Flying Ace Aerial Chase
Flying Ace Aerial Chase is a Suspended Family Coaster designed and built by Vekoma. The roller coaster debuted at Kings Island in 2001 and was followed by another identical installation that launched at Carowinds in 2003.[1][2] Originally, both rides opened as Rugrats Runaway Reptar, themed to the Nickelodeon animated television series Rugrats and its two-part episode "Runaway Reptar". Following Cedar Fair's acquisition of both parks in 2006, both were eventually re-themed to the Snoopy vs. the Red Baron comic strip series in the 1960s by Peanuts creator Charles Schulz, undergoing a name change in the process. The Carowinds installation was renamed Kiddy Hawk for the 2018 season.
| Flying Ace Aerial Chase | |
|---|---|
| Previously known as Rugrats Runaway Reptar, Flying Ace Aerial Chase | |
 Flying Ace Aerial Chase when it was known as Rugrats Runaway Reptar at Kings Island | |
| Carowinds | |
| Park section | Camp Snoopy |
| Coordinates | 35.102070°N 80.940689°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | March 22, 2003 |
| Flying Ace Aerial Chase at Carowinds at RCDB Pictures of Flying Ace Aerial Chase at Carowinds at RCDB | |
| Kings Island | |
| Park section | Planet Snoopy |
| Coordinates | 39.341773°N 84.269114°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | April 7, 2001 |
| Flying Ace Aerial Chase at Kings Island at RCDB Pictures of Flying Ace Aerial Chase at Kings Island at RCDB | |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Steel – Family – Inverted |
| Manufacturer | Vekoma |
| Model | Suspended Family Coaster 342m |
| Lift/launch system | Tire propelled lift hill |
| Height | 49 ft (15 m) |
| Length | 1,122 ft (342 m) |
| Speed | 26 mph (42 km/h) |
| Inversions | 0 |
| Duration | 1:30 |
| Capacity | 650 riders per hour |
| G-force | 2.2 |
| Height restriction | 44–76 in (112–193 cm) |
| Trains | Single train with 10 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in a single row for a total of 20 riders per train. |
 Fast Lane available at Kings Island only | |
 Must transfer from wheelchair | |
History
Kings Island
Flying Ace Aerial Chase opened to the public on April 7, 2001[3] as Rugrats Runaway Reptar. This was Kings Island's fourth kids' coaster earning the park the title: "Kid's Coaster Capital of the World!". That same year, the Kings Mills Log Flume was refurbished and rethemed to Nickelodeon and was named The Wild Thornberry's River Adventure. Those two new rides formed a new area called Nickelodeon Central. This area was separate from the regular Hanna-Barbera children's area, but it was still a kids' area. It was not until 2006 that the rest of the Hanna-Barbera land was transformed into one kids' area, called Nickelodeon Universe. This change did not affect the two already existing rides in Nickelodeon Central, since they already had the Nickelodeon theme. In 2010, Nickelodeon Universe became Planet Snoopy, and changed the ride's name to Flying Ace Aerial Chase to fit the Snoopy theme. The support beams of the ride were repainted from green to orange.[4]
Carowinds
When Rugrats Runaway Reptar became so immensely popular at Paramount's Kings Island, the then-owners, Paramount, decided to build a copy of the ride at Carowinds. Rugrats Runaway Reptar opened in 2003 at Paramount's Carowinds. The ride is exactly the same, paint color and all. The only difference is the color of the shoulder restraints. At Carowinds, the restraints are red and perhaps more bulky. At Kings Island, the restraints are yellow and have more padding. From 2010 through 2017, the ride was named Flying Ace Aerial Chase. For the 2018 transition from Planet Snoopy to Camp Snoopy, the name was changed to Kiddy Hawk, and was re-painted light blue and tan.
Ride layout
As the train comes out of the station, it makes a 90 degree turn to the right and starts up the tire drive lift hill. As the train exits the lift hill, it is sent on a double helix to the left. From there, the train makes its way under the lift hill and over to the top of the station, making the riders feel as if they could touch it with their feet. Then it turns right and travels alongside of the lift hill and then turns right 180 degrees. At this point the train is very close to the ground. Then, it turns 180 degrees to the left into the activating brakes.
References
- Marden, Duane. "Flying Ace Aerial Chase (Kings Island)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 12, 2010.
- Marden, Duane. "Kiddy Hawk (Carowinds)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 12, 2010.
- "Rugrats Runaway Reptar". KingsIslandCentral.com. Archived from the original on January 1, 2012. Retrieved December 10, 2011.
- "Flying Ace Aerial Chase". Kings Island. Archived from the original on April 18, 2010. Retrieved October 27, 2011.