The Bat - Kings Island - Roller Coaster HD-POV

Front riders point of view - The Bat swinging steel Roller Coaster at Kings Island, Cincinnati Ohio. This is an On-Ride HD Front POV of the Bat. Thanks for watching TheCoasterViews.
The Bat, formerly called Flight Deck and Top Gun, is a suspended roller coaster at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio. Built by Arrow Dynamics, the ride was known as Top Gun when it opened in 1993. Dan Brodland
Height: 78' (24 m)
Height restriction: 3' 6" (1.07 m)
Max speed: 51 mph (82 km/h)
Opened: April 9, 1993
Duration: 1 minute 52 seconds

[@WickedlyMe328]

I love how people think this is the original Bat from the 80's. This was Top Gun originally. Vortex is located where the original was.

[@usernamunavailiable]

Yep, Vortex uses the same station and some of the originally pilings. Coincidentally in KI's sister park in Canada they have this very same coaster called "Vortex".

[@emilyschaub6159]

WickedlyMe328 yeah we know.

[@hannahzimmerman7882]

WickedlyMe328 I

[@kevinstuart4264]

@@usernamunavailiable it gets confusing, because they also have one named flight deck and bat, and it used to be named top gun

[@clevelandcbi]

One of the biggest build-ups that ended up a total flop really. King's Island had some seriously MEH ride debuts over the years. This (Top Gun), Adventure Express, Days of Thunder, Tomb Raider, Italian Job etc. Waited THREE hours to ride this thing the week it debuted. Oh, and everyone young and old was either obviously dizzy or holding their head back then.

[@mrxxbrian]

Best roller coaster intro on youtube

[@bahamadogred]

this was a big deal when it came out in the 90s I remember. I stood in line forever and they had a overhead music blaring music from Top Gun movie

[@usernamunavailiable]

"Highway to the Danger Zone!!!"

[@visionist7]

Take mah' breath awaaaaaaaaaaay

[@kawiipotato2912]

bahamadogred I was 0 years old..

[@SomeJustice19k]

Agreed. This ride was awesome 20-25 years ago.

[@hiya3213AJ]

For whatever reason this is one of my favorite rides at Kings Island

[@MondoCoasters]

Not to be confused with the ORIGINAL Bat from 1981.

[@usernamunavailiable]

With the line all the way back to International Street.

[@morganosborne8407]

I was like "I didn't know this thing was still around let alone in the park" thanks for the clarification

[@TrentG23]

yes, never confuse the shitty original bat, with Top Gun.

[@donnachitwood-king8601]

The bat was closed down because it malfunctioned, I believe someone was killed. I went to Kings island, every year, I remember we had went there ,right after the accident, it was so eerie . ,And NO this is NOT the original bat, the bat was all 🖤 black, all black

[@RomanJockMCO]

@@donnachitwood-king8601 No one was killed or injured on the original Bat. It was closed because Arrow goofed in engineering it. They put the brake fins on the bottom of the cars putting additional stress on the wheels. The turns weren't banked putting too much stress on them. Struts were added to help control the violent swinging of the cars, etc. All these problems were corrected in XLR8 and the Big Bad Wolf (my personal favorite) a few years later.

[@lilla3056]

i’ve been terrified of roller coasters my whole life, which is awful since my family always gets kings island passes and i just don’t do anything the whole time. after a lot of convincing i finally just decided to ride this ride. i had a panic attack going up the hill and during the ride. everyone in my family told me i’d love it. i have never hated anything more.

[@MalrusOSC]

oh damn thought this was one of those “I did it and I loved it although I was scared!” comments, nah mate you just straight up hated it. That’s fine though! You don’t have to like coasters.

[@HonduDan]

To all the folks saying this ride is slow and wimpy, yes, you are right to an extent. However, this ride was cutting edge when it opened and had lines out the yin yang to ride. This was my first real rollercoaster, it was my kids first real rollercoaster, and I think it has been a lot of people's first coaster. The Bat has that nostalgia and believe it or not, it's not as slow and wimpy as you may think. It's actually a pretty great ride even though it is short and not too thrilling. How the cars swing during the ride is a pretty unique feeling. On top of the nostalgia, the awesome swinging of the cars and the good use of the terrain, you also get to walk the gargantuan queue and see the remnants of the Son of Beast. It's a neat little ride, I suggest everyone ride it if you visit King's Island.

