A Flying Theater is a
themed entertainment technology and adjacent show style. It is a type of
simulator ride
Simulator rides are a type of amusement park or fairground ride, where the audience is shown a movie while their seats move to correspond to the action on screen.
There are many types but they fall into the heading of entertainment unlike the ...
which consists of one or several motion systems and a large screen. This type of attraction is also known as Panoramic Flying Theaters. The illusion of flight is created through motion that is synchronized with a film. Sound and special effects are combined with the film to create realistic flying experiences.
There are 2 different forms: the suspended Flying Theater, in which rigging similar to a
fly system
A fly system, or theatrical rigging system, is a system of rope lines, blocks (pulleys), counterweights and related devices within a theater that enables a stage crew to fly (hoist) quickly, quietly and safely components such as curtains, lights ...
lifts seats into the projection of a film to create the illusion of flight. The other version uses a motion system-based platform with a dome-projection or a large curved screen.
Platform-based Flying Theaters allow 2 different forms of experience: either a traditional seated version and a version where guests are standing on the platform, leaning forward into body-supports to create a ‚fly-like-superman‘-feeling.
History
The concept of Panoramic Flying Theaters as it is understood today was introduced by The Walt Disney Company in 2001 in their „Disney California Adventure“- theme park as „Soarin’ Over California“
/sup>. The success of „Soarin’ Over California“ initiated a worldwide trend which led to more than 50 Panoramic Flying Theaters built between 2013 and 2021.
While the steel construction of suspended Flying Theaters, which is necessary to lift the seats with guests into the projection has to be quite large and massive, platform-based Flying Theaters can be operated in a more compact space, thus making both the seated as well as the standing version suitable not only for large installations like "Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon
Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon is a 3D motion-simulator at Universal Studios Florida based on Jimmy Fallon's tenure at ''The Tonight Show''. The ride was officially announced on the October 27, 2015 episode of ''The Tonight Show S ...
" (Universal Studios Florida
Universal Studios Florida (also known as Universal Studios or USF) is a theme park located in Orlando, Florida. Primarily themed to movies, television and other aspects of the entertainment industry, the park opened to the public on June 7, 1990 ...
) but also for smaller venues like museums (e.g.: â
Washington Revelations
€œ (Museum of The Bible
The Museum of the Bible is a museum in Washington D.C., owned by Museum of the Bible, Inc., a non-profit organization established in 2010 by the Green family. The museum documents the narrative, history, and impact of the Bible. It opened on No ...
, Washington D.C., shopping malls and family entertainment centers.
List of flying theater attractions
List of companies
*Dynamic Structures
Dynamic Structures of the World is an American company with a history of steel fabrication dating back to 1927. They create amusement rides, theme park rides, observatory telescopes and other complex steel structures.
History
Dynamic Structures ...
* Triotech
*Falcon's Treehouse
Falcon's Creative Group (also known under the name Falcon's Treehouse) is an experience design and theme park design company based in Orlando, Florida. The company was founded in 2000 by Cecil D. Magpuri, the current President and Chief Creative ...
* Soaring Attractions (acquired by Viad Corp
Viad Corp provides experiential leisure travel and face-to-face events in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe, and the United Arab Emirates via two divsions: GES and Pursuit.
Pursuit (formed in 2017) includes travel attractio ...
in 2016)
* Dynamic Motion Rides
*HUSS Park Attractions
HUSS Park Attractions (legal name: Huss Park Attractions GmbH) is a company that specializes in developing and manufacturing amusement rides at a factory in Budapest, Hungary.
History of the original Huss Company
HUSS Maschinenfabrik was a Ge ...
See also
*International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions
The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) represents over 6,000 amusement-industry members in more than 100 countries worldwide and operates several global attractions-industry trade shows. Its annual IAAPA Expo in ...
*Themed Entertainment Association
The Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) is an international non-profit association that represents creators, developers, designers and producers of themed entertainment. It is also noted for its THEA Awards, which were founded in 1995 and ar ...
References
{{Amusement rides
Simulator rides