Austin, Texas, USA – Skyline Attractions is thrilled to announce its partnership with US Thrill Rides on the design, engineering, and delivery of a one-of-a-kind thrill ride coming to COTALAND amusement park at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas in 2022. SkyBlazer™, previously announced at the 2021 IAAPA Expo, is a first-of-its-kind amusement attraction that offers the thrill of skydiving while maintaining a safe and accessible experience.
SkyBlazer is the brainchild of amusement industry veteran Bill Kitchen, who previously invented the SkyCoaster attraction in the early 1990s. SkyCoaster offers a taste of the skydiving experience to groups of up to three riders at a time. SkyBlazer can be considered the evolution of the classic attraction, with a ring of seats able to accommodate 18 passengers in comfortable and secure roller coaster-like restraints. This allows for higher capacity and a more-inclusive ride experience. SkyBlazer is US and foreign patents pending.
Riders on SkyBlazer will board the circular gondola at ground level at the base of a large arch. Once all the restraints have been checked, the gondola will slowly be lifted backward to the top of the lift tower behind the arch. As the gondola ascends, riders will be given a great view of the Circuit of the Americas. The gondola will then slow to a stop at the peak of the lift tower, where riders will be held for a few suspenseful moments before the gondola is released. Riders will drop into a swinging motion with the ring of seats naturally swiveling as the gondola swings, offering an unparalleled experience among thrill rides. The gondola will also pass above the midway below, creating an exciting experience for both riders and onlookers alike.
As the gondola completes several exciting swings in either direction, an innovative “pendulum damper” built into the top of the tower will efficiently remove energy from the system and bring the gondola to a stop. The updated seating arrangement, plus the use of the pendulum damper, allows for SkyBlazer to have up to ten times the capacity of the original SkyCoaster attraction.
In addition to the unique ride experience, SkyBlazer will be an iconic structure at COTALAND. The arch reaches a height of 200 feet [61 meters], dominating the skyline and beaconing visitors to the complex. The gondola will also be adorned with lights, creating a whimsical nighttime ride experience.
SkyBlazer is the latest of many projects that Skyline has tackled alongside other amusement industry manufacturers. Skyline has offered its design and engineering capabilities to other firms in the past, including a long-term partnership with Great Coasters International, Inc. in Sunbury, Pennsylvania. Some of the recent projects Skyline has completed for Great Coasters include Texas Stingray at SeaWorld San Antonio, the upcoming Roaring Timbers at Sun World Hon Thom Nature Park, and the revolutionary new Titan Track steel roller coaster track and Infinity Flyer roller coaster train design.
About Skyline Attractions
Skyline Attractions, LLC is based in Orlando, Florida, USA and strives to be the best manufacturer of quality American-built rides that the most demanding buyers require. The company was founded in 2014 and has since worked on the design and manufacturing of amusement rides across the globe.