Flying Fish: n. Fish with the ability to glide through the air from water.

In Short:

Flying Fish is Thorpe's most loved family ride - and made its triumphant return in 2007 after it was removed to make way for Stealth in '04.

Statistics:

Opened: 1990 - 2004 / 2007
Manufacturer: Mack
Area: Amity Cove
Ride Type: Powered Roller Coaster
On Ride Photo: Yes
Official Rating: Thrilling and Fun

Max Height: 21ft (6m)
Max Speed: 18mph (29km/h)
Track Length: 768ft (234m)
Max G. Force:2.1
Throughput: 1000 people/hour
Ride Duration: 84 seconds

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TTP Review:

The Flying Fish is a Mack Powered Roller Coaster, located in Amity Cove. It was removed to make way for Stealth at the end of 2004, but due to high public demand it was reinstalled in a different area of the Park for the 2007 Season.

The ride is designed for families with small children - a market which Thorpe Park seemed to be neglecting. It succeeds in entertaining children, and has been made more comfortable since it was removed thanks to completely new trains with individual seats and lap bars. No more bashing around and squashing the person sitting on the left!

The "fish" train is powered using electricity around the track, and the operator will usually give riders two goes around the circuit. The area looks new, clean and colourful and many vistors will no doubt delight in riding again a ride which they thought had gone for good.

However, the ride just isn't the same as before, thanks to one glaring omission in the new installation. Where's the foliage? The old ride was so good because of the fact the train careered around bushes and trees, narrowly missing plants. It dared riders to put their hands out and brush past the vegatation. This doesn't happen any more - the new ride contains a lot of grass and two pools of water; hardly very inspiring. Thanks to the lack of plants, the new Flying Fish seems slower and less fun than before.

Having said all of this, Flying Fish still remains a great family ride, which is why it clings on to its seven out of ten rating from TTP.

Positives:

• Good introductory 'Coaster for young Thrill Seekers.
• Great to have a Thorpe classic resurrected!
• Lovely new fish-themed trains from Mack.

Negatives:

• No foliage/scenery for the trains to interact with, as had happened previously.
• Slightly annoying music and announcements, in an attempt to make the Fish "cool".

Your Reviews:

"Flying Fish left my 5 year old daughter giggling and laughing and screaming for more. Job done. Excellent little coaster! I remember riding it as Space Station Zero as a kid, and it seemed faster. Funny how things change."
Dan, UK.