[@gdkeen3307]

Shoot, this ride is STILL great I came out there, rode it for the first time a few months back, and loved it. Top 4 at the park, IMO

[@bebopsenju]

Kinda a wimpy ride, but cameras don't catch how fast you really go. I've learned that

[@logan3322]

LordPandaWarrior although 51 mph is pretty slow

[@bebopsenju]

Logan Shafer eh, sort of

[@nlia7725]

FullscreenFilms it's faster

[@wolflifewolflife7784]

its really fast

[@Howlingburd19]

The intense swinging back and forth is the whole gimmick, not speed

[@lukasgandy6329]

I absolutely love this coaster it’s my favorite arrow suspended coaster

[@PodcastShawn]

This is The Bat, but not the original. The original The Bat was torn down only a few years after it was constructed in 1981 due to constant mechanical malfunctions and structural issues (The Vortex now stands in its place, and uses its original boarding station). This ride was built and launched as Top Gun, which was later rebranded Flight Deck after Paramount sold the park to Cedar Fair, and now it's been once again rebranded The Bat.

[@DoodooBean]

+Shawn Harding Fun fact: You can actually still see remnants of the original Bat around the Vortex. You can see holes above the maintenance shed doors where the overhead track used to hang. You can also find rusty, old footers scattered around the station in the grass.

[@usernamunavailiable]

Right you are. I do wish they could've brought back those bat heads they had in the front of the cars on the original.

[@quentk8886]

The vortex? THE VORTEX? Ok, The Shawn Harding

[@lyndsaydawn13]

One of my personal favorite rides.

[@Hi-kr4lc]

This was my first ever Roller Coaster

[@chuuattackedmyheart6875]

every time I go to Kings island, it rains. What did I do wrong Kings island!!!!!!😭

[@C.A.Nanney]

Nothing I know of.

[@lorelei0321]

I go to KI all the time and I have had a pass for years and it has only rained on me 2 times

[@ItzSodaPoP]

I went yesterday was raining nobody went and right when we got there it was nice no one was there rode banshe and diamond back front row 10 times

[@chuuattackedmyheart6875]

+Itz SoDaPoP I was there at Kings island that day too. rode diamond back, Firehawk,banshee, and flight of fear a whole lot.

[@kiaalleybff2338]

ask Mother Nature

[@kayleeCantEvenYT]

This is my favorite ride there!

[@pee7709]

when your terrified of rollercoasters but you watch all these rollercoaster videos anyway

[@kendrapeters6361]

pilotbird this was my favorite and I’m terrified too

[@h.preston4574]

That’s why I’m watching them. Since I’m not on the ride, I can’t die 😂

[@thequeenscorner8173]

The bat is not scary tho

[@asonofthelionofjudah9765]

This was my favorite I used to not go on them until last year I went on this

[@neonorange8202]

@@thequeenscorner8173 mmk

[@yourtubesteak]

Or better known for years as Top Gun.

[@GhostsQueen85]

If paramount didn't go out of business or whatever it would still be called top gun. I miss those days where it was still called Paramount's Kings island 😩

[@usernamunavailiable]

Paramount didn't go out of business, but I hated that park under Viacom/Paramount. Sad when this coaster and "The Outer Limits/Flight of Fear" is probably the best rides they put in given Kings Island's history as being a premier coaster destination.

[@xxamazingjayxx]

My mom still calls Afterburn at Carowinds 'Top Gun' bc thats what shes always known the ride as

[@kevinthompson436]

Jay Carowinds is lame

[@ericasutton3147]

yourtubesteak I thought it used to be called the Flight Deck?

[@iimisty5611]

One my favorite rides🙌 finally got my little sister to ride it and she loves it!

