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Safety investigation demonstrating the inadequate design:

No intention of hijacking the thread, but just some information on Flight Commander and the accident... Flight Commander was the country's fourth Intamin Flight Trainer when it opened in Coney Mall on the former spot of Zodiac in April of 1990. It was part of $4.5-million in expansions that year ($2-million for just it) and it simulated flying a jet. Riders used a small joystick to raise, lower, and flip their ride capsules at a height of up to 62-feet. The attraction was designed by Steven Van Velson of Zurich, Switzerland. The minute-and-a-half ride had twenty two-person ride vehicles. The pods were equipped with a padded u-shaped harness and hip bar, the harness including a double spring-loaded dog-and-ratchet system, while the lap bar had three different backup features. The harness was not initially planned, but only added after it was discovered lateral forces would be experienced on the ride. Additional safety features included a crew of five operators who could emergency stop the ride at any point, vehicles that returned to an upright position after only a few seconds of being inverted, and returning to an upright position prior to the ride returning to the loading position. The ride had a minimum height requirement of 48-inches and was inspected twice daily, with these inspections lasting up to three hours. The attraction was also inspected by Ohio Agriculture Department on April 12, 1990, two days prior to its debut. On June 9, 1991, at approximately 9:45pm, an intoxicated 32-year-old Candy Taylor from Toledo, Ohio boarded the ride. She was visiting the park with two friends, and the trio planned on finishing their day at Flight Commander. The Taylor's two friends boarded the attraction and rode while she finished her beer. She boarded the next cycle, one of the last ones of the night. Taylor was in capsule number four. During the ride's fifth revolution, she slipped out from underneath the harness. She grabbed onto the restraint with her right hand, but was still flung from the ride, landing in nearby shrubbery. The ride was immediately stopped and the park's paramedics were quickly called. A doctor visiting the park with her family performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation on Taylor until paramedics arrived, which took approximately 30 minutes (they were preoccupied with a separate accident in Oktoberfest). She was eventually airlifted to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Ohio, where she was declared dead an hour after the accident. The ride and surrounding area was closed off the following day, and similar rides at Great America, Knott's Berry Farm, and Kings Dominion all voluntarily shut-down. Representatives of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Warren County Sheriff's Department, and Ohio Department of Agriculture all arrived at the park for inspections of the attraction, and the ride's creator, Steven Van Velson, arrived in Cincinnati on June 11. The park requested that both employees and guests who had witnessed the accident call a toll free number to be interviewed. Over 50 witnesses from both accidents were interviewed. The park also offered assistance to employees suffering from distress. On June 12, the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced plans to investigate. It was operated for the first time since the accident that day. Afterwards, capsule four was removed and disassembled for investigation. Additional capsules were also removed and disassembled the following day. They were all stored in a room on Kings Island property. The investigation lasted six weeks before the cause of the accident was determined. The lack of a seat divider, the woman riding alone, and the adjacent restraint being left unlocked were all factors that resulted in the woman's death. Taylor had a blood alcohol level at 0.30 percent when thrown from the ride, which also played a role. Modifications made before the ride reopened the following year included the addition of a seat divider, a lengthened lap bar, a relocated joystick, and an inoperable joystick if both restraints were left unlocked. The ride reopened on April 11 of 1992. That December, the Taylor's family and Kings Island agreed to a settlement of $336,500. In February of 1993, the family sued Intamin Inc. for $8.8-million. The park restricted alcohol sales to only the International Restaurant and Picnic Grove in 1993, although the park said the June 9, 1991 accident did not affect this decision. This restriction has since been lifted. The ride last operated in 1995 before being dismantled. In the years since, attractions that have taken the same spot are Launch Pad, EuroBobbles, and now the Dinosaurs Alive! party pavilion. The attraction's former queue structure still exist and is currently used for storage. Other features of the ride, including blue lights placed around the platform, also remain.

