Aardman, the award-winning UK studio, attended the inauguration of Skånes Djurpark's new family attraction, Scrap Flyer, together with 40 young test pilots and the chairman of the municipal executive board, Johan Svahnberg.
The new ride, located in the popular Shaun the Sheep Land, is a carousel suitable for both older and younger children. The attraction is based around the story of Shaun the Sheep and his Flock collaborating to construct a flying machine using recycled materials from the Farmer, including a tumble dryer, old bicycles, and propellers.
Young visitors enjoying The Scrap Flyer at Skånes Djurpark
Image courtesy of Aardman
There was huge enthusiasm for participating as a test pilot and being among the first to experience the new ride.
“It was a real thrill in the stomach when you pedaled and flew high up! It felt just like riding a bike in the air, and you just wanted to go again,” says Elliot, 8 years old, who was one of the test pilots.
Alvin, 7 years old, who rode with his sibling Ellen, 5 years old, adds: "It was fast and I flew high. It tilted, and we thought it was super fun! It gets a hundred out of a hundred points!"
An interactive experience
The Scrap Flyer, a Magic Bikes 6 model from Zamperla, is an interactive ride that lets guests control their flight. By pedalling, riders steer the arm's movement and make the ride lift off. It has six flying vehicles, with room for 12 passengers per ride.
The Scrap Flyer at Skånes Djurpark is powered by guests - the more the pedal, the higher they rise
Image courtesy of Aardman
To enhance accessibility, the ride includes a wheelchair-accessible flying vehicle, allowing guests to fly using their arm strength instead of pedalling.
The attraction involves an expansion of Shaun the Sheep Land – the 20,000-square-metre area operated in collaboration with the British animation studio Aardman.
Skånes Djurpark's CEO, Glenn André Eikelund, says: "Finally, we have inaugurated Scrap Flyer!
"The fact that the children think it's so much fun that they want to ride it over and over again is fantastic, and we look forward to now being able to take all guests over 90 cm on a high-flying ride this summer."
Earlier this year, Aardman and Lightroom unveiled details of a new immersive experience, Larger Than Life: Starring Wallace & Gromit, Shaun and More, opening in October.
