From the Six Flags Press Release:

If you’re new to flyers and you’re looking for a mild ride, take some advice from the experts at Flyers Addicts Anonymous: Hold the front wing nice and steady throughout the duration of the ride. This creates a nice, smooth flight perfect for sighting seeing over the historic River D.

If you’re a little more adventurous and looking for a more heart-racing, blood-pumping flight, the experts at Flyers Addicts Anonymous recommend you familiarize yourself with and play around with maneuvering your front wing. You will pleasantly discover that strategically positioning your front wing in relation to things such as ride speed, wind direction, and the position in the ride’s natural dive cycle will lead to a much faster, intense, and completely unexpected wild flight with dips and dives!

The Screamin’ Eagles is a new generation of a classic ride rich in history. It harks back to the 1940s and 1950s when it was a huge fan favorite at theme parks across the country, allowing little boys and grown men alike to hop in and suddenly, if only briefly, become fighter pilots over the great Pacific. Even more interesting is that even though the flying scooter was sold and marketed by Bisch-Rocco Amusement Company it wasn’t originally meant to be a theme park ride. According to Flyer Addicts Anonymous, a group of avid flyer enthusiasts that travel the country for what they refer to as their “flyer fix”, the original open-air centrifugal force ride was actually originally developed and built by Alvin Bisch (1888-1965) in the early 1930s as an airplane pilot training device.

You can read the full Press Release at http://www.sixflags.com/greatEscape/info/news_ScreaminEaglesAnnouncement.aspx, plus view the announcement on Great Escape’s webpage. This is Six Flag’s first modern Flying Scooter installation.

We’re happy to see the resurgence of the Flying Scooter continue into 2013 – after a strong 2012 that had seen a new a Scooter at Darien Lake and rescued Bisch-Rocco model at Eldridge Park. This year we’ve  also seen a resurgence in inquiries from other parks, historians and other interested parties.

And, welcome to our new visitors who have found us from the new news. You’ve already found our Research Blog (our most recent research finds and news). On our main site you’ll find pictures, history and trip reports from our avid Flyer Addicts.You can also talk with other addicts about the new addition on our Facebook page!

Trying to find out about a Flying Scooter that was located at Kiddieland on the property of the former ALABAMA STATE FAIRGROUNDS in Birmingham, AL.

This particular model had very streamlined cars/tubs and were somewhat reflective of a canoe or a 1950s concept of a rocket ship with sail fins. Perhaps you could tell when this model/design was built. I’ve only been able to find a pic of one other one like it; that I believe is in a theme park in Indiana.

The park I believe has closed. Do you know if their scooter was sold and relocated and if so… where?

That scooter was not found in our database, nor the near 1000 pieces of still un-indexed research articles and other information we’ve collected. Nothing turned up in our usual online sources either. Typically, we find some useful information in the archives at Newspaper Archive or NewsLibrary. It intrigued us – and I was determined to find an answer.

So, we took a step back and went simple. We looked up the Alabama State Fairgrounds on RCDB, and under the Comet Jr. coaster found a very interesting and unexpected note: “The Comet Jr. was owned by Fannie Mason in 1952.  The ride and other amusements were previously owned by Bill de L’horbe and Ralph Rocco, operating as Alabama Engineering Associates.”

That caught our attention.
In the late 1930s, William de L’horbe was the sales manager for a little Chicago company called Bisch-Rocco. And Ralph Rocco was, well, the Rocco of Bisch-Rocco. Mr. de L’horbe left Bisch-Rocco for the Air Force as the amusement industry went into hibernation during WWII, and joined National Amusement Device (as in NAD) after the war – ending their known relationship. The statement also fit it with stories we’ve heard from Bisch family that in the early days several family members left Chicago to own the concessions that ran scooters in places like Montreal and even New Zealand.

Billboard article from Google Books archive

Confirming the Scooter

Next, we used our new information to query Google’s extensive online collection of Billboard magazine and came across an in-depth article about the 1948 opening of Kiddieland at the Alabama State Fairgrounds.

The article talked about the risk that “seven hard-board Birmingham business and professional men and three city commissioners” (none with amusement park experience) took in opening what they hoped would “help combat Juvenile delinquency and to further the economic welfare of Alabama youth.”