I just want to say as a new member to this forum, going through these pictures have brought back great memories and provided me a little peek at history as well. Keep up the awesome work!

This was posted as Kings Island's photo of the day with the caption: This is probably the most exciting news regarding 2013 to me. http://www.visitkingsisland.com/blog-article/online-fun/Kings-Island-Photo-of-the-Day-2-21-13-30

There is now.

I'm starting to wonder if the clock above Festhaus with the people who moved around (I obviously don't know what they are called) will work this year. I can picture Mr. Ouimet getting his first tour of Kings Island and asking why it doesn't work.

Im super happy to finally see some work being done on the west side of the park. Now if only we could do something about that stupid metal-ball-throwing ride across the street from "Christian Moerlein Bier Garten".

Flight Commander was fun, unless the rider happened to be very, very drunk.

Latest update with Antarctica. May 24th Grand Opening date. Made a loop around the park last week for Bands, Brews and BBQ...it's looks VERY good over there. Quite a transformation from the very dated Penguin Plaza we were all used to! http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/seaworld/os-dewayne-bevil-seaworld-antarctica-20130221,0,7506320.column Check out the pictures, incredible detail going into the rockwork! - Todd

I certainly would like that.I hope the burrito shack stays in place, but some Cincinnati Goetta nearby would be grand, too. Especially with CM Beer.

Well you are 5'11" - same height as my dad and he's 210. He fits on every ride perfectly. If you were say, 5'4" it would be a different story... well im 6-2 270 some rides i can ride some i cant i think Kings Island should redo all there rides so us big ppl should be able ride they better But what if they redid all the rides and excluded little people (5'2" 100 lbs.)? That would be like my saying to retrofit all the rides with big huge comfort soft pillows so I don't get buffeted. That would be an expensive wish, and besides, I literally get more bang for the buck than bigger people with every ride.

For people attending this event, I highly recommend following the Central Tip on this page - "For the best "airtime," ride in the very last car of the rear-facing train."

Well you are 5'11" - same height as my dad and he's 210. He fits on every ride perfectly. If you were say, 5'4" it would be a different story... well im 6-2 270 some rides i can ride some i cant i think Kings Island should redo all there rides so us big ppl should be able ride they better That is one thing I very much enjoy about Disney parks - they make the rides accessible for just about any body type. As someone who is 6' 5", 245, that is very much appreciated. I have been able to ride I think everything at KI, but was very close to not being able to do Drop Tower. I remember not being able to ride SOB early on, because there was literally no leg room. I was able to ride it a few years back (after the loop had been removed) and wished I would not have fit on it - I got off of there and felt like someone had beaten me with a pillow case full of door knobs.

I think this puts any rumors of KI getting rid of Oktoberfest to sleep. It looks like they want to improve this area which is fine with me

Oh my gosh, they're actually doing something related to theme of Oktoberfest. I do like this new Cedar Fair...

All sined up and ready for some colorful fun amongst friends. I enjoy new experences at my home park creating wonderful memories.

Looks pretty good! I would just say that for the top of the lift hill, the track rolls the other way. It should go to the right and not the left

I'm similarly proportioned to the OP, but I can't speak for a lot of the grown up rides since I am primarily there with my kids. My problem is my hips, which will always be there no matter how much weight I lose... just an aftereffect of having had two kids! Anyway, I could not ride Kite Eating Tree and the tiny train ride in Planet Snoopy (can't remember what it's called) because of the seatbelt. I've ridden pretty much everything else (that adults can ride) in Planet Snoopy, including Flying Ace Aerial Chase and Woodstock Express, with no problems. (I didn't try Linus' Launcher - my husband rode that and said it's not comfortable for adults no matter what your body size, especially men. ) But enough about kiddie rides. Now that my daughter is 48 inches, we have tried some of the bigger rides, and I haven't had any problems. I have ridden Flight Deck, Adventure Express, Back Lot Stunt Coaster, Scrambler, Monster, and Shake Rattle and Roll with her. (she doesn't want to try Vortex or Beast yet, so we haven't done that) One day last summer when crowds were low, I tried Diamondback by myself for the very first time. I did try the test seat first, and the worker had to push down to get it locked. Then the worker in the station did the same for me to ride. I probably would not try Zephyr, WindSeeker, or Drop Tower due to my size, but at my age (36) those are less appealing these days. I'm not sure about some other rides either.

