Wing Coaster facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wing Coaster
GateKeeper at Cedar Point.
Status	In Production
First manufactured	2011
No. of installations	19
Manufacturer	Bolliger & Mabillard
Vehicle type	Train seats are located level with the track on both sides.
Riders per row	4
Restraint Style	Rubber vest over chest and lap bar
Wing Coaster at RCDB

A Wing Coaster is a super exciting type of roller coaster! Imagine sitting next to the track, with nothing above or below you, making you feel like you're flying. These special rides are designed by a company called Bolliger & Mabillard, often called B&M. They created the Wing Coaster so riders could experience a unique feeling of freedom as they zoom through twists, turns, and loops. The very first Wing Coaster, named Raptor, opened in Gardaland, Italy, on April 1, 2011. Since then, many more have been built around the world, giving thrill-seekers an amazing "winged" adventure!

The Exciting History of Wing Coasters

Raptor at Gardaland was the world's first Wing Coaster, opening in 2011.

The idea for the Wing Coaster started around 2007 and 2008. Engineers at Bolliger & Mabillard wanted to create a roller coaster that felt truly different. Their hard work led to the opening of the first Wing Coaster, Raptor, at Gardaland in Italy on April 1, 2011.

Soon after, more Wing Coasters began to appear. In the United Kingdom, The Swarm opened at Thorpe Park in 2012. The United States got its first Wing Coaster, Wild Eagle, at Dollywood on March 24, 2012. Another exciting one, X-Flight, opened at Six Flags Great America later that year.

One of the most famous Wing Coasters is GateKeeper at Cedar Point. When it opened in 2013, it broke records for being the longest, fastest, and having the tallest drop for a Wing Coaster at that time! Asia also got its first Wing Coaster, Parrot Coaster, in China in 2014. Later, Thunderbird at Holiday World & Splashin' Safari became the first Wing Coaster to launch riders directly into the action, rather than climbing a big hill first.

How Wing Coasters Are Designed

A ride operator checking the restraints on X-Flight at Six Flags Great America. Notice how the bars on the restraint system are not what actually hold the rider in place.

What makes a Wing Coaster so special? The biggest difference is how you sit! Instead of being above or below the track, riders sit on either side. This unique setup gives you an amazing feeling of "free flight" as you soar through the air.

Since there's nothing on top of the track, designers can add cool themed objects. These objects often look like parts of the ride's story, making the experience even more immersive. The safety restraints are also unique. They include a vest that goes over your chest and a lap bar, keeping you super secure while still feeling open and free. When you get ready to ride, the station is designed so you can easily step into your seat, which is level with the track.

Where to Find Wing Coasters Around the World

X-Flight at Six Flags Great America going through the signature keyhole element.

Bolliger & Mabillard has built many incredible Wing Coasters. As of today, there are nineteen of these thrilling rides operating or under construction around the globe. Here's a list of them, in the order they opened:

Name	Park	Country	Opened	Status
Raptor	Gardaland	Italy	1 April 2011	Operating
The Swarm	Thorpe Park	United Kingdom	15 March 2012	Operating
Wild Eagle	Dollywood	United States	24 March 2012	Operating
X-Flight	Six Flags Great America	United States	16 May 2012	Operating
GateKeeper	Cedar Point	United States	11 May 2013	Operating
Parrot Coaster	Chimelong Ocean Kingdom	China	25 January 2014	Operating
Flug der Dämonen	Heide Park	Germany	29 March 2014	Operating
Thunderbird	Holiday World & Splashin' Safari	United States	25 April 2015	Operating
Flying Wing Coaster	Happy Valley Chongqing	China	8 July 2017	Operating
Wing Coaster	Colourful Yunnan Happy World	China	5 July 2018	Operating
Fēnix	Toverland	Netherlands	7 July 2018	Operating
Unknown	Hot Go Dreamworld	China	Unknown	SBNO
Heaven's Wing	Huayi Brothers Movie World	China	2018	Operating
Falcon	Wuxi Sunac Land	China	29 June 2019	Operating
Forest Predator	Happy Valley Nanjing	China	11 November 2020	Operating
DaVinci Ride	Fantasy Valley Xiangyang	China	29 April 2022	Operating
Maximus - Der Flug des Wächters	Legoland Deutschland	Germany	25 March 2023	Operating
Mandrill Mayhem	Chessington World Of Adventures	United Kingdom	15 May 2023	Operating
Rapterra	Kings Dominion	United States	29 March 2025	Operating

Other Cool Roller Coaster Designs

While Wing Coasters are unique, other companies have created rides with similar "winged" seating ideas.

• Intamin Wing Rider Coaster: In 2007, another company called Intamin introduced a ride called Furius Baco at PortAventura Park. This ride is super fast, launching riders from 0 to 135 kilometers per hour (about 84 mph) in just 3.5 seconds! It also has seats on the sides of the track, similar to a Wing Coaster.
• Intamin Wing Coaster: Intamin also has a model they call a "Wing Coaster." Rides like Skyrush at Hersheypark and Flying Aces at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi have four seats per row. Two seats are over the track, and two "wing" seats hang over the side.
• 4th Dimension Roller Coasters: You might also hear about "4th Dimension" roller coasters. These rides, like X2 at Six Flags Magic Mountain, have seats that can spin forward and backward independently. While they also have seats on the sides of the track, the big difference is that Wing Coaster seats stay fixed and don't spin.