Indianapolis Indiana - The Flying Coaster with Super Loops in background - on the fairgrounds for the Indiana State Fair in August, 1986.

The Flying coaster is a circular, steel track with hills and a four foot drop/jump. The ride rotates at a quick pace around the track on a single wheel - when the wheel drops down the jump, it gives a short sensation of falling.

The SuperLoops first debuted in the early 1970’s, manufactured by Larson International who prior to this time had only produced tractors and other agricultural machinery from their establishment in 1965. The Superloop’s inventor is believed to be Walter House (who also invented Gravitron) and his prototype unit traveled North America with Century 21 Shows for many years.

The loop’s 20 person train shuttles back and forth around the inside of the loop, attached to an ‘inertia ring’ - a circular 360o conveyor-belt locked into a track. This inertia ring is powered by the friction of hydraulic motors in the ride’s base, providing it with both clockwise and counterclockwise movements at the discretion of the ride’s operator (who sits in a steel frame immediately beside the track).

The Superloops is truly unique in its design, with no other ride coming close to its easily recognizable 23-metre (55 ft) steel ring construction. Perhaps the most intriguing element of this ride is the ingenious fold-up design that is not only capable of fitting onto a single trailer, but also self-assembling WITHOUT the use of a crane - via 2 large hydraulic rams at the loop’s base, each third of the loop folds out while the upper portions, in turn, hinge upward eventually connecting at the top-centre. (The fastening of the top of the ring is a very precarious step, as viewed below) Support cables are then anchored into place to provide further lateral support to the freestanding stationary steel loop. The ride can be set up with only two men in as little as 2-3 hours.

Superloops provides great drawcard value with its dominant circular construction, easily catching the gaze of passersby while also polluting the midway with the characteristic loud clattering of the inertia-ring rollers as the train rockets around the inside of the loop; further adding to its unique appeal.