Just because you haven’t seen new content on the Flyer Addicts Anonymous blog lately, doesn’t mean that we’ve abandoned our work here.
Quite the contrary, We’ve been working behind the scenes, sifting through thousands of newspapers, magazines and websites to update and expand our Flying Scooter database.
We’re also working to bring enhanced search and database functions to our website. Look for more information real soon.
With a simple post on its blog, Fun Spot USA announced that their new Larson Flying Scooter – called the Screamin’ Eagle – opened to the public on Friday, February 4th:
The Screamin Eagle took its first flight with TJ and Alexis Arie as the first passengers on Friday February 4th. The Screamin’ Eagle is now open to the public and is included in the Rides or Go Kart armband.
From Fun Spot USA's blog: the first lucky riders of the Screamin' Eagle
Fun Spot USA is the larger of the two Fun Spot parks in the Orlando area. The park and the scooter are located in Kissimmee along US 192, which is also home to the 300-foot tall Skycoaster. The ride takes the former spot of the Cobra flat ride.
Installation of the ride was quick, as according to a blog post the ride was delivered in late January and went from arrival to operation in just about a week. Their blog also has a few pictures of the unassembled ride. In December the park had announced it purchased the ride during the annual IAAPA trade show held in November. As you can see, the sail graphics are quite stunning, melding the classic image of an eagles head found on several scooters with the flames you might find on a muscle car (or maybe an Air Crow). This scooter is the first new Larson installation since the Dragon Flyer opened at Castle Park in 2009.
Since none of the Flyer Addicts team has plans to travel to Florida soon, we’re looking for help from our fellow addicts. Are you going to Orlando for Spring Break? The ACE Spring-Con (they will be next door at Old Town as part of the itinerary)? Help us by filing a trip report…How does it fly? Any ride policies? Pictures or Video? We’ll feature your information right here on our research blog.
As a follow-up to our post last week on Burns Park Funland’ s Flying Scooter – The Butterfly – Flyer Addicts has put together a 4-minute video on our August 2010 visit.
The video shows Jack Larimore and Chris Clark during 10-minute cycles on the scooter after a rain storm cleared out the small park of patrons just before close.
It also visually shows 2 of the scooter modifications previously described in our first article about the Butterfly. View that article here.
Get a group of Flyer Addicts together and talk will eventually gravitate towards epic snapping sessions at Knoebels during Phall Phunfest, or the still stinging loss of Kings Island’s Flying Eagles (remember, they still run just as great at Carowinds!). But how many times has the Butterfly at Burns Park Funland been mentioned? Probably a bit more often – after you read this in-depth review of this out-of-the-way scooter during an addict visit from August 2010.
Entrance to Funland at Burns Park in North Little Rock, Arkansas
We’ve been talking with Alvin G. Bisch, son of Flying Scooter inventor Alvin (No Middle Initial) Bisch for a couple of months. During that time, we’ve been sitting on a number of great pieces of Scooter history he’s sent us. It’s now time to change that, and we start with a cool 4-page Flying Scooter advertising brochure that dates to 1939 or 1940.
Let’s take a close look at the front cover of the 2 color brochure. (Click on the images for a much higher resolution image).
From a circa 1939 flyer - "Flying Scooters always in the top money!"
Start with the Flying Scooters font. We’ve previously seen this same font on the “Instructions for Erecting Eight Car Flying Scooter Ride” that we posted in 2009, as well as company letterhead in the 70s and even stenciled on tubs from various park.
Next, the car pictured in the front cover appears to be from Riverview Park in Chicago and is what we’ve referred to as the “1st Generation Box Tub” type. While this is the most common tub type seen in remaining Flying Scooters (and the inspiration for the Larson version), it was replaced in 1939 by a more rounded tub referred to in advertising as the “streamlined” tub (as on Holiday World’s Eagle’s Flight). After WWII, surplus fuel tanks were used to create elongated tubs (as on Canobie Lake’s Rowdy Roosters). Sometime in the 1950s or 1960s, these original design tubs returned to new and refurbished Flying Scooters.
Take a look at the selling points of the ride as well:
Every Car has Individual Flying Control
You can complete 24 rides an hour
ALWAYS IN TOP MONEY!
100 % SAFETY RECORD!
Finally, a bit of trivia from Alvin G. Bisch himself – sitting on the right side of the scooter is his sister June.
Though our Flyer Addicts research lately has been concentrating on the hey-day of the Flying Scooter in the 1940s and early 1950s, we recently stumbled across a great low-budget book by James W. Reed that details over 150 amusement parks as they were in 1987. It was strange to see how different the amusement park landscape was just 24 years ago.
