Suspended Family Coaster

A Suspended Family Coaster is a steel inverted roller coaster built by Vekoma designed for families with no inversions. Just like all inverted roller coasters the train runs under the track with the seats directly attached to the wheel carriage. This latter attribute is what sets it apart from the older suspended swinging coaster, which runs under the track, but "swings" via a pivoting bar attached to the wheel carriage.

Suspended Family Coaster
Flying Ace Aerial Chase (formerly Rugrats Runaway Reptar) at Kings Island was one of the first Family Inverted Coaster models.[1]
StatusIn Production
First manufactured2001
No. of installations11
ManufacturersVekoma, S&S Sensei
TypeSteel - Inverted - Family
Models294m, 342m and 395m
Lift systemDrive tire
Suspended Family Coaster at RCDB

History

The Suspended Family Coaster debuted in 2001 with the Rugrats Runaway Reptar opening at Kings Island in Ohio, USA,[1] and Silver Streak at sister park Canada's Wonderland.[2] Several clones and variations have opened since.[3]

The original designs featured trains with a safety system consisting of over-the-shoulder restraints. These restraints would lock into place with a belt-type connector which would be attached the seat base. All of the original track designs were of the 342m model with concrete footers.

In March 2007, Vekoma debuted a new version of the Suspended Family Coaster, the 294m model. The first installation of this was Jimmy Neutron's Atomic Flyer at Movie Park Germany. The ride differs from previous Suspended Family Coasters because it has a portable base-frame beneath the track rather than concrete footers and features a new train style with fully padded seats that utilize lap bar restraints.[4]

One month later in April 2007, the 395m model was launched at Gröna Lund in Sweden. The ride, which was named Kvasten, features the same redesigned trains as Jimmy Neutron's Atomic Flyer. The ride also features a larger layout with a peak height of 20 metres (66 ft) and a length of 395 metres (1,296 ft).[5]

Models

All models have one train, which has 10 cars with 2 seats on each car.[6] This caters for up to 650 riders per hour. All of the models feature lift hills powered by tires and magnetic brake runs.

  • 294m — features a compact footprint where riders rise to 13 metres (43 ft) before completing a 48-second ride of turns and drops.[4]
  • 342m — riders are taken up 14.8 metres (49 ft) and go through a tight helix, followed by a series of small turns and drops for a one-and-a-half minute ride.[6]
  • 395m — This model stands 20 metres (66 ft) above the ground and reaches speeds of up to 55 kilometres per hour (34 mph).[5]

Installations
NameAmusement ParkLocationOpening DateModelNotesRef.
BatLagoon Amusement ParkFarmington, Utah, United States16 April 2005342m[7]
Escape from MadagascarDreamworldGold Coast, Queensland, Australia26 December 2002342m[6]
Family CoasterChildren's Grand ParkSeoul, South Korea2014395m[8]
Flight of the PterosaurPaultons ParkRomsey, Hampshire, England17 May 2016395m[9]
Kitty HawkCarowindsCharlotte, North Carolina, United States22 March 2003342m[10]
Flying Ace Aerial ChaseKings IslandMason, Ohio, United States7 April 2001342m[11]
Flying School
formerly Swamp Thing		Legoland FloridaWinter Haven, Florida, United States9 December 2004342mInstalled by Martin & Vleminckx[12][13]
Freedom FlyerFun Spot AmericaOrlando, Florida, United StatesMay 2013395m[14]
Jimmy Neutron's Atomic FlyerMovie Park GermanyBottrop, North Rhine-Westphalia, GermanyMarch 2007294m[4]
KvastenGröna LundStockholm, Sweden28 April 2007395m[5]
OrkanenFårup sommerlandJylland, Denmark5 June 2013453m[15]
Silver StreakCanada's WonderlandVaughan, Ontario, Canada6 May 2001342m[16]
Steel LassoFrontier CityOklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States18 July 2008294m[17]
Swamp ThingWild AdventuresValdosta, Georgia, United States10 May 2003342m[18]
DragonflierDollywoodPigeon Forge, Tennessee, United States2019453m[19]
  • Escape from Madagascar at Dreamworld is a standard 342 m (1,122 ft) model.
  • A car from Swamp Thing at Wild Adventures.
  • Roller coaster train for the Bat at the Lagoon Amusement Park.
  • Kvasten at Gröna Lund is the first 395m model in operation.

References
  1. Rugrats Runaway Reptar, Kings Island, Coaster-Net
  2. Wonderland has 4 new thrills, Toronto Star, Jim Fox, May 5, 2001
  3. Marden, Duane. "Suspended Family Coaster". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
  4. Marden, Duane. "Jimmy Neutron's Atomic Flyer  (Movie Park Germany)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
  5. Marden, Duane. "Kvasten  (Grona Lund)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
  6. Marden, Duane. "Escape from Madagascar  (Dreamworld)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
  7. Marden, Duane. "Bat  (Lagoon)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  8. https://rcdb.com/11880.htm
  9. https://rcdb.com/12838.htm
  10. Marden, Duane. "Flying Ace Aerial Chase  (Carowinds)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  11. Marden, Duane. "Flying Ace Aerial Chase  (Kings Island)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  12. "Vekoma". Martin & Vleminckx. Archived from the original on 25 November 2013. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
  13. Marden, Duane. "Flying School  (Legoland Florida)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  14. Marden, Duane. "Freedom Flyer  (Fun Spot America)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  15. Marden, Duane. "Orkanen  (Fårup Sommerland)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  16. Marden, Duane. "Silver Streak  (Canada's Wonderland)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  17. Marden, Duane. "Steel Lasoo  (Frontier City)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  18. Marden, Duane. "Swamp Thing  (Wild Adventures)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  19. Marden, Duane. "Dragon Flier  (Dollywood)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
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