Exciting New Ride Will Make US Debut This Fall
The fun. The rides. The beer. All of this and more come together in a blue and white borage of Bavarian tradition called Oktoberfest. Between six and seven million people visit the festival in only sixteen days. Amusement industry experts call it the world’s proving grounds for amusement rides, because if a thrilling attraction does well here it will be popular across the globe.
Bavarian showman Alexander Goetzke recently purchased the world’s first portable StarFlyer from Funtime of Austria (www.funtime.com.au) and debuted it at the 172nd Oktoberfest in Munich Germany. The Goetzke’s have a ride tradition dating back decades and Alexander continued their proud ride history with the acquisition StarFlyer. Standing 52 meters (170 feet) tall the well-lit attraction was the hit of the world’s largest fair.
“It was pretty amazing,” laughed Goetzke. “We had to bring in extra security and additional queuing because the line was so long. At one point it got to 80 meters. When that many people are waiting to ride you know you have a hit on your hands.”
The StarFlyer was bedecked with lights and could be seen all over die Wiesen (the traditional Oktoberfest grounds). Even competing against two freefall towers, one fifty-meter Ferris wheel, and two gigantic roller coasters the StarFlyer held its own. The attraction became an instantly recognizable symbol across the Munich skyline at night. Yellow and green lights outlined the signs while rainbow-colored sweeps whirled through the fall skies. Twenty-four guests flew in pairs of two and enjoyed the sight of the fairgrounds from exciting heights as they spun at 80 km/h (50 mph).
Americans will soon enjoy this exciting attraction as North America’s first StarFlyer opens this fall in Orlando, Florida. It will spin next to another Funtime creation, the Slingshot, at the Magical Midway on famous I-Drive. Funtime’s Brian Mirfin said that the famed tourist destination was a great spot for the ride’s debut. “We looked around the country and but decided that Orlando was a natural spot to debut the StarFlyer because of its heavy tourist traffic. It will be another fun installation and the StarFlyer’s great light package will be visible all over the city.”
Funtime of Austria is represented by Ride Entertainment Systems in Stevensville, Maryland.