Looping Starship Rides Info and History - Flat Ride of the Week 48 

I rode a very interesting one of these in France, it had lapbars only. the operator took manual control, taking us over very slowly. he was definatly having fun with his joystick.

I wish that more of these were installed. Intamin did an awesome job with this model. If Intamin ever makes a second gen model, they should just have a lapbar similar to those on Pantheon and Velocicoaster.

I remember the first time I rode one of these was at the 1986 world's fair, Expo 86 in Vancouver BC. I still recall how much fun that first ride on one was!

There used to be one of these at my home park, California's Great America. It opened as Revolution in the 80s, then renamed HMB Endeavor. I used to hate it when I first rode it, but then learned that getting a bit of room on it did wonders for comfort. And just as I came to that epiphany, it was removed. I really do miss it and I hope that other Looping Starships are kept open.

Wonderful video! I rode 4 of these in the US back in the 80s and 90s. The best was Frenzoid at Carowinds, because not only did I score a zen ride, the conditions were perfect and the ship balanced at the top for about 5 minutes, which was awesome! Of course the wind shifted after a few minutes and the ship came back down. No worries at all. When I disembarked, the Ops and Maintenance management teams were there along with First Aid. Good job to the ride crew for their response, even though I declined medical attention as it wasn't needed. Though they did monitor me for a few moments while I sat on a bench and gave a statement for the incident report. Once they checked the ride out, cycled it a few times, and finished the reopening checklist, I went straight around and got right back on it 2 more times, both normal cycles. It was an epic experience that I'm proud to have as a notch on my belt.

The one at Astroworld supposedly came from a world's fair but I can't find any record of it. I do know that it was used as it still had gum stuck on the floors and they didn't bother cleaning it! They painted it grey and silver to look less like a Space Shuttle just before opening due to the Challenger explosion. That year (1986) we used to have two-hour lines to ride. Throughput was horrible. When the park closed in 2005 the front and back facades were sold to a diving practice lake in Lake Jackson about 45 minutes south of Houston near the coast. The ride was located towards the front of the park which faced the freeway and was impressive to see when it was looping. I miss AstroWorld. Worked there 84-86 as a teenager.

I really like your Flat Rides of Week! I was never notified when they came out.

I love the one at kings dominion called the Berserker. I been riding it since the late 80s.

I haven't ridden a huge amount of flat rides in total, but Berserker is one I actually have. I think it inverted twice on that specific run.

There is one at valley fair I believe. Never mind, it was scrapped in 2019. The one at at carrowinds was also scrapped

Your commentaries and information, combined with your excellent video editing and narration are second to none. You are most enjoyable to listen to and not one of those 'know it all' people that have such inferior productions compared to yours. Keep up the TERRIFIC WORK, and best wishes for a great upcoming park season!! Also, as a Cedar Point employee from 5 seasons, absolutely LOVE the Magnum hoodie!!

I've been on "The Looping Starship" at ValleyFair many times through the late 80's into the 2000's. Edit to say that it's pirate ship themed and personally I think that is the best theme for this ride. Fun fact... if you hold your legs up with your feet so that when the lapbar comes down it will sense that position giving you more room and a better ride experience.

Actually I worked @ this ride in Houston, TX. It had the Challenger on the side. It was later modified (tail end) to NOT look so much like the doomed space shuttle. Also, named Looping Starship. I sooo remember the 'guys' grunts as the lap bars tightened. We had some 'wonky" things happen on that ride. No fatalities, but some hair raising tales! Yep! To get the ride "centered" or Zeroed OUT kept mechanics over there. The line was in partial sun as well. Still remembering coins "raining" down as well. That's the only thing mechanics liked about this ride.

Here's my current wishlist for future FROTW videos (unchanged from last week): Matterhorn / Flying Bobs & Trabant / Hully Gully - these were mentioned in a previous video, and I look forward to seeing them. . Rainbow / 1001 Nacht Paratrooper Orbiter Miami Hurricane . [old-school and/or unique] 'Cuddle-Up' (basically an 'n'th-degree teacup ride) ... I'll never forget the in-the-dark "Iceberg" at Dorney Park Boomerang ... I remember seeing this at Casino Pier a LONG time ago, when I was too young for such things 'Sidewheeler' (or maybe 'Sidewinder') ... looking a bit like the inner workings of a watch, this one-of-a-kind SFGA installation was something to see

I went on this. The part that holds you in did not close. I was 10 years old, screaming for my life holding myself in as it went upside down. My stepmother was just laughing. REAL FUNNY!