[@connorwaits6575]

This is one of my favorite rides because there is almost no wait for it! lol

[@FBI-vc2wf]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@chroylikesfish]

I went to Kings Island for the first time last week and The Bat happened to be my 100'th roller coaster. I like it a lot better than Iron Dragon, but not nearly as good as The Great Bad Wolf was

[@Kharing]

A long time ago (1981) there was a hanging coaster called The Bat. (FIRST hanging coaster in the world!) It jerked a LOT and was painful to ride, so they got rid of it, and Vortex is there now. In 1993, another hanging coaster was built on the side of the park, called Top Gun. In 2008, the name was changed to Flight Deck when Cedar Fair bought the park. In 2014, it was changed again to The Bat, possibly as a throw-back to the original Bat.

[@boutcha1]

The original Bat coaster at KI was a very rough and painful ride. The cars weren't allowed to swing out far enough without hit the rubber stops that would suddenly stop the swing. At least I got to ride it all those years ago. This ride will always be Top Gun to me. I haven't been to KI in a decade, even though I'm only a little more than an hour away. I'm in a wheelchair now, so I figure, what's the point? Still won't forget the good ole days.

[@phoenixwing5133]

Lmao the funny thing is the start of this ride. It stops near the top and scares you a bit. It's always done that and I love making people ride it for the first time just to freak them out a bit. 👌

[@MrRandalfscott]

I'm pretty sure this is exactly the same layout as Vortex at Canada's Wonderland, only discernible difference is the support structure. Nothing wrong with that though, bloody great ride. EDIT: Even the station platform is the same.

[@thatsmallcessna8300]

RIP Arrow Suspended coasters :'(

[@mutoneon]

Great ride. Underrated for sure.

[@NewtypeCommander]

Didn't this ride used to be called Top Gun?

[@NewtypeCommander]

***** I thought the track looked familiar.

[@gkatorc2910]

It was also called flight deck. Thats what is was called when I went to kings island.

[@zachcoastercrazy4032]

Yes

[@ME-im3ui]

Affirmative goose

[@cardio8133]

Names: 91-2014 The bat Top gun Flight deck The bat

[@philipstuhan4297]

This s my favorite amusement park!

[@reesesmith1233]

Wish it was longer

[@HonduDan]

Size doesn't matter.

[@angelicavaladez5707]

i just went to kings island friday and my favorite one was the flight of fear its awesome and has alot of speed i recommend that one👍💯

[@jdhartsough]

@Melody Flack probably thinking of Firehawk, which was right behind the flight or fear. Or vortex, which they closed last season.

[@comedian416]

00:08 Hahahaha Perfect HD POV intro. Thanks Dan

[@ChrisGugliuzza]

This ride was better than I thought it would be

[@internetclown8412]

probably the scariest because of the speed

[@internetclown8412]

***** Dont care. I said it was the scariest ride that "I" went on

[@BaseRunner318]

I wonder if Batman would enjoy this ride

[@marleev.7158]

This was my first ever roller coaster

[@kidchaotic187]

Wow I was there 1 day before this video was uploaded and it was uploaded on my bday

[@Reckless_Metal]

0:28 THUNK THUNK THUNK THUNK THUNK

[@phoenixwing5133]

You don't know pain unless you walk the entire way to this ride. Sometimes a shortcut is open, sometimes it isn't.

[@mrpigeh7081]

Thanks for the ear bleeding audio

[@kaitlynnemusic7660]

im 13 and this was my first big rollercoaster I loved it

[@sarahbell8002]

I went to Kings island and it was fun I rode about 6,7 or 8 roller coasters I recommend that you take a vacation to Kings island!

[@susanrc73]

I want to go back to Kings Island. Only live 4 hours away from it. ;)

[@gorgesmiff]

In the UK that would be the other half of the country 😂

[@susanrc73]

Haha! I imagine what it would be like for the kids that want to go to amusement parks in the UK. Son:'Mom, can we go to to the amusement park?" Mom: "No." Son: "Why?" Mom: "Because that is across the country!" Son: "It's only 4 hours away!" Mom: "Exactly!"

