if a park has one I will ride it at least once. While B&M perfected the design I prefer the Vekoma Flying Dutchman Luke X Flight/Firehawk.
The pretzel loops on the Beemers are a bit too intense for me though of the three Supermen I give Six Flags Over Georgia's the nod as the best of the three.
Great list!
Nighthawk is also known as the borg assimulator at Carowinds. It's being removed after so many years running for so long and it is being replaced with something brand new.
There is F.L.Y and than the rest….
I have ridden Superman Ultimate Flight, Manta, Nighthawk, and Tatsu. Tatsu takes the crown as my best Flyer. Manta and Nighthawk come in at 2 and 3.
I rode Ultimate Flight it's opening year at Great Adventure. As a skinny kid, it was terrifying. Even with the restraint all the way down, there was enough room to consider it a 4th dimension! I wish I could have that ride again as a "grown" adult.
Absolutely, 100% agree, and also done them all bar China. I am so glad to see the Dutchman get some love here, as that really caught me off guard when I rode it at the then Six Flags Geauga Lake. I have never been lucky to have them open on any park visit since. But that day was a memorable one, and that vertical loop completely floored me as I just didn't expect it. It was also surprisingly smooth and I got about 10 rides in that day. I had the same surprise experience on Tatsu some years later, then flying Dinosaur was too much to marathon, whereas I did do 8 back to back rides on Tatsu in the last row. But F.L.Y is just other worldly. As a total package it's unbeatable.
I've only ridden Nighthawk Which was Borg when I rode it, my group and I were assigned the last 2 rows which I briefly pick the second last car before realizing that the last car was the first car and switched immediately and I don't regret that at all and I really enjoyed that ride. I've also heard that your trick with the Volare's did not work with Time Warp at Canada's Wonderland because there's large headpads there?
It’s sad that there aren’t more of this model, but it seems to be a combination of both complicated engineering and price as to why there aren’t more flying coasters
I really want more use of the flying position for extreme rides, the body can handle MUCH stronger positive and negative G when the head isn't at the top of the body, where it may only take -2G to injure someone sitting up, it might take -5G for the same thing while lying. I find it outright depressing that this concept has not been explored yet, maybe the 4th dimension coasters and those B&M pretzel loops are the closest, but we could go much further especially with negatives
I went on Tatsu back in 2010 and I wasn't ready for that pretzel loop – I wish I could handle them because flying dinosaur looks amazing
Putting Galactica over the superman clones I absolutely a decision.
A decision I agree with.
Haven't been on many flyers. Only b and m ones that I can remember
Tatsu definitely my favorite flying coaster💯
I didn't have a problem with Nighthawk's corkscrews, so I do rank it above all 3 Superman clones. But I'm also a huge fan of Firehawk & Batwing. I think that is my favorite flyer layout I've experienced, but I do still like Manta a little more. I suspect that your top 2 would be my top 2 if I ever get to ride them.
I've only ridden Galactica, Tatsu, and the Superman clones at both SFGA's. I'd estimate that I firmly agree with your top 4 pic, even if of them I've only ridden Tatsu.
1:42 I don’t know about Great Adventure, but the plot of land for Superman at Great America used to be the parking lot. When Shockwave was there you could see the lines for the parking spaces. They added the landscaping when they built Superman.
Am I the only one who is disappointed you didn’t add the clip from “Cheers” of the patrons of the bar singing “VOLARE!” to Sam?
Haven't done that maney flying coasters about half on whats on your list but i have them in the same order. So i have to say good list as for the voltaires. I don't hate them but i think they just aren't good. And unless they are really janky they are fine to ride or at least not painfull. There a bit like a SLC if you know how to ride them they aren't painfull unless you have really bad one. Differnce is a good SLC is still a fun coaster a voltaire not so much in my opnion.
Ngl flying coasters are so underrated galactica is my 2nd favourite ride at alton towers just behind nemesis reborn
I have only done Galactica, Flying Dinosaur, Fly and Hero the Volare at Flamingo Land.
I adore Flying Dino and really like Galactica. I actually found Hero to be pretty funny and just layout wise more fun then Fly (yes really). Rookburgh obviously is incredible but the flying sensation of Fly does literally nothing for me except for make me dislike the flying position.
I thought in was the only one who didn’t mind hero at flamingo land it isn’t as bad and the drop and inversions are dun
My fist Flying Coaster was Starry Sky Ripper in 2013. Last year i had 5 rides on it and it‘s still amazing. F.L.Y. is also a great flying coaster. The Zamperla Volare is just 🤷🏻♂️ i dont know how to say 😂.
i really enjoyed the corkscrews on the vekomas over the rolls. the rolls tossed you side to side vs the lil bit of airtime during the corkscrews
My favorite flying coaster is Manta at SeaWorld Orlando, followed by Tatsu at Six Flags Magic Mountain, Superman: Ultimate Flight at Six Flags Over Georgia and Six Flags Great America respectively, Batwing at Six Flags America, and Firehawk at Kings Island (R.I.P.).