I have held my tongue up until now...so here goes. Even though I am once again registered for this year's Coasting For Kids event, I did not join the KIC team. Why? The main reason is that we wouldn't even know about this event if we had to rely on the mods of this site. (The main site is still warning us that the 2012 season is about to end. ) I do not feel the need to promote a site that doesn't even care to help promote the cause itself. It is Jonathan that I thank for taking the time to keep us all updated on this event. (If the team were named Members Of KIC I probably would have joined! )

The Gator family has officially signed up with Team KIC!

Great Scott look at all of those notifications! To a quote about KI listening to us, they do and have over the years. Remember when I said that I would be happy with just a little bit of BB? Then what happened at the waterpark, there was bits of BB still there. Plus there is a guy on here that's named KingsIslandPR, but hey what do I know, it's probably just a coincidence. Also about the new idea, great work KI, keep it up, because this is a great step for a better Oktoberfest.

Between the Valentines Day thread, and the obsessive fanboy nonsense, I'm going to assume he's taking a break for a while.

JFKGNJDJSFIUWH. I said something like that when I heard SOB was going to be destroyed. This might make me just as happy!! I swear. They really do take into account what we have to say here.

I'm stunned, really.

That would have been a really long line! The line was routinely 3+ hours. You started next to the old petting zoo barn and up onto the boardwalk all the way back to the building. There were pagoda-like posts with information banners along the way, but they were hardly enough to pass the time. As an 8 year old, I remember waiting for 3 hours in the July heat only to get up the windows to see 2 sleeping lumps of fur. Talk about disappointment! This topic is a good chance to discuss just how much the western half of the zoo has changed in the last 15 years. The outdoor gorilla enclosure and reptile house are the only on-stage facilities that have remained. The original ape building from the 1950s still remains, with new additions on almost all sides, but the old part is invisible to guests. The old bear grottos, demolished after the near-escape of a polar bear in the early '90s, would be close to, but a bit inland, where the boat ride station is currently. Further east and bordering the river was the large Cheetah yard, with a sky bridge you could go on over the exhibit. The current playground was once the site of the "childrens zoo" building, with outdoor enclosures for small primates (spider monkeys) bridged by a sterile looking, 1950's style, tiled indoor exhibit with windows. The old Rainforest building was northwest of that, with the Wendy's nearby. The grassy yard in front of Manatee Coast and Discovery Reef used to be home to the Johnson Aquatic Center, razed in the last several years, and at its western end was a typical 1930's style "Monkey Island".

You're pretty similar to where I used to be (I lost a significant amount of weight last year before my wedding) and I found Diamondback, Beast and Racer to be pretty snug but still rideable. Firehawk was uncomfortable on my chest (still is, the girls didn't really go anywhere) and Drop Tower required some finessing to get them in. Flight of Fear and BLSC were sometimes a struggle to get the belt hooked because it required twisting, which knocked the bar up too high, but ride ops will buckle it for you so it wasn't a very big deal. Diamondback has a test seat before the ride entrance that you can try, and you can also go up the exit of any ride and ask to try the seat before waiting in line. Be aware, however, that each seat on the train will be a little different, so if you can just barely get it in one seat that doesn't guarantee you will fit in every seat. They are mechanical and only have to be within tolerances, not exact specifications. I don't want to get all preachy, but after barely fitting into Millennium Force in 2011 and almost having to take my first walk of shame, I decided it was time to make some major changes. Three pants sizes gone and I fit in everything with room to spare. I even had slack in the seatbelt of Top Thrill Dragster for the first time ever. Definitely something to consider. I'd be more than willing to direct you to some resources to help you with lifestyle changes that made all the difference to me.

