Flying Ace Aerial Chase (Kings Island)
Encyclopedia
Flying Ace Aerial Chase is a steel
inverted
roller coaster
at Kings Island
in Mason, Ohio
and Carowinds in Charlotte, North Carolina
. The ride is a Suspended Family Coaster built by Vekoma
designed specifically for families.
's fourth coaster earning the park the title: "Kid's Coaster Capital of the World!". That same year, the Kings Mills Log Flume was refurbished and rethemed to Nickelodeon. The Wild Thornberry's River Adventure was its name. Those two new rides formed a new area called Nickelodeon Central
. This area was separate from the regular Hanna-Barbera
children's area, but it was still a kid's area. You can see this more clearly on this park map from 2002. It was not until 2006 that the rest of the Hanna-Barbera
land was transformed into one kid's area which was called Nickelodeon Universe. This change did not effect the two already existing rides in Nickelodeon Central, since they already had the Nickelodeon theme. Then, in 2010, Nickelodeon Universe became Planet Snoopy
, which effected the rides name and changed it to Flying Ace Aerial Chase to fit the Snoopy theme
. Also, when its name was changed, the support beams of the ride were repainted from green to orange. Flying Ace Aerial Chase has given 5,160,582 rides since 2001, the 34th-most in park history. Its record year was 2003, when 608,184 rides were given.
decided to build a copy of the ride at Paramount's Carowinds. Rugrats Runaway Reptar opened in 2003. The ride is exactly the same; paint color and all. The only difference perhaps is the color of the shoulder restraints. At Carowinds, the restraints are red and perhaps more bulky. At Kings Island, the restraints are yellow and had more padding.
If this description wasn't very clear, click here and here for pictures.
Steel roller coaster
A steel roller coaster is a roller coaster that is defined by having a track made of steel. Steel coasters have earned immense popularity in the past 50 years throughout the world...
inverted
Inverted roller coaster
An inverted roller coaster is a roller coaster in which 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 coaster, which runs under the track, but "swings" via a pivoting bar attached to the...
roller coaster
Roller coaster
The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
at Kings Island
Kings Island
Kings Island is a amusement park located northeast of Cincinnati in Mason, Ohio. Opened in 1972 by Taft Broadcasting Company and now owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, Kings Island is the most visited seasonal amusement park in the U.S...
in Mason, Ohio
Mason, Ohio
Mason is an affluent city in southwestern Warren County, Ohio, United States, 22 miles away from Cincinnati . As of the 2010 census, Mason's population was 30,712. Mason has experienced fast growth, with its historic Main Street remaining at the center of the community...
and Carowinds in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
. The ride is a Suspended Family Coaster built by Vekoma
Vekoma
Vekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V. is a roller coaster and thrill ride designer with its facilities based in the Netherlands. The company was founded in 1926 by Hendrik op het Veld under the name "Veld Koning Machinefabriek" and had first manufactured agricultural machinery and mining equipment...
designed specifically for families.
History
Kings Island
Flying Ace Aerial Chase opened in 2001 as Rugrats Runaway Reptar and was the world's first inverted kid's coaster. This was Kings IslandKings Island
Kings Island is a amusement park located northeast of Cincinnati in Mason, Ohio. Opened in 1972 by Taft Broadcasting Company and now owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, Kings Island is the most visited seasonal amusement park in the U.S...
's fourth coaster earning the park the title: "Kid's Coaster Capital of the World!". That same year, the Kings Mills Log Flume was refurbished and rethemed to Nickelodeon. The Wild Thornberry's River Adventure was its name. Those two new rides formed a new area called Nickelodeon Central
Nickelodeon Central
Since the 1990s, Nickelodeon, a worldwide children's entertainment company, has had an involvement in the creation and theming of amusement park rides. This article details the ventures of Nickelodeon in amusement parks....
. This area was separate from the regular Hanna-Barbera
Hanna-Barbera theme parks
Through its history, Hanna-Barbera was also operates theme park attractions, mostly as a section in Kings Island , Carowinds, Great America, Kings Dominion, Canada's Wonderland, and recently, Six Flags Great America.Outside the North America, the theme parks was also available in several countries,...
children's area, but it was still a kid's area. You can see this more clearly on this park map from 2002. It was not until 2006 that the rest of the Hanna-Barbera
Hanna-Barbera theme parks
Through its history, Hanna-Barbera was also operates theme park attractions, mostly as a section in Kings Island , Carowinds, Great America, Kings Dominion, Canada's Wonderland, and recently, Six Flags Great America.Outside the North America, the theme parks was also available in several countries,...
land was transformed into one kid's area which was called Nickelodeon Universe. This change did not effect the two already existing rides in Nickelodeon Central, since they already had the Nickelodeon theme. Then, in 2010, Nickelodeon Universe became Planet Snoopy
Planet Snoopy
Planet Snoopy is a Peanuts themed area for children in Cedar Fair parks.* Kings Island in Mason, Ohio.* Carowinds in Charlotte, North Carolina* Canada's Wonderland in Canada.* California's Great America* Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia....
, which effected the rides name and changed it to Flying Ace Aerial Chase to fit the Snoopy theme
Planet Snoopy
Planet Snoopy is a Peanuts themed area for children in Cedar Fair parks.* Kings Island in Mason, Ohio.* Carowinds in Charlotte, North Carolina* Canada's Wonderland in Canada.* California's Great America* Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia....
. Also, when its name was changed, the support beams of the ride were repainted from green to orange. Flying Ace Aerial Chase has given 5,160,582 rides since 2001, the 34th-most in park history. Its record year was 2003, when 608,184 rides were given.
Carowinds
When Rugrats Runaway Reptar became so immensely popular at Paramount's Kings Island, the then-owners, ParamountParamount Parks
Paramount Parks was an operator of theme parks and attractions, which annually attracted about 13 million patrons. Viacom had assumed control of the company as part of its acquisition of Paramount Pictures in 1994....
decided to build a copy of the ride at Paramount's Carowinds. Rugrats Runaway Reptar opened in 2003. The ride is exactly the same; paint color and all. The only difference perhaps is the color of the shoulder restraints. At Carowinds, the restraints are red and perhaps more bulky. At Kings Island, the restraints are yellow and had more padding.
Ride layout
As the train comes out of the station, it makes a 90 degree turn to the right, and starts up the tire drive lift hill. As the train exits the lift hill, it is sent on a double helix to the left. From there, the train makes its way under the lift hill and over to the top of the station, making the riders feel as if they could touch it with their feet. Then it turns right and travels along side of the lift hill and then turns right 180 degrees. At this point the train is very close to the ground. Then, it turns 180 degrees to the left into the activating brakes.If this description wasn't very clear, click here and here for pictures.