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!

And what better place to meet up with some fellow addicts than Stricker’s Grove just outside of Cincinnati, Ohio. Stricker’s is open to the public just a few days a year and is home to an original Bisch-Rocco Flying Scooter.

Serial #4332-23

From the scooter’s serial plate, we believe this 8-car portable scooter was built in 1943. While it has resided at Stricker’s Grove since 1994, we’ve back-tracked this flying scooter to Columbian Park in Lafayette, Indiana and the Rocco Family’s own Playland Park, which operated in suburban Chicago from 1953 to 1979.

Now, for those who were unable to join us this past Sunday, here’s a quick video showing some of the aerial manouvers and good times had by dozens of fans of the Bisch-Rocco Flying Scooter.

Got that Flying Scooter itch now? You can still visit Stricker’s Grove on their two remaining 2009 Public Days – Labor Day Monday (September 7th) and Customer Appreciation Day (Sunday, October 11th). More info at www.strickersgrove.com

While a definitive arrival date has not been found, the 8-car portable scooter was present in the park as early as 1943. Sometime in the early 1960′s the ride was severely modified to capitalize on the race-to-the-moon frenzy. The new ride, seen below in an 1970s brochure picture, was called the “Gemini 9″.

Bisch-Rocco Scooter Hacked

Yes, those are supposed to be Gemini space capsules where our beloved tubs should be hung. We still wondered how the ride would run, and thanks to the magic of YouTube – we have our answer in the form of video taken of the park and ride in July of 1988. The Gemini 9 footage runs from about 1:10 to 3:45.

As you can see, “spins” replaced “snaps” in this new ride modification that operated like a cross between a Heart Flip and the modern Wisdom Tornado.

Bushkill, sadly, has been closed the last few years after the nearby creek flooded the park on several occasions. During an FAA trip in 2005, Flyer Addicts Chris and Jack were given permission to stroll through the park ground and take some pictures of the damage and the process of rebuilding. The Gemini 9 had been removed sometime before the 2004 floods.

[Thanks to Ken Philips for the Bushkill brochure.]

Part Bisch-Rocco Catalog, Part Manual Cover Page

The latest discovery was dropped in our lap during a visit with a self-proclaimed addict in Chicago. Among other information and brochures gathered during his long history in the amusement industry – he donated a 7-page assembly manual for a portable (8-car) Flying Scooter that includes a part list and maintenance recommendations. Thanks to Ken for this insight into the inner-workings of our obsession.

Many of the pages reference the “Rocco Amusement Company”, so we can assume this document was produced after the 1955 – when Alvin Bisch retired from the company and the related Playland Amusement Park. Click the jump for the full manual, and our commentary.

As an addict, we’ve been staring at the portable versions of the Bisch-Rocco Flying Scooter – trying to dissect the structure and figure out how this machine was setup and disassembled dozen of times a year by 2 or 3 workers without the benefit of cranes. Some time ago, we realized each angled arm of the portable scooter was on a pivot, and noticed many scooter had a large metal ring towering high about the center post. It was then easy to see how a pully-and-rope system could be used by one worker to raise the arm while the other attached the support bars to the erected structure. Page 2 of our new manual confirmed this. It appears many of the now-permanently installed portable models removed their “hoisting ring”, as it is a separately installed piece of metal.

It's as easy as 1-2-3 (Click for full size image)

The next page of the manual details parts and hardware used to secure the scooter tub to the revolving structure.

You Flying Scooter Parts List

Then two pages provide a textual instruction manual of the installation process. According to these instructions, even the individual tubs were disassembled for transport. Also noted is the warning, “DO NOT operate the ride over 12 RPM.”

Instructions Page 1

Instructions Page 2

Now that your scooter is installed, how do you maintian it? According to the manual: Inspect the ride daily, Oil cable connectors weekly and add oil to the gearbox bi-weekly. It’s that simple!

Scooter Maintenance Page 1

Maintenance List Page 2

So, if you have a portable model scooter sitting in your garage, now you have no excuse not to get it up and running in your backyard….and don’t forget to invite some Flyer Addicts over…