Still, de L’horbe’s name and his employer (National Amusement Device) was all over the article – as one of the ‘best brains in the amusement business’ who advised on the design and ride inventory of the park. With his input, it was not surprising that de L’horbe would recommend his old employer’s Flying Scooter ride for the new park.

And, buried in the last paragraph on the first page was the direct confirmation we needed – “Bisch-Rocco’s Flying Skooter was the first major thrill ride to be installed, and it proved to be popular from the first. Now a No. 5 Ferris Wheel and a Spitfire have been added.”

Familiar Ending to the Story

So, the Bisch-Rocco Flying Scooter was added to the park in its inaugural year of 1948. How about the rest of its history? We reached out to a Facebook group dedicated to ‘Forgotten Carnival Rides‘ where immediately Greg Gibbs stepped up with some first-hand knowledge of Kiddieland in the 1980s:

The Flying Scooter was torn down & scrapped sometime after 1983-85….they used a couple of the tubs as decoration in the beer garden. [There was] some gear broke in it they couldn’t fix….this was their maintenance program at that time…if it cost money to fix it then it was removed….the A.H. Looper & Caterpillar met similar fates.

We found a 1984 picture on the website Birmingham Rewound which also eluded to the parks demise soon afterwards – a combination of area redevelopment and increased costs.

Kiddieland’s Scooter in Detail

Picture from Facebook group, taken by Donnie Flynn in summer of 1982.

With an opening date of 1948, it was a given the portable scooter would be using 3rd Generation tubs – or Fuel-Tank Tubs – that were made from surplus 50-gallon steel tanks used to transport fuel for airplanes during WWII. This was confirmed in a 1982 picture found in a photo album called “Kiddie Land and Fair Park” in the Facebook group “Ensley Highlands 35208″ of Birmingham, AL.” In the picture is a beautiful specimen of an 8-tub portable model scooter, complete with its ‘erecting ring’ that allows for easy installation of the scooter using a simple pulley system. In the picture, the tubs are all black with front and real sails in bright yellow. Other pictures and video we uncovered showed the color scheme as the factory-painted curved stripes in red and yellow (1950s via Birmingham Rewound and 1960s via Youtube) and an undated poster shows a drawing of the ride with green tubs and yellow sails.

Richard’s Memories

When people ask us why Flyer Addicts is tackling the daunting task of learning about and cataloging the hundreds of Flying Scooters that roamed the country in year past – we answer “because nobody else is.” But it’s about more than that. History is about more than what happened ‘in the big picture’ – it’s about the personal stories from earlier times in our lives as well. Just read what our questioner Richard wrote about why he wanted to seek out more information about the Flying Scooter at Kiddieland on the grounds of the Alabama State Fairgrounds:

My earliest memories (mid-late 1960s) of that park include the scooter ride.  I was about 3 or 4 years old and my dad took me on the ride and I remember what fun it was (MY dad passed away just a few years later) mainly because my dad, who rarely rode things like this was on the ride with me.  Through most of my memory of KIddieland at the Alabama State Fairgrounds the Flying Scooter was painted red (tub) with yellow fins.

To Richard, the Flying Scooter was more than an amusement ride. It’s another link to his childhood memories – memories more important to him than the history of Bisch-Rocco. But, making memories is truly the only reason for going to an amusement park – or even building an amusement park. Thanks again Richard for the question – we were honored to research it for you.

Do you have a lead on a Flying Scooter you don’t see listed on our website? Send us an email at faa@flyeraddicts.com and we’ll unleash our researchers onto the Internet. There are more still out there.

The Eldridge Park Flying Scooter being erected on Friday, July 13th.

Eldridge Park Carousel Preservation Society President Robby Robertson sent us these pictures of the former Fun Spot Flying Scooter being erected on Friday. Over the past few weeks, the structure has been cleaned, repainted and prepped for installation. The tubs too have received a good buff and shine – as well as new themed decals.

Up early next week is the running of conduit for power and then final surface grading and paving. If all goes to plan, they expect to announce the ride will run by the end of the month. Robby also clued us into the rides new name. Via email, he says “[we] will likely call the ride The Thunderbirds.”

Check out the construction gallery below and pencil in those Elmira, NY travel plans. It won’t be long before they will say “Thunderbirds are Go!” (Ok, not the real source of the theme)

In conjunction with Eldridge Park, in Elmira, NY (Google map), Flyer Addicts Anonymous is happy to be able to confirm the rescue and pending reinstallation of a vintage Bisch-Rocco 10-tub Flying Scooter!

