Who thinks sky hawks ride time will be longer this year

I remember riding max air in 2006 and realizing the ride time was longer than it was in 2005. So i wonder if the same will happen with skyhawk because its a great ride but to short. Max airs ride time was probably shorter in 2005 because it was new and lines were longer so they made the ride shorter to make lines move quicker. So do you think they will do the same with skyhawk?
*** Edited 5/12/2007 10:48:04 PM UTC by Break the sound barrier***

It seemed to me to be the same ride time as last year.

I was hoping this would be the case. There is no question the ride cycle was way too short last year. It's dissappointing to hear it's not longer, but perhaps that will change when Maverick arrives, yes?

Well, not this year. At least today it wasn't.

NO it was not any longer then last year,

I assume it will remain the same, there really isnt a reason to change it if they haven't already.

maXair did get its cycle extended its second year.

Touche. However I wish they'd add the time to Skyhawk rather than maXair. I never had complaints about maXair's cycle. To me, the new longer one is a bit too long. But hey they're both fun rides, I won't complain.

Skyhawk gives two good swings and retards. I personally would think that one or two more swings would give a much better ride experience without lowering the capacity my a significant amount.

As a side note, I hope that Skyhawk's seals hold better this year.

Seeing as its the same cycle that Kennywood uses (aka the kings of long ride cycles) on their swing, I dont think Skyhawk will be extended (and it certainly wasnt today, but the line was much shorter.)

It might not be physically possible for Skyhawk to give more swings. I'm guessing it's like letting air out of a balloon. Once the air is gone, it's gone.

^ beat me to it.

All of the S&S Scremin' Swings have notoriously short ride times. They're pneumatically operated, and my guess is that they simply can't hold any more air in the tanks safely to extend ride time. Maxair, on the other hand, is just an electric motor, and they can make that run for (almost) as long as they want.

Probably true about the air stuff. But ride time was definately not any longer today. Same as always.

All of the S&S Scremin' Swings have notoriously short ride times. They're pneumatically operated, and my guess is that they simply can't hold any more air in the tanks safely to extend ride time.

Well I am going to have to disagree. The SS at Dorney Park (that you pay extra for) has a MUCH longer ride cycle. I remember watching it last year and saying, "why cant SkyHawk last that long".

Obviously this is just a guess, but I do think it will get longer eventually. They certainly can.

The Screamin' Swing at Dorney is also a LOT smaller than Skyhawk. While I agree that it has a really long ride time, it probably has proportionately larger air tanks too.

True. So, the tanks fill before each cycle, and then this is exhausted during the ride? (sorry, I know nothing about the mechanics behind it).

I guess I was assuming it's as easy as programming a longer ride cycle into the ride.

I'm pretty sure that's how it works. But, I could be wrong too.

Quite sad because if SH was longer it really would top MaxAir.

The air receiver size and the compressor/drier capacity can easily extend the ride time. Starting the swing actually takes quite a bit more air than running full swing. Starting keeps full pressure on cylinder for the entire stroke. At full swing, full pressure is needed for only a portion of the stroke. As the air expands, it still pushes the cylinder at a reduced force.

The compressors maintain a pressure range in the receiver. Most compressors turn on when the pressure falls to a setpoint and then turns off when it gets up to another set point. Skyhawk's compressors operate different for better control of the pressure.

As for running the ride longer, It's just a matter of reprograming the ride sequence.

Seemed the same to me for me back to back rides yesterday morning (9:30am 5/13/07)