Kentucky Flyer

Kentucky Flyer is a wooden roller coaster located at Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville, Kentucky. The coaster opened on April 28, 2019, to celebrate Kentucky Kingdom's 30th anniversary.[1]

Kentucky Flyer
Kentucky Kingdom
LocationKentucky Kingdom
Coordinates38.194292°N 85.744271°W / 38.194292; -85.744271
StatusOperating
Soft opening dateApril 26, 2019
Opening dateApril 28, 2019
Cost$5,000,000
General statistics
TypeWood – Family
ManufacturerGravitykraft Corporation
DesignerThe Gravity Group
Track layoutOut and back
Lift/launch systemChain lift hill
Height47 ft (14 m)
Drop44 ft (13 m)
Length1,288 ft (393 m)
Speed35 mph (56 km/h)
Inversions0
Duration1:00
Max vertical angle52°
Height restriction40 in (102 cm)
Trains2 trains with 6 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in a single row for a total of 12 riders per train.
WebsiteOfficial website
Kentucky Flyer at RCDB

History

Teasing for a new attraction began on September 14, 2018, hinting at a new aviation themed ride as well as a September 21 announcement date.[2] As planned, the Kentucky Flyer junior wooden coaster was announced on September 21, 2018, with a planned 2019 opening date. This would be a family-sized wooden coaster from Cincinnati-based Gravitykraft Corporation, with plane-themed trains and a top speed of 35 mph (56 km/h).[3][4]

Construction on Kentucky Flyer began soon after, but was quickly halted in mid-October by the park's landlord, the Kentucky State Fair Board, who stopped the park from preceding with any kind of work and payments done on the ride, placing the ride's future in jeopardy. In an October 16 press conference on the construction site, park CEO Ed Hart claimed that the Fair Board was withholding access in an attempt to strong-arm the park into dropping a lawsuit over breaking a paid parking lease, instead giving rented spots out to Kentucky State Fair vendors.[5][6] The following day, after Governor Matt Bevin and his administration became involved, the Fair Board changed course and once again granted permission for the park to continue onwards, securing Kentucky Flyer's future.[7]

In November 2018, Kentucky Flyer's plane-themed lead car was put on display at the IAAPA 2018 Expo in Orlando, Florida.[8] Foundations would continue to be poured during that time, and the coaster structure would go vertical on November 30, 2018.[9] Work would continue throughout the winter and be completed in late March to early April 2019. On April 12, 2019, Kentucky Flyer reportedly began testing trains on the layout,[10] and the coaster opened to the public later that month, on April 28.[11]

Characteristics

Statistics

Kentucky Flyer's highest point of the ride is 47 feet (14 m) tall, its total length is 1,288 feet (393 m), and the ride maxes out at a top speed of 35 mph (56 km/h), which is achieved on the 52° 44-foot (13 m) first drop. There are 12 airtime moments along the ride, and a maximum side banking of 54°. Designed by The Gravity Group, the coaster is what many refer to as a modern junior wooden coaster, as it is very suitable for children, and similar to rides like Roar-o-Saurus at Story Land and Wooden Warrior at Quassy Amusement Park.[12]

The coaster structure is mainly made of painted steel, although the track and handrails are wooden, thus it can be classified as such. The support structure is painted white while the track has no paint, with red being applied to the handrails.

Kentucky Flyer operates with a pair of 12 passenger Timberliner trains, which have airplane-spoofing lead cars and curved lap bars, the latter of which make the ride suitable and comfortable for guests of all sizes. Timberliners are also far lighter trains than most and can navigate very tight curves.[13]

Location

Kentucky Flyer is located behind the Hurricane Bay waterpark, running in the background of the 2014 Hurricane Bay expansion. The coaster's turnaround is located on one acre of expansion land promised to the park by the Fair Board. The entrance is located near the Skycatcher tower swing ride.

Ride experience

Riders depart the station and immediately ascend the 47-foot (14 m) tall lift hill, before turning slightly to the right and plunging down the main 44-foot (13 m) drop at 52° steep. The ride twists into a pair of double ups before hitting the left-hand turnaround at a 54° banked angle. Several airtime hills are navigated on the way back before the train drops down into the final brake run. When allowed to do so, the train proceeds to make a right-hand hairpin turn back into the station.[14]

References
  1. Hayden, Courtney (October 2, 2018). "Kentucky Kingdom celebrates 30th anniversary, announces new ride for 2019". WHAS11. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  2. "2019 Teaser - What's in the Wind? - Kentucky Kingdom". YouTube. Kentucky Kingdom. September 14, 2020. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  3. Stilwell, Andrew (September 30, 2018). "Kentucky Kingdom Announces Gravity Group Wooden Coaster Kentucky Flyer for 2019". Coaster101. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  4. Finley, Marty (October 1, 2018). "Kentucky Kingdom teases new roller coaster in video". Louisville Business First. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  5. "Kentucky Kingdom dispute with Fair Board could jeopardize new coaster". WDRB. October 16, 2018. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  6. Glauser, Daniel (October 16, 2018). "Ed Hart's Response To Fair Board Statements Regarding His Press Conference". Coaster Nation. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  7. Kobin, Billy; Miller, Alfred (October 17, 2018). "After Kentucky Kingdom cries foul, state approves land for new coaster". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  8. "IAAPA 2018 Day One Major Highlights". unitedthrills.com. November 14, 2018. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  9. "Our 6th Roller Coaster!". Kentucky Kingdom and Hurricane Bay. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  10. @KentuckyKingdom (April 12, 2019). "🚨BREAKING FLYER FRIDAY NEWS🚨..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  11. John (April 27, 2019). "Review: Kentucky Flyer Takes Off at Kentucky Kingdom". Coaster101. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  12. Joel (June 27, 2011). "QUASSY'S WOODEN WARRIOR OPENS WITH TIMBERLINERS". coastercritic.com. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  13. "TIMBERLINER TRAINS". The Gravity Group. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  14. "OFFICIAL KENTUCKY FLYER POV". YouTube. Kentucky Kingdom & Hurricane Bay. April 6, 2019. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
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