Acrobat

Nagashima Spa Land announced Acrobat as a major new attraction for 2015, with its grand opening set for July 18 of that year. It was presented as Japan’s first flying coaster of its kind, bringing a prone riding position to the park’s skyline. kyodonewsprwire.jp

The work was entrusted to Bolliger & Mabillard of Switzerland, whose Flying Coaster design places the passenger face down as the train leaves the station. The arrangement gives the ride its distinctive sense of open air and movement above the landscape. kyodonewsprwire.jp· bolliger-mabillard.com

Nagashima’s account of the finished course calls attention to its low passage over the water, its corkscrew and loop elements, and the smooth, carefully varied path that gives Acrobat its name. The result is a substantial piece of steel engineering set among the park’s broad collection of rides. kyodonewsprwire.jp· nagashima-onsen.co.jp

The project represented an investment of approximately forty-one point three million dollars. Since opening, Acrobat has remained in operation at Nagashima Spa Land, where its combination of height, speed, and four inversions continues to distinguish it among the park’s larger coasters. kyodonewsprwire.jp· www1.parkz.com.au