Flying theater

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A flying theater is a themed entertainment technology and adjacent show style. It is a type of simulator ride 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.

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There are two different forms: the suspended flying theater, in which rigging similar to a fly system 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. [1] [2] [3]

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 feeling of flying.

History

The concept of panoramic flying theaters as it is understood today was introduced by The Walt Disney Company in 2001 in their Disney's California Adventure theme park as Soarin' Over California. 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" (Universal Studios Florida) but also for smaller venues like museums (e.g.: Washington Revelations (Museum of The Bible, Washington D.C., shopping malls and family entertainment centers.

List of flying theater attractions

NameParkLocationManufacturerOpenedStatusRef
Soarin' Over California Disney California Adventure Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Dynamic Structures February 8, 2001Closed
Soarin' Epcot Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Dynamic Structures May 5, 2005Operating
Taiwan Formosa E-DA Theme Park Flag of the Republic of China.svg  Taiwan Brogent Technologies  [ zh ]2010Operating
Viaggio in Italia Ferrari World Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates HUSS Park Attractions 2011Operating
FlyOver Canada Canada Place Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Brogent TechnologiesJune 29, 2013Operating
Fuji Airlines Fuji-Q Highland Flag of Japan.svg  Japan Brogent TechnologiesJuly 2014Operating
Batman Dark Flight Studio City Macau Flag of Macau.svg  Macau Kraftwerk Living Technologies GmbH2015Closed
FlyOver America Mall of America Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Brogent TechnologiesApril 19, 2016Operating
Soaring Over The Horizon Shanghai Disneyland Park Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China Dynamic Structures June 16, 2016Operating
Soarin' Around the World Disney California Adventure Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Dynamic Structures June 17, 2016Operating
Wings Over Washington Pier 57 Seattle Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Dynamic Structures December 11, 2016Operating [4]
Agila: The EKsperience Enchanted Kingdom Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines SimEx-Iwerks December 11, 2016Operating [5]
L'Extraordinaire Voyage Futuroscope Flag of France.svg  France Dynamic Structures December 2016Operating
Fly Over China Shang Shun theme park Flag of the Republic of China.svg  Taiwan Brogent Technologies2016Operating
Krrish: Hero's Flight Bollywood Park Dubai Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates Unknown2016Operating
Voletarium Europa-Park Flag of Germany.svg  Germany Brogent TechnologiesJune 3, 2017Operating
Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon Universal Studios FloridaFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States Dynamic Motion RidesApr 6, 2017Operating
Flying DreamsFerrari LandFlag of Spain.svg  Spain Brogent TechnologiesApril 2017Operating [6]
This is HollandThis is HollandFlag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Vekoma & Brogent TechnologiesOctober 2017Operating
Washington Revelations Museum of The Bible, Washington D.C.Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Dynamic Motion RidesNov 17, 2017Operating
i-Ride Kaohsiung Kaohsiung Software Technology Park  [ zh ]Flag of the Republic of China.svg  Taiwan Brogent Technologies2017Operating
Fly Over China Beijing Shijingshan Amusement Park Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China Brogent TechnologiesSep 2018Operating
Beautiful HunanTongguan Kiln International Cultural & Tourism CenterFlag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China Cavu DesignworksOct 2018Operating
i-Ride Taipei Breeze Nanshan Shopping Center Flag of the Republic of China.svg  Taiwan Brogent Technologies2018Operating
The Flyer - San Francisco Pier 39 Flag of the United States.svg  United States TriotechJan 2019Operating
Godzilla the Ride: Giant Monsters Ultimate Battle Seibu-en Flag of Japan.svg  Japan Brogent TechnologiesMay 19, 2021Operating
SkyFly: Soar AmericaThe Island in Pigeon Forge Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Dynamic AttractionsJuly 8, 2021Operating [7]
Soaring: Fantastic Flight Tokyo DisneySea Flag of Japan.svg  Japan Dynamic Structures July 23, 2019Operating
Sky Voyager Dreamworld Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Brogent TechnologiesAugust 23, 2019Operating [8]
FlyOver Iceland Reykjavík Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland Brogent TechnologiesSeptember 2019Operating
Flying Over IndonesiaTrans Studio Bali, DenpasarFlag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia Dynamic AttractionsDec 12, 2019Operating
Jiangsu in the AirWuxi Sunac LandFlag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China Simtec2019Operating
Masters of Flight Legoland Florida Flag of the United States.svg  United States Brogent Technologies2019Operating
VolariumCinecittà, RomeFlag of Italy.svg  Italy Simtec2019Operating
Chongqing in the AirChongqing Sunac LandFlag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China Simtec2020Operating
Flight of the Sky Lion Legoland Windsor Resort Flag of England.svg  England Brogent TechnologiesMay 2021Operating
FlyOver Las Vegas Las Vegas Flag of the United States.svg  United States Brogent TechnologiesSeptember 2021Operating
RiseNY Times Square Flag of the United States.svg  United States Brogent TechnologiesDecember 2021Operating
Flyover Chicago Chicago Flag of the United States.svg  United States Brogent Technologies2024Operating
Global Journey Quancheng Euro Park Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China UnknownUnknownOperating [9]
Timeless Flight Hong Kong 11SKIES Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong Brogent Technologies2024
Wings of Mercury Mercury Towers Flag of Malta.svg  Malta Simtec2024
Flying Over Uzbekistan Tashkent City Park Flag of Uzbekistan.svg  Uzbekistan DOF ROBOTIC2019Operating

List of companies

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References

  1. InPark Magazine - "Ride Systems of Flying Theaters"
  2. blooloop - "Flying theaters: a soaring demand (and it's not just theme parks)"
  3. Kraftwerk Living Technologies: Flying Theater
  4. Wings Over Washington official website
  5. Enchanted Kingdom official website - Agila the EKsperience
  6. "Flying Dreams- Atracciones Ferrari Land" (in Spanish). PortAventura. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  7. "SkyFly opens as main attraction at The Island in Pigeon Forge" . Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  8. "Sky Voyager". Dreamworld. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  9. "天空之城" (in Chinese). Quancheng Euro Park. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  10. "Dynamic Motion Rides: Flying for all".