Flambards' newest ride - be the first to try it out (From Falmouth Packet)

Flambards' newest ride - be the first to try it out

2:15pm Thursday 11th March 2010

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A new ride for the Flambards Experience will shortly arrive at the Helston theme park.

Skyraker 001 will be delivered on the back of three lorries, ready to be lifted into position.

The twisting drop tower is the only one of its kind in the UK and, at over 28m high, is believed to be the tallest ride in the region. On its maximum setting it will drop at over 25km per hour.

For the chance to become one of the first people to try out the new ride, for free, see this week’s Packet.

Skyraker is due to be up and ready to go when all the Flambards rides re-open to the public for the start of the summer season, on Monday, March 29.

To make sure it is in full working order a team of Flambards engineers have travelled to Northern Italy, where the ride has been manufactured, to test it before it began its journey to Cornwall.

Technical services manager Paul Morris, with his deputy Mark Cooper and electrical engineer John Boase, all tried the ride together with a team of British independent inspectors from Leisure Technical Consultants – there to check it complied with building specifications.

Mark, who is also Flambards’ health and safety adviser, said: “On its maximum setting it rises slowly, rotating to the top where it waits before suddenly dropping and twisting at speed. The height and the anticipation were the scariest parts for me.”

Skyraker will have a number of different settings from its maximum and most exhilarating to a gentle setting which will involve rising and falling slowly whilst rotating.

On this setting visitors will be able to enjoy far reaching views across the area – Cornwall’s answer to the London Eye.

Once the ride is built at Flambards, a team of British Safety Standard officers will carry out full safety checks to make sure it satisfies British regulations.

Managing director of Flambards, James Kingsford Hale, said: “Skyraker is fantastic and we’re confident it will be a major attraction for the whole of the region. With its varied programmes, it has settings to satisfy everyone – from the bravest adrenaline junky to those just wanting to enjoy unparalleled views of the area.”

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