The Flying Cobrasis a steelboomerang roller coastermanufactured byVekoma.It is located atCarowindsinCharlotte, North Carolina,in the County Fair section of the park. The Flying Cobras was the first roller coaster addition to Carowinds following the park's purchase byCedar Fairin 2006. It originally debuted in 1996 atGeauga Lakein Ohio asThe Mind Eraser,and was later known asHead Spinfrom 2004 to 2007 after Geauga Lake was purchased by Cedar Fair. After Geauga Lake closed in 2007, the coaster was relocated to Carowinds in 2009 and renamedCarolina Cobra.Following the 2016 season, the roller coaster was refurbished and renamed again in 2017.
| The Flying Cobras | |
|---|---|
| Previously known as The Mind Eraser atGeauga Lake/Six Flags Ohio/Six Flags Worlds of Adventure (1996–2003) Head Spin at Geauga Lake (2004–2007) Carolina Cobra atCarowinds(2009–2016) | |
 | |
 Top: Former logo at Carowinds. Bottom: The Flying Cobras when it was Head Spin at Geauga Lake | |
| Carowinds | |
| Park section | County Fair |
| Coordinates | 35°06′09″N80°56′34″W/ 35.102582°N 80.942915°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | March 28, 2009 |
| Replaced | Flying Super Saturator |
| Geauga Lake | |
| Coordinates | 41°20′59″N81°22′44″W/ 41.349632°N 81.378940°W |
| Status | Removed |
| Opening date | May 10, 1996 |
| Closing date | September 16, 2007 |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Steel–Shuttle–Boomerang |
| Manufacturer | Vekoma |
| Model | Boomerang |
| Lift/launch system | Catch car and chain lift hill |
| Height | 116.5 ft (35.5 m) |
| Drop | 108 ft (33 m) |
| Length | 935 ft (285 m) |
| Speed | 47 mph (76 km/h) |
| Inversions | 3 (each traversed twice) |
| Duration | 1:48 |
| Max vertical angle | 65° |
| Capacity | 760 riders per hour |
| G-force | 5.2 |
| Height restriction | 48 in (122 cm) |
| Trains | Single train with 7 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 28 riders per train. |
 Fast Laneavailable | |
| The Flying Cobras at RCDB | |
History
editIn early October 1995,Geauga Lakewas allowed to build a roller coaster over 125 feet (38 m) with help fromGeauga Countycommunity. Officials agreed not to enforce an 80-foot (24 m) height limit and the park had dropped two lawsuits.[1]
At the time, the park had just been sold toPremier Parks.Geauga Lake's new owner would spend $9 million on attractions for the 1996 season. Two rides would open that year, with one being aVekomaBoomerangcoaster named The Mind Eraser and the other being anIntaminriver rapids ridenamed Grizzly Run.[2]
The Mind Eraser originally had a turquoise track and white supports. In 2004, Geauga Lake was sold toCedar Fairand the coaster was renamed to Head Spin.[3]
After Geauga Lake closed in 2007, Head Spin remained standing but was inactive in 2008.[4]Later that year, an announcement stated that Head Spin would be relocated toCarowinds,where it reopened as Carolina Cobra on March 28, 2009.[5]It was built in an area of the park called "County Fair", which was formerly housed byFlying Super Saturator,a roller coaster that was dismantled after the 2008 season.
On August 18, 2016, Carowinds announced the expansion of County Fair for the 2017 season, which included the refurbishment of Carolina Cobra. It was renamed The Flying Cobras to pay tribute to the classic air shows that were once seen at the Carolina County Fair. It also received a new paint scheme with blue track and white supports.[6]
Ride experience
editThe Flying Cobras is one of over 50 Boomerang coasters installed byVekomaaround the world, but it is the first roller coaster to feature the company's re-designed MK-1212 trains. After dispatching, the train is pulled backwards up the 116.5-foot (35.5 m) lift hill. After that, riders are dropped 108 feet (33 m) down, fly back through the station and into acobra rollelement. The riders then are taken through a 360-degree verticalloopand are sent up a second 116.5-foot (35.5 m) hill. The riders pause, and are sent down to do the full circuit again backwards.
Incidents
editOn October 18, 2009, Carolina Cobra's second lift hill failed to catch, resulting in a rollback that couldn't make it back through the second set of inversions.[7]The passengers were able to exit the ride onto a nearby platform. All of the passengers were taken to first aid. Seven of the riders were released back into the park; the eighth was taken to a local hospital and examined. No serious injuries were reported.
References
edit- ^"Township OKs roller coaster".News-Journal.October 4, 1995.RetrievedDecember 13,2020– via Newspapers.
- ^"Geauga Lake's 119-year history".22 September 2007.
- ^Marden, Duane."Head Spin (Geauga Lake & Wildwater Kingdom)".Roller Coaster DataBase.RetrievedOctober 6,2020.
- ^Stevenson, John (October 9, 2017)."Inside an Abandoned Geauga Lake with Photographer Alice Heart".Coaster101.RetrievedDecember 26,2020.
- ^"Carowinds 2009: Carolina Cobra".NewsPlusNotes. 10 September 2008.
- ^"The Carolina Cobra is getting a makeover with a new name and theme for 2017. Under its new name, The Flying Cobras, it will pay tribute to the classic air shows that one would see at a Carolina County Fair".Facebook.Carowinds.
- ^"Carowinds Coaster Breaks Down with Passengers on Board - Charlotte News Story - WSOC Charlotte".Archived fromthe originalon 2009-10-20.Retrieved2009-10-26.
External links
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