Flying Turns (roller coaster)

Flying Turns roller coaster
Flying Turns roller coaster at Riverview Park, Chicago, 1968

Flying Turns is the name of a specific model of bobsled roller coaster. John Norman Bartlett, a British aviator in World War I, came to North America after the war with an idea for a trackless wooden chute, full of twists like a bobsled course, with toboggan-like cars, based on a bobsled ride that operated in Europe. He filed a patent for the idea in 1926. Bartlett met John Miller in 1928, and they commenced building the new ride. When the ride went into production, much of the idea was the same, but the cars looks more like monoplanes, which Bartlett designed. Miller worked on the loading station, supporting structure, braking system and incline.

Flying Turns installations

Year Location Notes
1929-193? Lakeside Park, Dayton, Ohio prototype
1930-1969 Euclid Beach Park, Cleveland, Ohio the tallest version built
1931-1938 Rocky Point Amusement Park, Warwick, Rhode Island
1933-1934 Century of Progress World's Fair, Chicago, Illinois moved to Riverview Park in Chicago
1934-1963 Forest Park Highlands Amusement Park, St. Louis, Missouri
1934-1939 Steeplechase Park, Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York destroyed by a fire in 1939
1935-1967 Riverview Park, Chicago, Illinois relocated from the World's Fair
19??-late 1940s Palisades Amusement Park, Palisades, New Jersey new version named the Lake Placid Bobsled
1939-1940 New York World's Fair last Bobsled ride built by Bartlett
1940-early 1970s Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York
1935-early 1970s Fyns Tivoli, Odense, Denmark Moved and rebuilt more than any other Flying Turns. Brussels International Exposition (1935), Berlin Olympics (1936), Bakken in Klampenborg (late 1930s), Fyns Tivoli in Odense (1951)
4 October 2013 Knoebels Amusement Park & Resort, Elysburg, Pennsylvania Was built from scratch by Knoebels' staff. Designed by John Fetterman from an original Miller and Bartlett design. Began construction in 2006 and was completed in 2008 but unable to properly operate until August 2013. Was finally open for a soft opening October 4, 2013 and officially the next day on the 5th. See also Flying Turns (Knoebels)


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