Flying Ace Aerial Chase facts for kids

Not to be confused with Flying Aces (roller coaster).

Quick facts for kids Flying Ace Aerial Chase
Flying Ace Aerial Chase when it was known as Rugrats Runaway Reptar at Kings Island
Previously known as Rugrats Runaway Reptar, Flying Ace Aerial Chase
Carowinds
Park section	Camp Snoopy
Coordinates	35.102070°N 80.940689°W / 35.102070; -80.940689
Status	Operating
Opening date	March 22, 2003 (2003-03-22)
Kings Island
Park section	Planet Snoopy
Coordinates	39.341773°N 84.269114°W / 39.341773; -84.269114
Status	Operating
Opening date	April 7, 2001 (2001-04-07)
General statistics
Type	Steel – Family – Inverted
Manufacturer	Vekoma
Model	Suspended Family Coaster 342m
Lift/launch system	Tire propelled lift hill
Height	49 ft (15 m)
Length	1,122 ft (342 m)
Speed	26 mph (42 km/h)
Inversions	0
Duration	1:30
Capacity	650 riders per hour
G-force	2.2
Height restriction	44–76 in (112–193 cm)
Trains	Single train with 10 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in a single row for a total of 20 riders per train.
Fast Lane available at Kings Island only
Must transfer from wheelchair

Flying Ace Aerial Chase is a Suspended Family Coaster designed and built by Vekoma. The roller coaster debuted at Kings Island in 2001 and was followed by another identical installation that launched at Carowinds in 2003. Originally, both rides opened as Rugrats Runaway Reptar, themed to the Nickelodeon animated television series Rugrats and its two-part episode "Runaway Reptar". Following Cedar Fair's acquisition of both parks in 2006, both were eventually re-themed to the Snoopy vs. the Red Baron comic strip series in the 1960s by Peanuts creator Charles Schulz, undergoing a name change in the process. The Carowinds installation was renamed Kiddy Hawk for the 2018 season.

History

Kings Island

Flying Ace Aerial Chase opened to the public on April 7, 2001 as Rugrats Runaway Reptar. This was Kings Island's fourth kids' coaster earning the park the title: "Kid's Coaster Capital of the World!". That same year, the Kings Mills Log Flume was refurbished and rethemed to Nickelodeon and was named The Wild Thornberry's River Adventure. Those two new rides formed a new area called Nickelodeon Central. This area was separate from the regular Hanna-Barbera children's area, but it was still a kids' area. It was not until 2006 that the rest of the Hanna-Barbera land was transformed into one kids' area, called Nickelodeon Universe. This change did not affect the two already existing rides in Nickelodeon Central, since they already had the Nickelodeon theme. In 2010, Nickelodeon Universe became Planet Snoopy, and changed the ride's name to Flying Ace Aerial Chase to fit the Snoopy theme. The support beams of the ride were repainted from green to orange.

Carowinds

When Rugrats Runaway Reptar became so immensely popular at Paramount's Kings Island, the then-owners, Paramount, decided to build a copy of the ride at Carowinds. Rugrats Runaway Reptar opened in 2003 at Paramount's Carowinds. The ride is exactly the same, paint color and all. The only difference is the color of the shoulder restraints. At Carowinds, the restraints are red and perhaps more bulky. At Kings Island, the restraints are yellow and have more padding. From 2010 through 2017, the ride was named Flying Ace Aerial Chase. For the 2018 transition from Planet Snoopy to Camp Snoopy, the name was changed to Kiddy Hawk, and was re-painted light blue and tan.

Ride layout

As the train comes out of the station, it makes a 90 degree turn to the right and starts up the tire drive lift hill. As the train exits the lift hill, it is sent on a double helix to the left. From there, the train makes its way under the lift hill and over to the top of the station, making the riders feel as if they could touch it with their feet. Then it turns right and travels alongside of the lift hill and then turns right 180 degrees. At this point the train is very close to the ground. Then, it turns 180 degrees to the left into the activating brakes.