Tranan

Tranan (English: The Crane) is a suspended roller coaster located at Skara Sommarland amusement park in Sweden.[3] The ride was manufactured by S&S Worldwide (now S&S – Sansei Technologies) as the company's only Free Fly model, and it opened to the public in May 2009.

Tranan
One of Tranan's trains leaving the station
Skara Sommarland
LocationSkara Sommarland
Coordinates58.41°N 13.55°E / 58.41; 13.55
StatusOperating
Opening dateMay 29, 2009 (2009-05-29)
CostSEK35 million[1]
General statistics
TypeSteel – Suspended
ManufacturerS&S – Sansei Technologies
ModelFree Fly
Lift/launch systemChain lift hill
Height65.6 ft (20.0 m)
Length1,640.4 ft (500.0 m)
Speed24.9 mph (40.1 km/h)
Inversions0
Duration64 seconds[2]
Capacity900 riders per hour
G-force2.5
Height restriction110 cm (3 ft 7 in)
Trainsa single car. Riders are arranged 2 across in 4 rows for a total of 8 riders per train.
Tranan at RCDB

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 – Sansei Technologies 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. Jakobsson, Tommy (31 July 2009). "Sommarland Skara: 2009 season". Parksmania. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  2. "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. US application 20100326312, Jacobi, Timothy R. & Checketts, Stanley J., "Longitudinally Spinning Suspension Roller Coaster", published 30 December 2010, assigned to S&S Worldwide
  5. "Free Fly". Engineering Excitement. S&S Worldwide. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  6. "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. 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. "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. "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. 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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