FlyOver (ride) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids FlyOver |
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| Ride statistics | |||||||||
| Attraction type | Flying theater simulator ride | ||||||||
| Manufacturer | Brogent Technologies | ||||||||
| Vehicles | 9 | ||||||||
| Participants per group | 61 (Vancouver), 62 (Mall of America) | ||||||||
| Duration | 10 minutes | ||||||||
| Height restriction | 102 cm (3 ft 4 in) | ||||||||
 Wheelchair accessible |
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 Must transfer from wheelchair |
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FlyOver is an exciting flying theater attraction. It makes you feel like you're soaring through the air! The first FlyOver ride, called FlyOver Canada, opened in 2013. It's located at Canada Place in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia.
This amazing ride takes you on a virtual journey across Canada. You sit in special seats that move, making you feel like you're flying. Up to 61 people can ride at once! You'll see incredible sights on a huge 19-meter (62-foot) round screen. Plus, the ride uses wind, mist, and even scents to make the experience feel super real.
Since then, more FlyOver attractions have opened. You can find them at the Mall of America in the United States and in downtown Reykjavik, Iceland. There are also plans to open new rides in Las Vegas and Toronto.
Contents
History of FlyOver Attractions
How FlyOver Began
The idea for FlyOver came from two people in Vancouver, Stephen Geddes and Andrew Strang. They wanted to create a cool new attraction for visitors in downtown Vancouver. They were inspired by a similar ride called Soarin' Over California at Disneyland. Their goal was to build a ride that everyone would enjoy and that would show off the beautiful places in Canada.
In 2013, Stephen and Andrew teamed up with a company called Aquilini Developments. Together, they formed a partnership called Soaring Attractions. They decided to put the first FlyOver ride in an old Imax theatre at Canada Place. They spent $16 million to build this amazing ride.
Opening of FlyOver Canada and America
On June 29, 2013, FlyOver Canada officially opened. It quickly became the biggest new tourist attraction in the area. Riders get to experience a virtual flight across Canada. The ride uses special equipment that lifts up to 61 people into a giant 19-meter (62-foot) spherical screen. It also adds wind, mist, and scents to make the flight feel incredibly real.
After the success of FlyOver Canada, Soaring Attractions opened a similar ride in 2016. This one was called FlyOver America and is located at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. This second ride cost about $20 million US to build. It opened on April 19, 2016. FlyOver America shows off different parts of the US, including Minneapolis, Lake Calhoun, Red Wing, Alaska, Hawaii, and Maine. Sometimes, they even show the FlyOver Canada film there!
FlyOver Expands Globally
In December 2016, the company Pursuit bought FlyOver Canada. Pursuit is a travel and events company.
In 2017, Pursuit announced plans for a new FlyOver ride in downtown Reykjavik, Iceland. They worked with a local company called Esja Attractions. FlyOver Iceland opened in September 2019. To celebrate, FlyOver Canada in Vancouver even showed the Iceland film for a short time.
More FlyOver rides are planned for the future! In February 2019, it was announced that a FlyOver ride would open in Las Vegas in 2021. Then, in July 2019, plans were shared for another FlyOver ride in Toronto.
Awards and Recognition
The original creators of FlyOver, Stephen Strang and Andrew Geddes, were recognized for their business success. They won the Business in Vancouver Forty under 40 award. This award celebrates successful young business leaders.
