Out of the kindness of our director's hearts, we were sentenced to serve one day at Knott's Berry Farm to give COSMOS a good name. Therefore, there were three buses waiting to pickup a large quantity of COSMOS students at this drop of area or entrance to UC Irvine. Prior to the departure our bus pilot reminded us of basic rules to obey, such as keeping our hands and limbs inside the cabin at all times and not moving from one aisle to another aisle.
Exiting at Buena Park, the pilot reduced the speed to 26 knots to taxi to the final destination at the general automobile parking. The RA in charge of each bus passed out entrance tickets and meal/fuel vouchers to the line of passengers as they exitted out of the bus. As a group, we walked to the main entrance as depicted here in the image below.
It was approximately 11:45 when the students bearing blue COSMOS T-shirts walked through the gate and into the airport. I find it funny that the inspection of our carry on baggage happens after our flight is over.
Without clearance from the Air Traffic Control, I wandered around aimlessly until I found an RA station. I studied the map of the airways within the park, and decided I would go to the control tower, which is properly called Sky Cabin.
Inside, I saw various identified flying objects in the Knott's Berry Farm airspace. The highest identified flying object was the Xcellerator, and a few jets leaving from the nearby airports.
I got out of the control tower, and taxied to a roller coaster called Pony Express. After waiting 20 minutes in line, the pilot controlling that ride opened the gate to let me into the first car. I thus became the pilot of that car, and I had no co-pilot. After the operator secured the passengers, she announced, "cleared for takeoff," and opened full throttle. Just before landing, the ride halted from the air brakes and landing gear brakes. We all exited the aircraft for the next pilot and passengers in line can board the aircraft/roller coaster. I saw some fellow COSMOS pilots and passengers in line for the ride, and I stopped by the exit gate to take pictures.
Meanwhile, I attempted to practice my Spanish with a little Hispanic girl who was too little to go on the ride, and had to wait for her mom and sister to finish. The only thing I managed to communicate with her is "What's your name?" And she answered too quietly for me to hear. She'll get used to American English when she get to school.
When my friends finished the ride, we grouped up, and I declared I would joint their group. We taxied to Big Foot Rapids for our next ride/flight. After 42 minutes of waiting, the final boarding call was announced four our voyage/flight/ride.
As pilots/captains, we boarded the aircraft/ship/tube for the water ride. The plane/vessel accelerated to a maximum velocity of 20 knots, and splashed water into the deck. Our items were protected in a shielded luggage compartment. When the ride finished after three minutes, we disembarked the airplane/ship into the rotating terminal, and met at the ride exit.
Because a large quantity of the fuel in our body had been consumed for such rides, we received clearance from the control tower to taxi to a fueling station/eatery to redeem fuel/cheeseburgers (or for me, cheese pizza). The fueling station's menu included these items:
When we finished refueling/eating lunch, we taxied to the next attraction.
This next flight is called Ghostrider. The ghosts were probably from the people who died from standing too close to the jet engines powering the roller coaster. Twenty minutes passed before the flight began. My friend and I became the co-pilot and pilot of the flight, respectively, for the first car in the roller coaster. Shortly after takeoff, the airplane had to make an emergency landing due to an electrical failure. After the failure was repaired, the flight continued as normal. Accelerating to a speed of approximately 52 knots, the aircraft made several hard banks to change direction and raised and lowered the elevator to increase or decrease the altitude. On the final landing speed, the aircraft halted at the short runway, and taxied to the roller coaster runway.
After all my group members went on Ghostrider, we taxied to our final roller coaster for the day. Named "Silver Bullet," the ride attempts to emulate the feeling of a fighter pilot making basic aerobatic moves. As we boarded the fighter jets, the squadron of COSMOS cosmonauts/fighter pilots left the runway and climbed to approximately 100 feet. Then a rapid descent with hard banks, loops and twists. These were computer controlled moves, so we as fighter pilots only had to endure the G forces involved in the flight.
Upon the completion of this final flight, my group went back to the control tower to view the airspace a final time.
Our group ate a different eatery after visiting the control tower. Some of the food/fuel purchased included Dippin' Dots Ice Cream and a funnel cake.
Finally, all COSMOS students reported back at the main gate to discuss the day. Sightings of COSMOS students from UC San Diego were reported. Also, and extreme fighter pilot announced that he had blacked out momentarily during a flight on the Xcellerator. Others commented on the long lines to board the aiplanes.
When all students were accounted for, COSMOS announced the clear of the runway and headed back to the terminal where the (air)buses would fly us back to UC Irvine. The bus pilots arrived, and we boarded the same vehicles.
I found it fun writing this post in terms of being a pilot. It probably took me a little too long, yet I of course think it was worth it. Here the only math I could make out of this trip:
Ride Wait Time Ride Time Ratio
Sky Cabin 04:25 04:25 100.000%
Pony Express 20:00 00:30 2.500%
Big Foot Rapids 42:00 03:00 7.142%
Ghostrider 20:00 02:00 10.000%
Silver Bullet 05:00 02:00 40.000%
This is a very inaccurate study on ride time to wait time. In general, this can be used as an excuse for visiting Knott's Berry Farm.
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