Skycoaster is the name of a free-fall and flight-simulating amusement park attraction produced and managed by Skycoaster Company, LLC.. On the Skycoaster, riders in groups of 1 to 3 are harnessed in specialized hang gliding suits referred to as "Flight Suits" (in a face-down, prone position), and are winched to the top of a launch tower; the riders then pull a ripcord to engage their “flight”, upon which they swing several times from a cable tether, back and forth, until finally brought to a rest. The attraction is often compared to a combination of skydiving, bungee jumping, and hang gliding.
There are currently over 80 Skycoasters in operation all around the world, ranging in heights from . The ride can be found on every continent but Antarctica. Most locations operate as upcharge attractions with an additional fare charged to riders who have already paid general admission to the park.
Many installations use a variation of the "Skycoaster" model name, whereas others use a custom name like Dare Devil Dive or Xtreme Skyflyer (both found at several Six Flags parks).
History William Kitchen, founder of Sky Fun 1 Inc., and Ken Bird originally came up with the idea of the Skycoaster in 1992. They wanted to find a way to let others experience the thrill of jumping out of a plane or the thrills of bungee jumping, but with the safety factor of a merry-go-round. By January 1994, there were four portable models of the ride and 16 permanent fixtures in the United States.
In 1998, Kitchen sold his patents for Skycoaster and most of the Sky Fun 1 Inc. company to ThrillTime Entertainment International Inc. for $12 million. Skycoaster, Inc. was then sold to the Ride Entertainment Group in 2005.
Ride Entertainment introduced Sky Sled in 2017, a new method of riding a Skycoaster. The Sky Sled replaces the prone flying position with a sitting one. It was first introduced in 2018 at Fun Spot America in Kissimmee, Florida.
Ride Entertainment has partnered with KCL Engineering to offer lighting systems for the Skycoasters and Kool Replay to offer automated video systems.
Production The company is based in Stevensville, Maryland. Parts are manufactured throughout the United States, with the attractions assembled on site.
The two most common types of Skycoasters are lattice and monopole. Lattice Skycoasters were manufactured in a variety of sizes, but the 53-meter (173 ft) dual arch and 31-meter (100 foot) single arch were the most common. Monopole Skycoasters were manufactured in a variety of sizes, 31-meter (100-foot) single or dual, 56-meter (180-foot) single or dual, and one 91-meter (300-foot) unit. Earlier Skycoasters have some unique tower structures that do not fall within these categories.
Flight cables are made of galvanized steel, which supports , or stainless steel, which supports . However, the maximum weight for a flight is , mainly due to the winch. The 3-ring release system used on the Skycoaster is the same kind used on parachutes. The flight suits worn are similar to hang gliding suits, and are made by a parachute company to support weight of up to .
There are two types of Skycoaster loading systems:
Rolling boarding platform: A cart is rolled out to and from the loading area in order to help the flyers on and off the ride. Scissors lift: An elevator-like platform is raised up and down to allow flyers on and off the ride.
Skycoaster installations
Skycoaster name Park Location Height OpenedClosedDetailsSkycoasterFun Spot America - Kissimmee Kissimmee, Florida 1997World's tallest Skycoaster. Opened on Saturday, November 22, 1997, with an appearance by 82-year-old George A. Blair.Sydney SkycoasterRaging Waters Sydney (Formerly Wet'n'Wild Sydney) Sydney, Australia 2013World's second tallest Skycoaster. Dual Skycoaster and the first with a new design with less steel than other Skycoaster designs. Second Skycoaster with the Village Roadshow group.SkycoasterFun Spot America - Orlando Orlando, Florida 2013Relocated from MGM Grand Adventures Theme Park. Only uses one of two former towers.Sky ScreamerMGM Grand AdventuresLas Vegas 1996Relocated to Fun Spot Orlando. After closing to the public, the ride was originally retained on property and available for rent by companies.VertigoXtremoParque de la CostaTigre, Buenos Aires, Argentina 1999SkycoasterSkyborne London SkycoasterThe American AdventureIlkeston, Derbyshire X-FlightSix Flags MexicoMexico, Mexico City 2015Tallest Skycoaster in Mexico at over tall.SkycoasterPlayCenterSão Paulo RipCordWorlds of FunKansas City, Missouri 1996Caribbean SwingHurricane HarborArlington, Texas 1995SkycoasterKennywoodWest Mifflin, Pennsylvania 1994Single Lattice A-Frame. First permanent Skycoaster installation in an amusement park.SkyCoasterState Fair of TexasDallas RipCordMichigan's AdventureMuskegon, Michigan 2002SkyCoasterSchlitterbahn Waterpark ResortNew Braunfels, Texas 2002SkycoasterLake