When anyone quotes a post, as I just did, the timestamp in the quote header is five minutes ahead from the timestamp on the original post that was quoted. It seems to be consistent, both in terms of always occurring on every quote, and in terms of always being exactly a five-minute difference. Who's playing with the time machine?

This photo from "kifansite.com" kinda shows the un-level terrain of the former SOB area.

Why, just why does this thread make me want to just go and take a "brake" from KIC....

Well, you start of by paying the $25 registration fee, and then you have your fundraising page. The money you collect goes to Give Kids The World, which provides kids with life-threatening illnesses vacations with their families. You can ask your friends and family to help donate to your page. Once you have raised at least $75, you are able to go. The riding schudele is on the CFK website, but basically you can ride for the amount of time it lasts without getting off, and it's a lot of fun. We're also provided with lunch, a beast tour, and prizes for the top 3 fundraisers. It's a really fun event for a great cause.

In process or repairing.

11-10-08 I got into KIExtreme after following DB construction (really just land clearing at that point) for awhile. Then I started liking KIC better and I've been here ever since. I'm truly grateful for all this community has given me! There are some amazing people on here with a very diverse set of talents and knowledge bases. Thanks KIC!

Yes, you have to message an admin. Which reminds me, I feel pretty stupid now, because I've had three different names on KIC: Firehawk123, CincyMan98, and now, jdawg1998. Oh, God. Why.

Kings Island Racer off-season improvements..... Via Facebook Quote Kings Island Facebook "Carpenters spent today working on a section of track near the bottom of the first drop of The Racer roller coaster. In addition to track work, bent posts, batter braces and ledgers have been replaced this winter on the 41-year old ride. More than 97 million guests have taken a ride on The Racer since it opened in 1972, the most in park history. Its record year was 1976, when a park record 3,681,338 rides were given."

Join the club.

I was at CP and had a meeting with Mr. Ouimet about a potential job in their offices, and I left my résumé at home and he laughed at me. Worst. Dream. Ever.

I had kind of a scary dream about KI last night! I dreamed that I was at the park and was in line to ride Diamondback. It wasn't too crowded there, so I could pretty much have my choice of seats. Like always, when I have my choice of seats I choose the very back...it's so much fun! So I get on the ride and I strap myself in and the ride starts. We go up the lift hill and then down the first hill. The train is really flying down the track! It's such a thrill and I'm having such a good time. However, just as we get to the bottom of the first hill, I happen to look at the track and see that some parts of the track are eroding away, like actually rusting through. We go up the second hill, and then back down. I notice that the track is getting worse the further along we get. We're just about to head towards the turn around section when we hit a part of the track that's completely eroded/rusted through, so much so that the track has come disconnected from itself. The train actually skids off the track and into the grass! Amazingly no one is hurt. We're all pretty shaken up, but no one is injured. The next thing I remember is the fear that another train could be coming pretty soon and might hit us. We're still strapped into the train at this point! Now we're frantically trying to unlock the harnesses and get everyone off the train. We succeed and manage to get everyone off. Now we're just standing there in the field waiting for someone to notice and to come get us. I have no idea where this dream came from but it was pretty crazy! I woke up thinking, "What in the world?" I love KI dreams, even crazy ones like this!

A waterpark that doesn't suck. Oh wait, you said improvements, not miracles.

I just added ride Beast in the snow at night to my bucket list! Hey,it could happen!

Winter Fest with all roller coasters open.

This is for all Cedar Fair: Try to figure out ALL of the problems with the WindSeekers, and make the necessary adjustments, no matter how long it takes. I really like WS, and I hope they can find a permanent solution to the ride.

They should revive that one clock in Oktoberfest.