Soarin' Eagle

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Soarin' Eagle
Lift Soaring Eagle Scream Zone Luna Park Coney Island.JPG
Luna Park, Coney Island
Park section Scream Zone
Coordinates 40°34′26″N73°58′50″W / 40.573848°N 73.980459°W / 40.573848; -73.980459
StatusOperating
Opening dateApril 2011 (2011-04)
Elitch Gardens
Coordinates 39°44′54″N105°00′42″W / 39.748338°N 105.011569°W / 39.748338; -105.011569
StatusRemoved
Opening dateMay 18, 2002 (2002-05-18)
Closing date2007 (2007)
General statistics
Type Steel  Flying
Manufacturer Zamperla
Designer Werner Stengel
ModelVolare
Lift/launch systemSpiral Lift
Height50 ft (15 m)
Drop17 ft (5.2 m)
Length1,282.8 ft (391.0 m)
Speed25.7 mph (41.4 km/h)
Inversions 2
Duration0:48
Max vertical angle31°
Capacity500 riders per hour
G-force 3.3
Height restriction52 in (132 cm)
Trains7 trains with a single car. Riders are arranged 4 across in a single row for a total of 4 riders per train.
Soarin' Eagle at RCDB

Soarin' Eagle is a steel roller coaster located at the Scream Zone at Luna Park in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York. [1] The ride was the first ever Zamperla "Volare" roller coaster when it opened in 2002 at Elitch Gardens in Denver, Colorado, as the Flying Coaster. [2] [3] The Elitch Gardens ride was constructed by Martin & Vleminckx. [4] The Volare, the cheapest option for a flying roller coaster, contains a compact layout with a distinctive spiral lift hill. In late 2010 the ride got dismantled and relocated to Luna Park in Coney Island, where it opened in April 2011 as the Soarin' Eagle. [5] The ride has an identical sister, Hero, which opened in July 2013 at Flamingo Land in North Yorkshire.

Contents

History

Soarin' Eagle has a rich and varied history, beginning with its debut as the Flying Coaster at Elitch Gardens in Denver, Colorado, on May 18, 2002. This ride was the prototype for Zamperla's Volare model, which was unique for its spiral lift hill and compact design. However, during its operation at Elitch Gardens, the ride faced numerous technical difficulties, leading to frequent downtime and a reputation for roughness among riders. These operational challenges, combined with low popularity, resulted in the ride being closed in 2008. It stood dormant for two years until it was sold and relocated to Luna Park, Coney Island, where it was rebranded as Soarin' Eagle. The ride reopened to the public in April 2011. [6] [1] [7]

Layout

Riders begin their experience of the Soarin' Eagle by boarding the four-across trains as they pass slowly along a moving walkway. The trains are originally upright so riders can walk up from behind and enter from a standing position. Each rider must select their desired height on a five rung series of ladder-like steps which determine how a rider will be positioned when the train tilts to the horizontal position upon leaving the station. Before departure, a cage is latched down over the backs of the trains to secure the riders for the duration of the trip. The train then heads up the spiral lift hill, which slowly twirls the train upward. After the lift, the train then heads down a short, steep drop and then ascends slowly back up. A hairpin turn then occurs and takes riders through the first Barrel Roll inversion. The train then hits another hairpin turn into another short drop. Another hairpin turn then leads the train into the second Barrel Roll and turns again.

The train is then slowed by the trim brakes and then twists through another set of hairpin turns and twists until the train slows by the final brake run. The train enters the station and completes the experience.

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 Marden, Duane. "Soarin' Eagle  (Scream Zone)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  2. Marden, Duane. "Flying Coaster  (Elitch Gardens)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  3. Marden, Duane. "Roller Coaster Search Results  (Zamperla Volare)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  4. "Zamperla". Martin & Vleminckx. Archived from the original on November 25, 2013. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
  5. Calder, Rich (January 31, 2011). "Zamperla breaks ground on new Coney Island coaster, another to follow". New York Post. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  6. "Soarin' Eagle". Coasterpedia. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  7. "Soarin' Eagle - Luna Park". Captain Coaster. Retrieved September 6, 2024.