[@tiepowersvevo]

Ikr I'm in Cleveland but.. I'm going in 2.weeks

[@emilys5167]

I live have an hour from it

[@internetclown8412]

live 12 hours away from the one i know

[@MrVekoma1979]

i got to ride the bat ALONE all by my self i sat in the front row seat and i was the only one on the train it was late at night and after my band left because i was there for music in the parks i rode the bat like 4 times and it was awsome it was also raining at the time that i rode it so my face and body hurt so bad because of the rain

[@jollyrancher9304]

Favorite ride at KI!

[@-K_J-]

i kind of wish they would have dug up the original cars from somewhere. the original bat's cars were cool as hell.

[@quentk8886]

Believe it or not, the cars (specifically the brakes) were the main reason the original bat was taken down

[@goldieheart8261]

This must be really new or really old, I went last season (2017) and at 1:20 that white building wasn't there.

[@4k182]

This is a girl named summer and I love this ride almost all of the rides there

[@blahblahblah5155]

I live 45 minutes away from KI and yesterday was the first time I've been there in about 10 years. I remember all the old names for paramount Top Gun, Italian Stunt Job and Drop Zone and that's what I'll always refer to them as

[@strykervenom1]

I remember when this was Top Gun. Very fun.

[@20gamergirl02]

Im going to kings island on may 25 then going to cedar point in june 😆

[@20gamergirl02]

Ive never been to kings island but i have been to cedar point before and i Am excited

[@Lapperashie]

my fav coaster now

[@mi-6143]

i actually really like this ride, it just sucks how short it is.

[@pandabearpie9899]

Since I have a pass I go often and this ride is one of my favorites

[@konneryoung7727]

I rode this and it goes so fast you don't even realize when its over I rode it 7 times in a row

[@cedricdiggory9629]

What if the bat used Vecoma trains instead of arrow trains like on the Vampire in Chessington

[@dylanjacksun]

Kings Island needs to go through this comment section and see all the positive stuff about the bat... because let’s be honest... after Vortex closed this is probably the next one to go 😭😭

[@ME-im3ui]

Vortex is crickets?

[@quentk8886]

I agree... Within a few years Arrow coasters will probably be extinct :(

[@Rohrbach17]

@@quentk8886Yet this comment didn’t age well as this coaster along with many other Arrow coasters still exist today

[@TheAddictedBoy911]

The guy in the beginning is funny

[@thtoneguy0321]

Kings island had the first suspended roller coaster "The bat" and then it was dismantled and now the vortex is where it used to be located and they also have the last suspended roller coaster.. So Kings island can probably say they had the first and the last 😁😁❤️🖤

[@905Metalhead]

Last to be installed, but far from the last. Vortex at Canada’s Wonderland will likely out live The Bat.

[@thtoneguy0321]

@@905Metalhead I don't see them getting rid of the bat anytime soon Not to mention vortex at Canada's wonderland is technically older so if they were to get rid of one in Canada's wonderland and use the spare parts for the one at Kings Island.. That's just my opinion

[@905Metalhead]

BuckNutty I actually see it the other way around. The Bat is likely long from retirement, but isn’t close to Vortex’s popularity. 90+ minute lines are not uncommon. Plus it’s a center piece of the park.

[@thtoneguy0321]

@@905Metalhead Yea I'll admit that the Vortex goes through some pretty amazing scenery and climbing up the mountain is cool AF but the ride is rough. The several times I've been to Canada's wonderland over the last decade and ridden it in the front, and middle and back it's only gotten worse. And the bat will some days have a large line and some days that won't and I think that has to do more with the fact that It's set back in the woods and it's definitely not the centerpiece like Vortex but it's a way more smoother ride and even though it doesn't have that effect of flying through the park that the vortex has I still prefer the Bat not to mention it has a pretty awesome night ride. I am not in any way saying vortex at Canada's wonderland is a bad ride and that it needs to be taken down I don't think they're going to remove either anytime soon unless there's good reason too..

[@kiaalleybff2338]

this is my favorite ride

[@AlectheBEenthusiast]

Short ride but fun ride

[@sxphhhYT]

At my friends bday party, my friend forced me to go on the 2nd time I didn’t want, but I went on anyways. It was actually not that bad! Haha

[@emperormiester]

i love having to skip through the lift hill

[@sargonny]

When I went to kings islans, I was excited because I wanted to go on the bat. But I chickened out because I was too scared?? And im kinds thankful because someone puked on the ride when I wanted to go on lol

[@mayalong787]

I actually never rode the Bat before I remember it being flight deck but I never rode it so the first time I rode it I was scared but I actually love this ride and it is my favorite beside the Beast and Delirium.