You see, while many park and ride enthusiasts get mixed up in this crazy hobby during their teenage years, I (Chris) waited until the late nineties and my late-twenties to catch the bug. While I was able to enjoy the boom in coasters during the beginning of the millennium, there were dozens of classic amusement parks that were missed by just a few years. Listed in the book were parks of my youth as well, including Sauzer’s Kiddieland in Schererville, Indiana
But, even more interesting was the “ride census” which aimed to count not only roller coasters, but Scramblers, Trabants, Twisters and – yes – Flying Scooters.
James W. Reed's Amusement Park Guidebook-1987 Edition
According to the book, called Amusement Park Guidebook, there were 22 Flying Scooters were running that year. We beg to differ slightly, but understand the complications of compiling such a list in the time before the Internet. Our notes after the list:
NAME OF PARK – LOCATION
1. ADVENTURELAND – DES MOINES, IA
2. AMERICANA AMUSEMENT PARK – MIDDLETOWN, OH
3. BLAND’S PARK (Now Del Grasso) – TIPTON, PA
4. BOBLO ISLAND AMUSEMENT PARK – DETROIT, MI
5. CANOBIE LAKE PARK – SALEM, NH
6. CLEMENTON LAKE PARK – CLEMENTON, NJ
7. ELDRIDGE PARK – ELMIRA, N
8. ERIEVIEW PARK “RIDES & SLIDES” – GENEVA-ON-THE-LAKE, OH
9. FANTASY FARM PARK – MIDDLETOWN, OH
10. FUN JUNCTION – GRAND JUNCTION, CO
11. FUN SPOT – ANGOLA, IN
12. GEAUGA LAKE – AURORA, OH
13. HOLIDAY WORLD – SANTA CLAUS, IN
14. KINGS DOMINION – DOSWELL, VA
15. KINGS ISLAND – KINGS ISLAND, OH
16. KNOEBELS AMUSEMENT RESORT – ELYSBURG, PA
17. LAGOON AND PIONEER VILLAGE – FARMINGTON, UT
18. LAKESIDE AMUSEMENT PARK – DENVER, CO
19. LINCOLN PARK – NORTH DARTMOUTH, MA
20. MOUNTAIN PARK – HOLYOKE, MA
21. OLD INDIANA FUN PARK – THORNTOWN, IN
22. SEABREEZE PARK – ROCHESTER, NY
Note that all of these are Bisch-Rocco models, as the first Larson manufactured model did not debut until 2002. Scooters not mentioned in the book, but thought to be in operation in 1987 include Burns Park Funland (North Little Rock, AR), Rye Playland (Rye, NY) and Gulf Shores Amusement Park (Gulf Shores, AL). Also, knock Fantasy Farm off the above list as our research shows that scooter was sold to Fun Spot prior to the closing of Fantasy Farm. Timelines match as this book shows the Fun Spot scooter “New for 1987.”
We’re now looking for the 1982 and 1977 editions of the book to further our research.
It’s time to step out of that Anonymous shadow. Flyer Addicts presents its first official T-Shirt – “12 Steps.” Get it? I knew you would.
Look stylish, even if you are being anonymous
Shirts are high-quality pre-shrunk cotton/polyester. Each shirt is professionally printed via Direct-to-Garment process so the graphics are soft to the touch. The Flyer Addicts logo and website are printed on the front, with the above full-size image on the back. Check out the images in the gallery below. Each is shipped via USPS from our printing partner outside of Chicago.
We’re keeping them cheap, in order to spread the Flyer Addicts message. $15 gets you a shirt shipped to your US address. Additional shirts are $13 shipped. Since each shirt is printed on demand, it may take a few days to ship once your order is processed.
It’s time for the Annual Flyer Addicts Anonymous summer roadtrip.
We’re posting a few pictures along the way on the Flyer Addicts Anonymous Facebook page. Pop on over to see some pictures we took today from our visit to Burns Park Funland. Their “Butterfly” is truly a unique portable scooter managed by someone who really cares about the rides. We’ll post a full writeup to the Research Blog after we return.
Over the course of this week, we’ll also visit Magic Springs, Silver Dollar City and some other small parks. The finally is next weekend with Coaster Mayhem (Worlds of Fun) and Bahncon (Schlitterbahn – Kansas City) events. If you see us, say hi!
[Update: We've posted our full trip report from Burns Park Funland. View that entry here.]
