Tranan (English: The Crane) is a suspended roller coaster located at Skara Sommarland amusement park in Sweden.[3] The ride was manufactured by S&S Worldwide (now S&S – Sansei Technologies) as the company's only Free Fly model, and it opened to the public in May 2009.
History
On 1 July 2008, a patent was filed by Timothy R. Jacobi and Stanley J. Checketts for a "Longitudinally Spinning Suspension Roller Coaster".[4] This concept was later revealed to be a new model of roller coaster by S&S Worldwide named the Free Fly.[5]
Shortly after the filing of the patent, Parks & Resorts Scandinavia announced their plans to add new roller coasters at three of their parks in 2009.[6] This announcement included Tranan at Skara Sommarland which was the world's first Free Fly roller coaster.[6] After a period of construction from late 2008 through to early 2009, Tranan officially opened to the public on 29 May 2009.[7][8]
Ride experience
One of Tranan's trains passing overhead
The ride begins with a left turn out of the station.[9] Upon reaching the top of the 57-foot-tall (17 m) chain lift hill,[8] the train descends down a small dip into a series of helices and track inversions (one clockwise and one anti-clockwise).[2][10] For the majority of the ride, the vehicles remain vertical with only slight banking occurring on various turns.[4][10] Riders therefore do not experience traditional roller coaster inversions.[8]On-ride photos can be purchased following the ride.[1]
Ride system
Tranan features four trains, each consisting of two, bobsleigh-style vehicles.[5] These vehicles each seat four people inline and are suspended from a central, cantilevered support structure.[4] The two vehicles, which rest on either side of a roller coaster track, feature an air suspension system which allows for smooth, longitudinal rotations.[4][11] The ride was installed by Ride Entertainment Group.[12]
Reception
Tranan and the wider Free Fly concept was well received by park guests and the amusement industry alike.[13]
In late 2009, the Free Fly concept won the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions Best New Product Award in the Major Theme/Amusement Park Ride/Attraction category as well as the Impact Award.[13][14] During 2010, S&S Worldwide was in discussions with several amusement parks about the opening of their own Free Fly rides the following year.[13] However, as of January 2013, no other Free Fly rides have been built.[15] S&S – Sansei Technologies have cited the ride's relatively low operating capacity of 480 to 600 riders per hour as a contributing factor as to why the ride didn't take off.[16] As a potential market replacement, S&S Worldwide unveiled a new concept in 2012 which features trains seating between 24 and 32 riders.[16] Seats would face both backwards and forwards with the ride experience featuring the same longitudinal rotations performed by the Free Fly.[16]
^ ab"Free Fly opens in Sweden". Park World Online. Datateam Business Media Limited. 30 June 2009. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
^"Tranan" (in Swedish). Skara Sommarland. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
^ abcdUS application 20100326312, Jacobi, Timothy R. & Checketts, Stanley J., "Longitudinally Spinning Suspension Roller Coaster", published 30 December 2010, assigned to S&S Worldwide