I'm glad I got to ride looping starship at Valley Fair before they took the ride down after the 2019 season. Definitely my favorite ride and it sucks they got rid of it. One thing that I did notice is some lap bars were a tad tighter than others. I think the one's in the middle were pretty tight, and the ones on the outside were not as tight. It was still secure, but I felt more safe sitting directly in the middle. People would also spit when they were hanging upside down, which was one of the reasons why they took it down.

Well unfortunately for those who enjoyed it, Southern Star has been closed down possibly for good. I'm not sure if it's permanent or temporary for re-theming. Carowinds is making a whole new aviation-themed section and said one of the rides closed down will be rethemed, but they didn't name which one.

I've been on the one at SFGA, but that was a long, long time ago. I've visited KD exactly once in my life (when I was far too young and scared to go on such rides), but I do remember seeing Berserker even back then. Just looked so daunting. I'd do it today, if I ever got back ... dunno if that's happening any time soon, though.

I was lucky enough to ride the one located at Astroworld, fun ride.

The first time I rode this type of ride was at the 1982 World's Fair, but it was not a looping starship manufactured by Intamin. It was named Peter Pan, and it was classified as a traum boot ride. It was a huge ship, just like Southern Star was, and it did the same exact thing as a looping starship (except that the Peter Pan rotated all the way around more frequently with less stalling at the top). I'm not sure why these tram boot rides aren't considered looping starships since they are basically the same rides, but just different manufacturers?

Nice to see your face!!!!! Lots of info! I remember the ship growing up here in Canada. BUT, it never went all the way around just back and fourth 😎

I used to be scared of these rides when I was little. I love them now.

Now Berserker is the only looping pirate ship operating in the US. Southern Star was removed this past August. And the Phoenix was demolished in December

I rode the Looping Starship at Great Adventure alot growing up here. I'll never forget at one point after the ride was locked and checked, the operators added to the end of the pre ride instructions to please not spit while the ride was upsidedown. At that point everyone on the ride looked at each other like - well i would have never even thought of that, but now I'm definitely going to spit when we're upsidedown - The second that ride hit the top all you heard was nearly every person hauking.

I enjoy these videos for the engineering... there's no way in hell I'm getting on any of the rides you cover.

I wish there are more flat rides like this

I remember riding the one at Busch Gardens Tampa in 2006 and losing my change during the hangtime lol

I love this ride so much and it hurts me to see them go! I only got to ride it a few times, before it was closed in Hansa-Park (Germany) too. I was too afraid to ride it for 4 years and as I heard it will be closed soon, I finaly got the courage to at least ride it once. Now I wish I would have gone on it sooner and more often... :(

I rode the one at Astroworld in the 80’s, one time...was so bruised and sore from the overhead restraints that I refused to ever ride it again

Ugh. I remember these damn things. I rode the one at Carowinds and I was literally unable to breathe. This video alone makes me want to go back, just to see if it's any better now that I'm taller. Love this channel. Edit: Got the park name wrong.

We had 1 in great america in Gurnee a long time ago

There was one at Valleyfair, so glad it is gone because it was migraine inducing.

Great informative video as always!

I find it interesting that Great Adventure's starship was also removed to make room for Justice League's extended queue. Which is hardly ever used, BTW. There is also a situation, I don't know if this was common in Six Flags parks, where they placed in view of Buccaneer, the non looping version. The same situation happened with Rolling Thunder and El Toro. I've always thought doing that contributes to the lack of interest in one of the rides. Also, as to the name change after the Challenger disaster, if you have old park maps, the change is documented there from one season to the next.

Great video! I would love to ride one of those. I do think the one that painted over the "challenger" should of kept it as a way to remember.

Southern star in Carowinds is still even if she’s old. It’s not always running but I enjoy the rush I get those slow loops. Probably because it feels more like I could fall out in comparison to other inversions.

When I first saw this I thought it was hydraulic powdered it's interesting seeing tires power it

The space shuttle at Great Adventure was the best thing ever.

