Fly-O-Plane
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| Fly-O-Plane | |
|---|---|
 Fly-O-Plane at Quartz Mountain Fun Park | |
| General statistics | |
| Manufacturer | Eyerly Aircraft Company |
| Designer | Lee Ulrich Eyerly |
| Model | Fly-O-Plane |
| Vehicle type | Plane |
| Vehicles | 8 |
| Riders per vehicle | 2 |
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The Fly-O-Plane is an amusement ride designed, built, and sold by the Eyerly Aircraft Company. Introduced in 1936,.[1] the ride was designed to mimic the feeling of an airplane roll[1].
Description[edit]
Originally filed as an "aerial merry go round",[2] the Fly-O-Plane consists of 8 airplane shaped vehicles, each seating up to two riders. Each ride vehicle is fixed to a sweep arm by the nose. The body of the ride vehicle is free to rotate about the nose cone. Each sweep arm is hinged near the top with a cable that pulls the arm into an elevated position[3]. A rotating spindle is used to tension the cables, thus raising the planes off the ground.
The restraint is of the standard Eyerly lapbar design[4], featuring a curved grab bar and a seatbelt stretched across the length of the passenger cabin. The restraint is locked in place by the door of the ride vehicle. When closed, an extended portion of the labpar pokes through a slot in the door where a pin is then inserted to keep it in place.
The "dashboard" of each plane has two connected steering yokes. These are used to control the pitch of wings fitted to the body of each ride vehicle. As the ride cycles, the wind resistance generated by the wings causes the plane to rotate. Skillful riders can use the pitch of the wings combined with shifting body weight to spin the planes in a near continuous spiral. This element of rider control allows the experience to vary between a simple family ride and a thrilling inverting flat ride.
Surviving examples[edit]
As of 2023, there are no operating examples of the Fly-O-Plane. Several still survive:
- The Fly-O-Plane at Lake Winnepesaukah in Rossville GA operated until 2017. The ride is available for sale at Intermark Ride Group[5] as of 2023
- The Fly-O-Plane at Quartz Mountain Fun Park in southwest Oklahoma is in unknown condition. The park reportedly closed in 2020 but was purchased by a private individual with the intention of restoring the rides. The status of the ride is currently unknown.
- A Fly-O-Plane is preserved at the Miracle of America Museum[6] located in Polson Montana. It has been modified by the owners such that the motion is limited, and it mostly remains a display piece[7].
See also[edit]
- Loop-O-Plane: the first Eyerly amusement ride
- Monster: another Eyerly ride
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Inc, Nielsen Business Media (1951-06-30). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Search this book on
- ↑ US2312533A, Eyerly, Lee U., "Aerial merry-go-round", issued 1943-03-02
- ↑ "Wing Ding". www.worldsoffun.org. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
- ↑ US2592879A, Eyerly, Lee U., "Safety device for amusement rides", issued 1952-04-15
- ↑ "Fly-O-Plane MJ1726 - Intermark Ride Group". intermarkridegroup.com. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
- ↑ "Museum Map". miracleofamericamuseum.org. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
- ↑ Fly-O-Plane: Vintage Amusement Ride, retrieved 2023-07-21
External links[edit]
- 2011 video showing Fly-O-Plane operating at Lake Winnepesaukah
- Theme Park Review Forum Post showing several photographs of the Fly-O-Plane at Lake Winnepesaukah
- Mason's Fly-O-Plane Video showing a Fly-O-Plane operating at Mason's Carnival Funfair.
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