Will you be in Western Kansas this weekend (July 28-31st)? Then stop by the Wichita County Fair in Leoti, Kansas to ride a truly unique Flying Scooter.
For Flyer Addicts, it’s a difficult credit to nab. In addition to being located deep in the Kansas plains, somewhere between Denver and Kansas City, it also operates just a few days a year during the fair. Flyer Addicts Chris and Jack even tried to plan a trip around the fair this year, but found it difficult to fit into any travel plans. There is always next year.
A Bisch-Rocco Portable Flying Scooter peeks out of the frame in this 2010 picture from the Wichita County Fair
The story on this scooter goes as follows…when the carnival operator contracted to provide rides bailed just days before their arrival in 1981, the fair was left without amusement rides. To ensure that never happened again, the locals began purchasing, refurbishing and running their own rides each year. Today, they operate boasts 12 large rides, and several kiddie rides. Like 1982, all rides today still cost just 25 cents each!
The fair has already posted several pictures from the 2010 fair in a photo gallery on their website. Rides seen include a Ferris Wheel, Paratrooper, Miniature Train, Tilt-a-Whirl and Merry-Go-Round. And of course, there is the portable model Bisch-Rocco Flying Scooter.
So, if you’re not busy this weekend, hop into the car and take a drive. Just remember that Wichita County does NOT contain the city of Wichita – but it is a short 250 mile drive to the west. View Larger Map
You can get more information on the fair, including the 2011 dates (July 27-30) at their website www.wichitacountyfair.com. Hopefully, you’ll see some Flyer Addicts next year too!
If your part of the original Flyer Addicts crew that spent many a morning and evening taking over the Flying Eagles at Kings Island years ago, you certainly know that the beloved ride has been thrilling guests at Carowinds near Charlotte, North Carolina since 2005. First as the Nickelodeon-theme Danny Phantom’s Phantom Phlyer and starting this year – as Woodstock Gliders.
Snoopy and Woodstock Greets Some Addicts!
With the ride now being 474 miles away from its former Cincinnati home, addict visits may be less frequent – but definitely still worth it. Last week, Flyer Addicts Chris, Jack and Derek were happy to see the vintage Bisch-Rocco ride not only running great — but snapping great too.
Cables are flopping the way we like 'em!
Like in previous visits, snapping was not discouraged on this ride – despite it now being located in the kid’s “Planet Snoopy” section of the park. In fact, this visit saw multiple operators encourage the practice in theory by awarding a free re-ride to the pilot who put on the best show. Sometimes it went to an acrobatic adult, but usually to a high-flying kid who giggled with excitement the entire ride.
This potential addict flys high above the ride's queue.
Over the course of the afternoon, good shows were put on by admitted Addicts, potential Addicts and even tubs filled with random children and parents. Of course, when the Addicts were front of queue, things were stepped up a notch. And just like the old days, at least one parent complained, scolding Jack after a successful cycle that “this is a kids ride!”
A determined Jack eyes his prey.
We were happy to see, on such a warm Sunday afternoon, that the Carowind’s crowd appreciated their scooter and rewarded it with one of the longer waits of the day. Who needs to be ‘intimidated’ when your can soar on a former eagle – now beagle-ized.
Enough with the safety spiel, hit the button!
Part of the archiving process at FlyerAddicts.Com is to collect the serial number of each Flying Scooter. Unfortunately, here we found the serial number (PC-0205) on this plate was generated by Carowinds when the scooter was moved in 2005. Also, the manufacture date appears to be wrong. We’ve found multiple sources that document this scooter’s first installation being Coney Island in Cincinnati in 1940 – not 1935 as indicated on the serial plate.
The ride's serial plate was generated when the ride move to Carowinds in 2005 and contains inaccuracies.
Finally, we leave you with a compilation video of the Addict Invasion, shot in 720p HD with a Canon PowerShot camera. Hit 720p and go full screen for the best experience!
Have YOU had a great visit with a Flying Scooter this year? Email us and we may post your pictures and story!
This blog is the current research arm of Flyer Addicts Anonymous - a group dedicated to chronicling the history of the Bisch-Rocco Flying Scooter and its contemporaries.
For more information on the Flying Scooter, including where to fly them today, visit our main website at FlyerAddicts.Com.
As of January 2009, FAA has documented 145 Flying Scooter installations, 24 currently operational.
As a follow-up to our post last week on Burns Park Funland’ s Flying Scooter – The Butterfly – Flyer Addicts has put together a 4-minute video on our August 2010 visit.
