Tranan

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Tranan (English: The Crane) is a steel suspended roller coaster at the Skara Sommarland amusement park in Sweden.[3] Opening in May 2009, the ride is S&S Worldwide's first and only Free Fly roller coaster.

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 Worldwide 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

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External links

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 US application 20100326312, Jacobi, Timothy R. & Checketts, Stanley J., "Longitudinally Spinning Suspension Roller Coaster", published 30 December 2010, assigned to S&S Worldwide 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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