CompounceBristol, Connecticut 1998RipCordValleyfairShakopee, Minnesota 1996Geronimo SkycoasterWild AdventuresValdosta, Georgia 1999SkycoasterSix Flags Darien LakeDarien, New York 1995Opened as "Skycoaster".Sky CoasterSix Flags Over GeorgiaAustell, Georgia 1996Ultimate RushGrand Adventure LandReno, Nevada 1998UnknownUnited Entertainment & Tourism Company Shaab Park, Kuwait SkycoasterKentucky KingdomLouisville, Kentucky 2001Screamin' SkycoasterSix Flags Fiesta TexasSan Antonio 1995Relocated to Texas State Fair.SkycoasterSix Flags New OrleansNew Orleans 2000It was flooded by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. After 20 years, it was demolished in 2025.SkydiverWalibi HollandBiddinghuizen, Netherlands 2002Dare Devil DiveSix Flags Great Escape and Hurricane HarborQueensbury, New York 2001HadikaliHopi Hari Vinhedo, São Paulo, Brazil CatapulteLa RondeMontreal, Quebec, Canada 2008SkycoasterOpryland USANashville, Tennessee 1995Originally opened in park's State Fair area before being relocated within park for 1997 season. Park was closed and demolished following 1997 season.Xtreme SkyFlyerCanada's WonderlandVaughan, Ontario, Canada 1996Dual Skycoaster.SKY-XSeoul LandGwacheon, South Korea 2000Sky CoasterSuperlandRishon LeZion, Israel 1998SkyCoasterWet'n'Wild Gold CoastGold Coast, Australia XLR8RElitch GardensDenver 1996Xtreme SkyflyerKings IslandMason, Ohio 1995Opened as "Drop Zone", named after Paramount movie Drop Zone. Renamed in 1996 to "Xtreme Skyflyer".Dive DevilSix Flags Magic MountainValencia, California 1996Xtreme SkyFlyerKings DominionDoswell, Virginia 1996RipCordCarowindsCharlotte, North Carolina 1995Opened as "Skycoaster". Renamed in 1996 to "Xtreme Skyflyer". Relocated next to Nighthawk in 2014.Xtreme SkyFlyerCalifornia's Great AmericaSanta Clara, California 1997Dare Devil DiveSix Flags Great AdventureJackson, New Jersey 1997Dive Bomber AlleySix Flags Over TexasArlington, Texas 1996Dragon's WingSix Flags St. LouisEureka, Missouri 1996BarnstormerSix Flags AstroWorldHouston 1997Sky CoasterLagoon Amusement ParkFarmington, Utah 1995VertigoOakwood Theme ParkPembrokeshire, Wales 1997I-5 Sky DiveWild Waves Theme ParkFederal Way, Washington 1998Dare Devil DiveSix Flags Great AmericaGurnee, Illinois 1997SkycoasterWet 'n Wild Emerald PointeGreensboro, North Carolina Professor Delbert's Frontier FlingCedar PointSandusky, Ohio 1996Originally opened as "Ripcord" in Cedar Point's Challenge Park. Relocated in 2017 to Frontier Trail and renamed.SkycoasterSouth Pier, BlackpoolBlackpool 1994SkycoasterSix Flags AmericaPrince George's County, Maryland 2001Removed to make way for Harley Quinn Spinsanity. Sky SharkMagic Springs and Crystal FallsHot Springs, Arkansas 2014Geronimo SkycoasterFrontier CityOklahoma City 1995Dive DevilBell's Amusement ParkTulsa, Oklahoma SkycoasterThe Track Family Fun Center Gulf Shores, Alabama 1995SkycoasterZero GravityDallas 1994Sky CoasterIndiana BeachMonticello, Indiana 1995 SkycoasterBig Kahuna'sDestin, Florida 1993SkycoasterTusenfrydOslo, Norway 1996SkycoasterParque Mundo Aventura Bogotá D.C., Colombia SkycoasterSix Flags New EnglandAgawam, Massachusetts 1995Formerly known as "Taz's Daredevil Dive". Featured a unique curved tower. Replaced with Star Flyer.Sky CoasterFuntown Pier Seaside Heights, New Jersey 2007Demolished after Hurricane Sandy destroyed most of the pier.Boardwalk FlightLuna Park, Coney IslandConey Island, New York 2012SkycoasterCasino PierSeaside Heights, New Jersey2015The SkycoasterEl Rollo Waterpark Acapulco, Mexico 2015 single tower.SkycoasterBroadway Grand Prix Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 1996SkycoasterOzark Mountain Skycoaster Branson, Missouri SkycoasterExtreme World/Mt. Olympus Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin SkycoasterAndy Alligator's Fun Park and Water ParkNorman, Oklahoma 2016Sky CoasterMorey's Piers – Adventure Pier Wildwood, New Jersey 1994Sky CoasterAdventure Park USAMonrovia, Maryland 2018Royal Rush SkycoasterRoyal Gorge Bridge and ParkRoyal Gorge, Colorado 2003Positioned over a canyon.Sky SwingSeacoast AdventuresNorth Windham, Maine SkycoasterSix Flags Discovery KingdomVallejo, California 2001Drop ZonePlaylandVancouver, Canada1998RipcordGeauga LakeAurora, Ohio 1999Sold at auction for $85,000, then put up for sale by third-party company ITAL International LLC for $105,000.The SlingshotRatanga Junction Century City, Cape Town 1999Sky CoasterJoyland ParkWichita, Kansas Sky CoasterMorey's Piers – Surfside Pier Wildwood, New Jersey SkycoasterKissimmee, FloridaKissimmee, Florida1994Located one mile east of Old Town (amusement park).Parachute DropMitsui Greenland Arao-shi, Japan Flying CarpetTokyo SummerLand Tokyo, Japan SkycoasterOrlando, Florida Orlando, Florida Formerly known as "Bungee Mania".
References
External links
The Ride Entertainment Group YouTube video of the Skycoaster experience