I have ridden the frenzied /southern star :). I hope it’s still awesome as it was in the past

0:29 - Battering RAM at BGW

I never got to ride one of these! Would love to have ridden Z-Force at Six Flags Magic Mountain.

i rember the space shuttle theme ride in liseberg . i was there in a school trip last year what is akin to hig school in the us. some of my class mates rode it and one said that one of the rides threw up. i think it was in 1990 or so . 👍👍👍🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪

Did not know Phoenix at BG has been closed. When I lived out by the park when I was a kid, I used to be so terrified of that ride, since it went upside down.

These are pretty cool I have to say. Never been on one myself

My goal for the year is to get on one of these.

The ride at Liseberg had the over-the-shoulder restraints even after the conversion! There are videos of the ride where you can see them. Video footage of the ride is very scarce though, so I don't know if the restraints were removed during it's time at Liseberg or afterwards. Really nice video by the way! :)

I miss Astroworld 😢

looking foward to riding the one at movieland this summer

There's a full upside down "viking" ship at the park near my house, which is valleyfair in Shakopee Minnesota. So you forgot one! I have honestly always hated it. I'm claustrophobic and the restraints are too much for me, I'm a rollercoaster person

One day after this video was uploaded an accident happen at the drop tower at icon park

Requests: Chance Rides Flying Bobs Orbiter Techno Power Zamperla Air Race

I rode one in Six Flags Great Adventure. This thing is slow and when it slows down to get upside down feels like you are sliding out and stayed upside down forever

I have pendulaphobia (the irrational fear of swinging things) and these and pirate ships scare the snot outta me. Doesn't help that the one at my local park (Lagoon, Utah) has that horrible octopus THING on top... that thing gave me nightmares as a kid.

I'd rather get Kodaa then this 😳! I'm a total flat ride 🐔. Love watching BC I'm not ON IT 😉👍🏼

Have you thought about doing a flat ride of the week video about skycoasters? Also have you thought about doing a video about why some rides don't allow cast's of any kind?

I haven’t ridden one yet I want to before they all go away

Has phoenix gone from Busch Gardens? I'm from England and last time I was there was 2007 and I'm sure it was still there then.

I Just Lerned that the bc20 airlines at my home park movieland could invert in the past. Nausea intensifies

Have you done any videos on the double ferris wheel? It doesn't look intimidating at all, but probably one of the most terrifying rides I've ever been on. And I'm a 38 year old coaster and thrill ride junkie

I’ve done Phoenix at Busch Gardens Tampa and the beginning where the leg restraints push down on your thighs was a instant NOPE for me…. Didn’t enjoy it at all tbh. I saw Southern Star when I went to Carowinds but decided not to ride it because I don’t want to experience that hard pressure on my thighs again!

They're so cool but the restraint system absolutely sucked, glad I got to ride Valleyfair's and CGAs

can’t wait for what happened at icon park’s free fall, cause im just so confused, nothing makes that much sense

0:20:. When kids realize they aren't on a regular pirate ship ride.

Wow, you look really young!

Well done video! I have two questions to ask: 1. You mentioned Intamin came out with a looping starship that has a capacity of 32. Do any exist? 2. One looping starship was located in Southeast Asia. Do you know which park?

I don't ride these type of rides, but how is this ride compared to a Huss Ranger? SFDL used to have one several years ago before the Larson Loop replaced it. Also, it was reported that Phoenix was testing the other day at BGT but it just swung back and forth and didn't loop.

Why did they remove the counter weight?

still waiting on a hurricane / downdraft video

Where was the other European Looping starship installed?

Well its only one in America now

Pog

Thigh smasher. Not all so thrilling to me. Valleyfair removed theirs in 2019

RODE THIS A GREAT ADVENTURE AND IT WAS UNCOMFORTABLE ONCE UPSIDE DOWN THE RESTRAINTS TIGHTEN AT THE CHEST IT REALLY MADE ME HATE LOOPING INVERTING SHIPS OR SWINGING RIDES IN GENERAL.CAUSE I THOUGHT ALL OF UM DID THAT?

Do you feel any drop feeling on the ride?

I wish there was a space themed amusement park that is not defunct

what happened to your glasses?

I wouldn’t say it’s fair to say space travel is on a decline just because of the space program. Yes we have no decent government program anymore but it seems like between bezos and musk Florida’s space flights have been constant maybe more so then when nasa managed it.

Angelo Giles. Put a damn shirt on!

That ride is not fun it's painful when you're just Hanging upside down..ive rode it a few times at Carowinds

DONT FORGET RANGER AND TRAUMBOOT AKA (DREAMBOAT)