Kentucky Flyer Rising
Construction continues by The Gravity Group on the Kentucky Flyer, the new roller coaster announced by Kentucky Kingdom to celebrate its 30th anniversary. Being built at a project cost of $5 million, it will be ready to ride on the park’s opening day in 2019.
“What better way to celebrate Kentucky Kingdom’s 30th anniversary than to add our sixth roller coaster,” remarked Adam Birkner, Kentucky Kingdom’s Senior Marketing Manager. “The Kentucky Flyer is designed by The Gravity Group, an internationally acclaimed American wooden roller coaster supplier. They’ve built coasters all over the world and generally to rave reviews. The Kentucky Flyer will navigate through 56º hairpin turns at rapid speeds, treating riders to plenty of airtime. It’s also a big plus that the unique design of the Gravity Group’s “Timberliner” coaster train comfortably accommodates a wide range of passenger sizes and weights.”
“Many coasters have a minimum height requirement of 48 inches (122 cm),” added Korey Kiepert, Principal with the Gravity Group, which is the average height of an eight-year old, but the minimum height for riders of the Kentucky Flyer will be only 40 inches (102 cm) when accompanied by an adult. We’re excited about providing Kentucky Kingdom a ride that will allow younger children, many for the first time, to join their moms, dads, brothers, and sisters in experiencing the exhilaration of a high-speed roller coaster. I’ll never forget when I first fell in love with roller coasters and I can’t wait for my children to have that same unforgettable experience. Our goal was to build a coaster that the whole family can enjoy, but without sacrificing the thrills that coaster enthusiasts have come to expect from the Gravity Group. The Kentucky Flyer certainly accomplishes that goal.”
When complete, the Kentucky Flyer will have a 47 foot (14 m) tall lift hill followed by a 44 foot (13 m) first drop set at a 54º angle. Riders will travel over 1,288 feet (393 m) of track at a top speed of 35 mph (56 kph) as they experience 12 moments of airtime.
