Tranan
One of Tranan's trains leaving the station
Skara Sommarland
LocationSkara Sommarland
Coordinates58°25′N 13°33′E / 58.41°N 13.55°E / 58.41; 13.55
StatusOperating
Opening dateMay 29, 2009 (2009-05-29)
CostSEK35 million[1]
General statistics
TypeSteel – Suspended
ManufacturerS&S – Sansei Technologies
ModelFree Fly
Lift/launch systemChain lift hill
Height65.6 ft (20.0 m)
Length1,640.4 ft (500.0 m)
Speed24.9 mph (40.1 km/h)
Inversions0
Duration64 seconds[2]
Capacity900 riders per hour
G-force2.5
Height restriction110 cm (3 ft 7 in)
Trainsa single car. Riders are arranged 2 across in 4 rows for a total of 8 riders per train.
Tranan at RCDB

Tranan (English: The Crane) is a suspended roller coaster located at Skara Sommarland amusement park in Sweden.[3] The ride was manufactured by S&S Worldwide (now S&S – Sansei Technologies) as the company's only Free Fly model, and it opened to the public in May 2009.

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 – Sansei Technologies 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

  1. 1 2 Jakobsson, Tommy (31 July 2009). "Sommarland Skara: 2009 season". Parksmania. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  2. 1 2 "Free Fly opens in Sweden". Park World Online. Datateam Business Media Limited. 30 June 2009. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  3. ↑ "Tranan" (in Swedish). Skara Sommarland. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 4 US application 20100326312, Jacobi, Timothy R. & Checketts, Stanley J., "Longitudinally Spinning Suspension Roller Coaster", published 30 December 2010, assigned to S&S Worldwide
  5. 1 2 "Free Fly". Engineering Excitement. S&S Worldwide. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  6. 1 2 "Swedish group announces trio of new coasters". Park World Online. Datateam Business Media Limited. 7 November 2008. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  7. ↑ "Free Fly Coaster". Park World Online. Datateam Business Media Limited. 31 December 2008. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  8. 1 2 3 Marden, Duane. "Tranan  (Skara Sommarland)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  9. ↑ Scherz, Mathias. "Tranan - Skara Sommarland (Skara, Västra Götaland, Sweden)". Trips'n'Pics. Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  10. 1 2 "Tranan - Skara Sommarland (POV)". Trips'n'Pics. YouTube. 14 October 2009. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  11. ↑ "'Free fly' coaster lands in Swedish park". InterPark. 17 September 2009. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  12. ↑ "Projects". Ride Entertainment Group. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
  13. 1 2 3 "S&S approaches 2010 with confidence". Park World Online. Datateam Business Media Limited. 2 February 2010. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  14. ↑ "IAAPA Awards 2009". Park World Online. Datateam Business Media Limited. 8 December 2009. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  15. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Roller Coaster Search Results  (Model = Free Fly)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  16. 1 2 3 Alvey, Robb; Rowher, Kevin (13 November 2012). "IAAPA 2012 Trade Show Coverage Part 1 - S&S Silver Dollar City Rocky Mountain Construction". Theme Park Review. YouTube. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
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