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Bobcoaster's Tribute to Fred Church, Page One
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This page was initially published on June 11, 2000.
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I never rode the Bobs at Riverview Park in Chicago, nor did I ride the Rye Playland (New York) Aeroplane. While the Aeroplane lacked a tunnel (one of my requirements for a superb coaster), all other elements appear to have come together to make the Aeroplane a truly rare thrill ride. It just may have been the world's finest coaster ever. It appears to have had fabulous curves, an incredible spiral (whirlpool) drop, a second spiral; all that I could want. How I wish I could have ridden it, or that we will get the chance one day again. These two coasters are probably Church's most famous designs.
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The Aeroplane. There are wonderful photographs of this ride in the book, Harry Traver: Legends of Terror and in earlier ACE (American Coaster Enthusiasts) magazines. These photos of the Aeroplane came from my souvenir folder of Playland. The first one shows the beautiful placement of the two Fred Church coasters at Playland on opposite sides of a midway with matching loading stations.
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This aerial photograph of Playland's two Fred Church coasters, the Dragon (still operating....see my Bobcoaster's Page) and the now-defunct Aeroplane shows the beauty and symmetry that only Fred Church could design into roller coasters.
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The Bobs, Riverview Park (now defunct), Chicago. This photo and the background photograph are from the collection of Clarence Hintze.
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This Bobs postcard is from Doug Garner.
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For information and photographs of Fred Church coasters I have actually experienced, go on to Page Two of my Fred Church Tribute.
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or, return to Bobcoaster's Coaster Page index page.
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