The Flying Coaster (Ski Jump)
Quick Facts
Manufacturer(s): Lang Wheels, Bennetts, Aero Affiliates, Maxwell, Pollards,
Mack.
Debut year: c1960
First UK produced: 1961
Last UK produced: 1984
Total UK number: 34
Summary: Originally an 8 car ride, later 9 car. Simple spider frame and
track ride with 'jump hill' combined with either spring or air compression
dampers and chunky pneumatic tyres to soften the landing. Later themed
with ski scenes, and one of the first rides to feature innovative fibre
glass work and massed lighting centres.
click here for machine
list
The Flying Coaster arrived via import in the early
1960s, the first machine being manufactured by Aero Affiliates of
Fort Worth (Texas) and purchased by Butlins for use at the Grand Parade park at Skegness. The park was quickly
taken over by Botton Brothers who then opened the machine at their
Great Yarmouth park as early as 1967, moving it back to Skegness around
1972. The Aero Affiliates machine was the blueprint for the Lang
Wheels version, having 8 cars and turning anticlockwise – however
Botton Brothers built a small backflash for their machine whilst
at Great Yarmouth establishing the link with skiing. Lancashire
showman Tommy Green bought the machine in 1973 to bolster a popular
trend of Flying Coasters in the North West – Tommy keeping
the machine until the turn of the century.
Botton Brothers' original Aero Affiliates machine, Great Yarmouth, 1967.
The same machine in McKean's ownership.
A second Aero Affiliates machine would come over to
these shores in the late 1970s, this being operated at Whitley Bay by
Michael Houghton, but by this time Lang Wheels had manufactured their
5 versions and these were well established on the UK fairground. The first
Lang Wheels machine was operated by John Collins in 1961 (an advert from
Lang Wheels appeared in World's Fair 16 September 1961), attending all
the major fairs and spending time at their Seaburn park. The Collins organisation
would also buy a second machine for the park at Barry Island, and both
of these machines evolved to appear very similar in terms of lights and
decoration. The first of these machines is now operated at Hunstanton,
whilst the second was laid up abroad. The three other Lang Wheels Flying
Coasters were as follows: new to Butlins at Littlehampton, new to H. and J. Shaw and
finally new to Kursaal amusement park.
John Collins' makes a debut, 1961, Birmingham Onion Fair.
John Collins' second machine, 1967, Birmingham Onion Fair.
Throughout 1967 and 1968 Bennetts placed advertisements
in World's Fair for their version of the Flying Coaster, a rather swanky
looking model with an art deco centrepiece. However, only 2 versions
were constructed, both going into the Pat Collins organisation. The first
one went in to Belle Vue with 'Baby' Pat, but was quickly bought by Bernard Cole, whilst
the second one was travelled by Eddie Monte (husband of Flora Collins) but later sold to Rhyl followed
by a string of owners (since exported abroad).
Manufacture of the Flying Coaster calmed down, and the
next batch of machines were the fine imported version of the Mack company.
These machines were still 8 car Flying Coasters, but travelled in a clockwise
direction. The three Mack machines were all stationed at North West coastal
resorts; Blackpool, Morecambe and Southport – with the first machine
later travelled by L. Silcock, the second purchased by W. A. Taylor and
the third machine disappearing in the 1990s.
Early Bennetts Coaster, 1971.
Laurence Silcock's Mack Coaster, 1978.
Arthur Silcock's Mack Coaster, 1983.
Pollards and Maxwell took up manufacture of Flying Coasters
in the 1970s, with Pollards establishing a functional design in the modern
style and a momentum to develop the machine to better standards. The first
Pollards machine was delivered to Arthur Armstrong in 1972 and quickly
sold to George Burrows. This initial version was an 8-car design, and
a further six of these appeared up until 1977: to Reuben Wilson, to John
Crole (since exported), to T. Saunt (now packed up), to D. Traylen, to
B. Matthews and to Raymond Codona. In 1978 Pollards changed design to
a more functional 9-car version, and quickly began to establish the ride
as the "Ski Jump" rather than Flying Coaster – in turn
adding the massive light up centres. Seven of these machines were manufactured
up until 1982 and all of these still operate in the UK.
Pollard's first Coaster, here with George Burrows, 1978.
By the late 1970s Pollards had developed the Ski Jump - lights and fibre-glass
throughout - Mellors machine.
Maxwell's
foray into Flying Coasters was less of a success. They developed a 2-hill
10-car version, producing models for J.R. and L. White, Bensons and Walton
Pier Company. Even though all of these machines are still prominent the
technical problems associated with the first of their machines, built
in 1976, contributed in no small amount to the end of this once magnificent
company.
The Maxwell built 'Concorde Flyer' - innovative but ill-fated.
Cadoxoton built a single Flying Coaster, a 9-car model
for Porthcawl which replaced the park's long standing Lang Wheels model
in 1984, and this machine still travels. Keith Taylor's "California
Surf Rider" was a somewhat exotically themed self-built model, last
travelled by Henry Scarrott, although machines built for/by W. Murphy,
Clacton Pier and the Trickett family, do not appear to have survived.
The only example of a Cadoxton Coaster.
Keith Turner's exotically themed California Surf Rider.
Walter Murphy's seldom seen self-built machine, 1982.
Clacton Pier, 1978, possibly an American import?
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