The Eldridge Park Carousel Preservation Society and President Mike “Robby” Robertson announced the addition today during a press conference. Several months ago, the park emailed Flyer Addicts looking for assistance in finding an 8-car portable unit similar to one that ran in the park until its closing in 1989. While we scoured sources for a suitable portable unit, the park inspected and decided to buy the park model scooter that has been stored at Fun Spot Park in northern Indiana since that park closed in 2008. The park also announced it has purchased an Allan Herschell Pony Cart Ride from Fun Spot.

Eldridge's new scooter just prior to removal from Fun Spot. (Image Courtesy Eldgridge Park)

Eldridge Park has roots back to the early 20th century, where it was known as ”Elmira’s Famous Free Resort.” A 1915 ad showed the park offered “free entertainments, moving pictures, band concerts, carousel, [and a  Figure-8] roller coaster.” More rides, including the Speedway out-and-back coaster, were added throughout the next 50 years. But, like so many small amusement parks, hard times crept in during the 80s and the park closed forever in 1989. Many of the rides and attractions, including their portable Bisch-Rocco scooter, were sold for scrap – although the tubs were sold to private citizens.

Undated picture of park's previous Flying Scooter. (Image Courtesy Eldridge Park)

The next chapter for the park began over 10 years later, when the EPCPS was created to begin a 3 year journey to restore the park’s historic Looff Carousel. Since then, the park has added a couple other attractions reminiscent of the park’s heyday – including Miniature Golf, their Jasper the Dragon boat ride and Paddle Boats.

Park thanks Flyer Addicts for assistance and expects the ride to be operational soon

In the park’s press release, Robertson said, “We were able to locate the ride because of the tremendous database kept by Flyer Addicts Anonymous, a group of enthusiasts dedicated to the history of, and tracking of, the Flying Scooter, Queen of the Air Rides”.  While the original ride was located along the lakeside and allowed the tubs to swing over the lake, the new ride will initially be land-locked. “At some point in the future, plans are to expand the shoreline of the Lake to relocate the ride lakeside,” read the press release.

Via e-mail the Robertson says the ride arrived last week, and is in excellent condition. Parts of the ride were already being cleaned, buffed, repainted and prepared for reassembly. The park hopes to have the ride operational within a few weeks – pending a smooth installation and inspection process. Updates will be posted on Flyer Addicts website and Facebook page. The park operates Friday evenings, plus weekends starting at Noon through Labor Day. Full information at http://www.eldridgepark.us/calendar/. The park is located in South-Central New York State, and a convenient stop between Knoebels and Darien Lake for those planning a Flying Scooter weekend trip.

Their new scooter will initially be land-locked, while their former scooter swung over the lake. (Image Courtesy Eldridge Park)

History of the new Eldridge Flying Scooter

The scooter is actually a hybrid of two flying scooters that have had crossed paths for years. It was acquired from Fun Spot Park in Angola, Indiana – which fell victim in 2008 to the economy and the loss of local industrial picnics that the park relied on for a majority of their business.

The current center structure sweeps operated at Fun Spot from 1993-2008, Fantasy Farm in Middleton, Ohio from 1972-1991 and is believed to have been first installed at Riverside Park in Indianapolis during the 1940 season.

The motor, gearbox and scooter tubs are from the Flying Scooter that operated at Lesourdesville Lake from 1944 to the park’s final closing in 2002. It is unknown whether the scooter was new in 1944, or operated prior at another park. The origin of the unique fiberglass tubs that will be used on the Eldridge Park installation are still unknown. While stories point to scooter tubs burning in a 1991 fire in a storage building at Lesourdesville Lake, Flyer Addicts has uncovered pictures dated back to 1979 that feature the fiberglass tubs.

Fantasy Farm was located immediately next door to Lesourdesville Lake and the two scooters were almost within sitelines of each other.

The flying scooter operating at Fun Spot Park in 2008. (FAA Archives)

The two scooters were melded together in 2007 when the Fantasy Farm motor and gearbox failed. At that time, the old Box-type tubs from the ride were sold to collectors – including a few FAA members.

[UPDATE 7:00pm]: Stories beginning to show up online.

• WETM-TV reports on the additions.
• A picture from today’s unveiling and some 1980′s photos from the Star Gazette’s photo archives.