Flight of Fear

Flight of Fear is an indoor launched coaster located in the Area 72 section at Kings Island. The ride opened in 1996 and was originally known as The Outer Limits: Flight of Fear, and themed to the 1995 TV series The Outer Limits. The theme was dropped in 2001 when the license to the show's likeness expired. A clone of this ride also exists at sister Cedar Fair park, Kings Dominion.

History
On August 17, 1995, Kings Island announced that they would be adding a new coaster powered by an linear induction motor (LIM) launch system. It would be themed to the science fiction TV show, The Outer Limits. The ride would be placed towards the back of the park behind The Racer, where a pathway was built underneath the support structures.

The Outer Limits: Flight of Fear was set to open in April 1996, but this was eventually delayed to June 18, 1996. The ride proved to be very popular with guests with its elaborate theming and the introduction a new coaster system to the park. Besides having the ability to operate in the rain, cold, and high winds, the inversion-packed ride experience was also thrilling for park guests due to taking place mostly in the dark.

Paramount Parks filed a lawsuit against Premier Rides in September 1996 regarding cost overruns during development and construction. Premier spokeswoman Courtney Simmons said in November 1997 that the absence of LIM technology in the original plans was a factor, and that the suit was essentially about money. It was later settled, and Premier expected to continue working with Paramount in future endeavors.

In 2001, The Outer Limits name was dropped after Paramount chose not to renew the license for the show's theme from United Artists and MGM. That same year, the original over-the-shoulder restraints were replaced by lap bars, due to complaints of roughness.

With the addition of Firehawk in 2007, the surrounding area of Coney Mall opposite of The Racer was renamed to X-Base, though it was not marked as such on the park maps. During this same season, the ride was equipped with on-board video cameras that recorded riders with the option to purchase the video at the ride exit. These cameras were removed at the end of the 2007 season.

In 2020, Flight of Fear 's surrounding area was renamed a second time when Orion opened as a replacement for Firehawk, this time to Area 72. Unlike the area's previous name of X-Base, the park maps now reflect this. The attraction received an improved entrance and a portion of the queue line was extended into the former Firehawk queue. The on ride photo also returned in 2020, reusing the Vortex on ride photo camera.

Story
The building housing the queue is designed as an Area 51-inspired military installation hangar. The outside is marked with the number 18, and riders enter the line through a "press area" located under an awning to the side of the building. Various announcements regarding the operation of the base and broadcasts from WERD ("weird"), a fictitious radio station, are played over speakers in the outside queue area. The queue line slightly descends down a short, narrow tunnel as guests enter the building, making a left into the interior of the hangar. It contains one-half of a full-sized mockup UFO flying saucer, which appears to be complete as the back wall of the building is entirely lined with mirrors to complete the illusion. A video is played over multiple screens to describe the ride's backstory, explaining how the spacecraft crash-landed not far from the park. While some base personnel are running tests on the vessel, others are convinced that it's a hoax and decided to allow the press in to view it. Strobe and dimming lighting effects are utilized throughout the indoor portion of the queue, which are synchronized with the pre-recorded video during moments of power surges and power failures. Hazmat suits and computer equipment with active monitors can be seen in various locations inside the hangar. After winding around the inside of the hangar, guests enter the underside of the UFO up a short flight of stairs. The inside of the saucer features a display with alien markings and originally played various sound effects. Guests can hear each launch, which resonates throughout this portion of the queue. On the left side of this room, guests can use the chicken exit if they decide to not ride the coaster. The walkway turns to the right, continues into another room, and turns left into the boarding area. The loading and unloading stations are in separate rooms, so riders in the loading area witness an empty train returning. In the station, there are human-sized cryotube props containing mannequins wrapped in plastic, adding to the alien theme. A set of cars then approaches, awaiting new visitors, as the alien leader welcomes guests aboard in a rather evil manner. There is another chicken exit to the left of the station where guests can get their last chance to exit, before it is too late.

Ride Experience
The ride begins with the train being launched from 0 - 54 mph in 4 seconds past the on-ride photo, into a dark, gamma radiation arena where the remainder of the ride takes place. Inside the arena, there is little lighting and suspenseful sci-fi themed music that can be heard playing in the background. First, the train heads into a cobra roll. Afterwards, riders are rolled upside-down through sidewinder. The train makes a right curve after this inversion. Riders approach a double left turn, leading to the block brake. The train slowly dives into a left spiral. After the spiral, riders go through a right turn. The train hits the ground, going through a few turns. Following a corkscrew, rides hit the final brake run. Before hitting the unloading station, a small alien figure can be seen sitting to the right of the cars near a control panel, but it is not made clear if this is the alien leader who has been making announcements in the loading station. The same alien leader then bids riders farewell and encourages them to come back soon.

Trivia

 * Flight of Fear is the only coaster at Kings Island that takes place completely indoors.
 * As a result, this is the only coaster in the park that is not visible unless you are on the ride. Therefore, riders do not know what to expect compared to the other coasters that offer a view of the structure from various areas of the park.


 * This is the first launched coaster to open at Kings Island. Almost ten years later in 2005, another launched coaster, The Italian Job: Stunt Track (now known as Backlot Stunt Coaster) was built.
 * In 2021, the ride became a no bag/loose articles at all ride.
 * During the beginning of Cedar Fair's ownership of the park, a sign was shown above the entrance labeling the area as "Fort Kinzel." This is a reference to former Cedar Fair CEO Richard Kinzel. The sign has since been removed due to Kinzel's retirement in 2012.
 * There is a basketball hoop in the area in between the loading and unloading station in the basement.
 * The UFO that guests enter in the queue line is actually only a half-built model. It appears to be full-scale due to mirrors on the wall that reflect the structure to give the appearance of a full-scale model.
 * While in the queue line, an alien can be seen spying on visitors if one is to look up in the right corner of the room that houses the UFO.
 * Another alien can be spotted near the end of the ride. Right before the cars approach the unloading station, the figure can be seen to the right, which is also the same side the riders exit at the unloading station. The area is dark, like most of the ride, but the figure is noticeable due to green lights that are nearby. The figure's presence is most likely to imply that this alien was controlling the ride cars.
 * Professional voice actor Jim Cummings provides the voice for the alien leader that speaks to guests before loading and exiting the ride. He is known for voicing Dr. Robotnik in the Sonic the Hedgehog cartoon.
 * Onride photos were initially offered in a station that was later changed to provide seating for guests. This feature returned in the 2020 season.
 * Before 2020, their was not actually a sign on the building saying Flight of Fear, now there is a sign.
 * During Winterfest the ride is called Flight of Cheer(2018, 2021-Present)