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Flight Deck getting rough?


jcgoble3
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OK, maybe my memory is failing me here, but my memories of Flight Deck from 2010 and even Opening Day this year was of a ride that was fast and intense, but super-smooth. Yesterday, I rode Flight Deck, and it was so rough that I could barely keep my head from banging against the restraint. As I was getting ready to board, I also noticed as my train was pulling into the station that a couple of the wheels on the loading gate side of the front car were apparently not touching the track, as they were not turning when the train was moving forward.

Has anybody else noticed this, or am I imagining things?

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OK, maybe my memory is failing me here, but my memories of Flight Deck from 2010 and even Opening Day this year was of a ride that was fast and intense, but super-smooth. Yesterday, I rode Flight Deck, and it was so rough that I could barely keep my head from banging against the restraint. As I was getting ready to board, I also noticed as my train was pulling into the station that a couple of the wheels on the loading gate side of the front car were apparently not touching the track, as they were not turning when the train was moving forward.

Has anybody else noticed this, or am I imagining things?

I felt like the ride was really smooth on Sunday! The roughness may have came from a wheel that needed replaced. As for the wheels not touching the track, this is normal. The wheels on the side of the trains are used to follow the track when it curves one way then another, etc. There are multiple wheels that keep the train on the track and depending on the location on the wheel to follow the track. I've noticed it!

No worries!

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It's an old Arrow, what more can you expect. :) I rode Vortex and I felt the ride was going to fall apart. As much as I have really enjoyed Vortex and Flight deck over the years, I feel their end is near. I would say Vortex before FD. So enjoy them (if you can lol) while they are still here. :)

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I wonder how much "setup" there is on coaster trains/wheels and how much difference might come from which maintenance guy is doing the work. Is there any adjustability in the distance of the side wheels to the track?

Edit to add - FD and Vortex haven't felt any different to me this year. Flying Ace on the other hand ...

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the only thing i think is really rough on Vortex is those sudden turns like when the train is at an angle and suddenly is strait upright. fd seemed fine the times i rode it this year if anything it seemed more enjoyable than i remember, and not because of the paint job :-)

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It's really just a person's opinion if something is rough or not. If a person likes roughness, then he probably won't notice it as much as people who hate it.

Good point. I like a little roughness, but only on woodies; steel coasters shouldn't be rough IMO.

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[...] but is is an Arrow, what do you expect?

I would expect... well, actually, I have yet to educate myself about the differences between the various coaster manufacturers, so I wouldn't know what to expect from certain manufacturers. Especially since my experience with coasters is currently limited to just those at KI plus Rock 'n' Roller Coaster at Disney World, though that will soon change with trips to Holiday World (this coming weekend) and Cedar Point (in three weeks).

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"I have a simple answer to help with a rough ride..Lean Forward. Trust me, it helps."

Any Tips on how to save your back from The Beasts rath. i can only ride the very front car very front seat on The Beast as if i ride any further back i cant walk (without being in pain) for the rest of the day

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I have a simple answer to help with a rough ride..Lean Forward. Trust me, it helps.

That's nice, but it seems to me that it wouldn't work on a ride with OTSRs like Flight Deck, since the restraint would prevent you from leaning forward.

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"I have a simple answer to help with a rough ride..Lean Forward. Trust me, it helps."

Any Tips on how to save your back from The Beasts rath. i can only ride the very front car very front seat on The Beast as if i ride any further back i cant walk (without being in pain) for the rest of the day

If you sit on a back row of a car, you're sitting on top of the back wheel, and usually you find the experience much more rough. Front seats on cars aren't as bad since the front wheel is more under your feet than your seat, but for the best ride, sit in a middle row of a car, since there's no wheel there.

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Any Tips on how to save your back from The Beasts rath. i can only ride the very front car very front seat on The Beast as if i ride any further back i cant walk (without being in pain) for the rest of the day

Two tips for The Beast (and any coaster, really): 1) Sit in the middle (not on a wheel) row; 2) I push really hard onto the floor of the car with my feet. This way the upward force of the train is directed into your legs some, where it can be absorbed, rather than just up through your rear end into your spine. I've found it's just a good way to spread the forces around, rather than just letting my back do it all (you would naturally be able to do this if you were standing up).

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I wonder how much "setup" there is on coaster trains/wheels and how much difference might come from which maintenance guy is doing the work. Is there any adjustability in the distance of the side wheels to the track?

There's not much "setup", as you called it, on the wheels. In answer to your question, no there is not. At least not on Top Gun.

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My simple question is, Truly, How long will Kings Islands Arrow Coasters even be around? With the company now being defunct, Its gotta be getting harder and harder to find parts for them.. Honestly, How long do you think Vortex and flight deck have left?

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^ If we're basing longevity on part availability, then KI's Arrows will be around for quite a while. S&S Power, who bought Arrow's assets* after they went bankrupt, continues to make parts for Arrow coasters.

*I don't know if "assets" is technically the right word... I don't speak Corporate Takeover. Basically, most everything that used to be Arrow's became S&S's, as I understand it.

EDIT: Delirium13 beat me to it! Meh, I tried.

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"I have a simple answer to help with a rough ride..Lean Forward. Trust me, it helps."

Any Tips on how to save your back from The Beasts rath. i can only ride the very front car very front seat on The Beast as if i ride any further back i cant walk (without being in pain) for the rest of the day

I have no idea why this works for me on Beast but it does: We ride in the front seat of different cars. We prefer a view of the woods instead of the back of heads. I cross my legs at my shins( I think that helps with the curve of the lap bar), hold the cushion across the front and lean forward. It really makes the ride smoother no matter what car we ride in. Also works on Racer, and used to on SOB, which is where I first learned this from another rider.

"Hands Up" on an airtime steel coaster is fun, "Hands Up" on a classic woodie or an old school steel with OTSR's is PAINFUL!!

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But so worth it!

Now that's a perfect example of how restraints can make or break a ride. Can you imagine it with OTRS?

Some of us don't have to imagine. Some of us remember quite well when OL:FoF had OTSRs. OUCH!

That made for a painful ride, and now it's much more enjoyable.

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OK, maybe my memory is failing me here, but my memories of Flight Deck from 2010 and even Opening Day this year was of a ride that was fast and intense, but super-smooth. Yesterday, I rode Flight Deck, and it was so rough that I could barely keep my head from banging against the restraint. As I was getting ready to board, I also noticed as my train was pulling into the station that a couple of the wheels on the loading gate side of the front car were apparently not touching the track, as they were not turning when the train was moving forward.

Has anybody else noticed this, or am I imagining things?

I definitely noticed the wheels were not moving.

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