Editing Flying roller coaster (section)

===Vekoma===
[[Image:VekomaFlyer.jpg|right|thumb|Coaster train on the now-defunct [[Firehawk (roller coaster)|Firehawk]] at [[Kings Island]] in reclined position prior to leaving station. The train's direction of travel is to the right.]]
[[Netherlands|Dutch]] roller coaster manufacturer [[Vekoma]] constructed the first large-scale flying roller coaster, ''[[Nighthawk (roller coaster)|Stealth]]'', for [[California's Great America]] in 2000. Nicknamed the 'Flying Dutchman' by Vekoma, ''Stealth'' featured a higher-capacity train with four-across seating. Riders load the trains in an upright sitting position, facing the rear of the train. After the train is fully loaded, a mechanism in the station lower the seats to the track, with the riders on their backs facing the ceiling. After cresting the lift hill, the track twists 180 degrees to flip the riders into the flying position for the rest of the ride. Just prior to reaching the roller coaster's [[Roller coaster elements#Brake run|final brake run]], the track twists again, such that riders are lying on their backs facing upward. After reaching the station, the seats are raised back to loading position.[[File:Flyingrollercoaster.jpg|right|400px|thumb|Diagram showing the difference between a Vekoma Flying Dutchman and Bolliger & Mabillard Flying roller coaster]]
The harness system for the Vekoma flying roller coaster consists of two main elements: the lap bar and the chest harness. After being seated, the operator pulls down the lap bar, which is hinged on the floor of the train. The bar locks into slots in the sides of the seat and secures the waist. Halfway up the bar is a pair of leg restraints, which hold the legs in place during the ride. The rider then fastens the buckles to close the chest harness and secure the upper body. Hand grips are placed at the ends of the arm rests of each seat.

Vekoma would expand upon the 'Flying Dutchman' prototype with two other installations in 2001, ''[[Batwing (roller coaster)|Batwing]]'' for [[Six Flags America]] and ''[[Firehawk (roller coaster)|X-Flight]]'' for [[Geauga Lake]]. Of the three Vekoma Flying Dutchmans, only [[Batwing (roller coaster)|''Batwing'']] remains operating. ''Stealth'' was relocated to [[Carowinds]] where it operated as ''BORG Assimilator'' from 2004 to 2007, and later as ''Nighthawk'' until its closure in 2024, while ''X-Flight'' operated at [[Kings Island]] as [[Firehawk (roller coaster)|''Firehawk'']] until its closure on October 28, 2018.

In 2009, Vekoma debuted a new, more compact flying roller coaster model nicknamed the 'Stingray' which used the same seating configuration as the original Flying Dutchman, but with Vekoma's new track style as well as a vertical lift hill. Its first installation is at the Suzhou Giant Wheel Park in [[Suzhou, Jiangsu|Suzhou]], [[China]], which opened on August 18, 2009. The ride was removed in 2018.<ref>{{cite RCDB|coaster_name=Stingray|location=Giant Wheel Park of Suzhou|rcdb_number=4124|access-date=July 20, 2015}}</ref>

In 2014, [[Phantasialand]] in [[Brühl, Germany]] contracted [[Vekoma]] to design and build a new flying roller coaster to be the center piece of a new immersive themed area of the park which would also include the park's third hotel. Noting previous design limitations and issues with other flying coaster models, particularly in regard to capacity as loading procedures were slow and complex. Phantasialand pursued two objectives for the design of their new flying coaster; a simplified and streamlined loading process, and custom layout designed to fit in the limited space (100m by 75m) available as well as height restrictions imposed upon the park. Vekoma spent the next few years designing and testing a prototype system at its factory in Vlodrop, with construction on the new coaster beginning in 2016 and finishing in 2019. In 2019, Phantasialand began a teaser campaign for the new coaster, announcing the name [[F.L.Y. (roller coaster)|F.L.Y.]] (Flying Launch Coaster). On September 17, 2020, F.L.Y. officially opened to the public.

F.L.Y. features a completely brand new loading procedure never before seen on any flying coaster model. Upon entering the station, the track and trains rotate from a prone position 90 degrees onto the side, while the seats, which are two abreast, rotate at the same time so that the passengers move from a prone "flying" position to an upright position. The passengers load into a standard seated position and pull down the over-the-shoulder vest harness. Once secure, the train is dispatched out of the station and proceeds in the upright position through a short dark ride section before the track, train, and seats rotate into the prone flying position.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Baldwin |first=Tim |date=November 2020 |title=Phantasialand astounds guests with record-breaking coaster, Rookburgh |url=https://amusementtoday.com/issues/2020/202011-I/assets/downloads/AT-NOV-I-2020i.pdf}}</ref>

In addition to the new loading procedure, F.L.Y. is also the first flying roller coaster to utilize a launch system rather than a lift system. F.L.Y. features two separate [[Linear Synchronous Motor|LSM]] launches that launches trains up to a top speed of 48.5&nbsp;mph (78.1&nbsp;km/h) over 4,055.1 feet (1,236.0 m) of track making it the world's longest flying coaster.<ref>{{Cite web |title=F.L.Y. - Phantasialand (Brühl, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany) |url=https://rcdb.com/15201.htm |access-date=2023-10-15 |website=rcdb.com}}</ref>

Since opening, F.L.Y. has been met with overwhelmingly positive reception for its innovative design, riding experience, operations, capacity, and theming that have won the coaster several industry awards.

Vekoma's flying roller coasters have a 54-inch minimum-height requirement.