[@jacquesstrap5723]

Audio sounds like someone pissing in my ear. Good ride tho

[@ustagivadambutnevagavafuk2675]

So they basically painted the rails on top gun and changed the name

[@quentk8886]

yup. Simply because Paramount didn't own them anymore so they didn't have Top Gun's rights

[@signalwalid25trainz50]

This ride is actually top gun

[@savannahbennett4553]

I'm 11now but when I was 7 this was the first dig rollercoaster that I road and I love it I miss my brother Jake he road that with me the first time he moved out I miss him so much

[@ariannajennings1300]

I rode this like a year ago but I closed my eyes the whole time. I only rode it because my dad said he’d give me $20 if I did

[@allisamunson5438]

i rode this after watching the video and my heart litterally stopped lol

[@ericathompson1229]

I love it

[@haleyrobinson5312]

I could see great wolf lodge on this ride

[@jaylynharrison2933]

I'm going to kings island this friday

[@Takador]

This is flight deck recolored or the other way around?

[@raptorvloges2286]

Why do you need the over the head heatness not just a lap bar it does not go upside down.

[@marlamaine8650]

I've ride this ride, it's ok at best. The time it takes to make one trip is 2 minutes which sound pretty good, until you realize that half is literally the climb up the hill! I'm not kidding it is actually that long

[@lgrbrc1153]

The noise in this video makes this thing seem like it’s going 80 miles per hour

[@wackyred35ties]

When did they chan top gun to the bat??

[@niceguy60]

From the DANGER ZONE to I'M BATMAN

[@RudolphManor]

Old Top Gun

[@chronicdisease1722]

This ride was closed down during the rain

[@tallynlip]

One time me and my friend got stuck on top of the bat because someone had their phone out. We managed to get someone to wave back from great wolf lodge nextdoor.

[@ME-im3ui]

The loudest lift hill of all time

[@christopherwynn727]

Teen Titans Go Bat Scouts Full Episode 2018

[@bobmckloven6868]

This ride was first top gun then flight deck and now the bat

[@Bgwhzyful]

chainlift is loud BANG BANG

[@m.i.l.a3302]

This rides gives you a hella headache 🤕

[@madilovesmingi1363]

Nahh i was just light headed after

[@mikehunt2552]

This ride is not "The Bat." This is Top Gun / Flight Deck with a different paint job. I rode the original "The Bat" several times as a kid and was on one of the last rides it ever ran in Late July of 1983. I can tell you that that ride kicked this rides' ass!!! There are absolutely no similarities whatsoever between the old ride and this new incarnation and I personally think it's a slap in the face to the original "The Bat" for even remotely thinking about calling it that. Aside from that, this coaster sucks. Don't waste your time waiting in line for it.

[@martin5478]

The bat is just a copy of the vortex suspended roller coaster

[@usernamunavailiable]

Copy? It's an Arrow Dynamics product. That would be like saying your phone is a copy of another.

[@xxmysticalzxx7024]

where was great wolf lodge?? The banshee was there and great wolf lodge was there before the banshee was... can someone plz explain??

[@FanOfVacuums2]

It's right to the left going up the lift hill of the Bat. Just to clarify, the Great Wolf Lodge isn't going up the lift hill, but it's visible to the left of the rider while they're going up the lift hill. Both could be interpreted from how I phrased my answer.

[@potatodaddy4935]

When I rode this thing it looked like it took a serious beating

[@christopherhilderbrand9783]

looks like it's about to storm down their in Mason

[@snorkupine210]

How could they desecrate the name of one of the best KI coasters of all time. This coaster is still Top Gun/Flight Deck - theme and all. It's not awful, but it's no Bat.

[@k9erv]

+snorkorsys They had to. Paramount Pictures owns the rights to the movie Top Gun and when Paramount sold Kings Island to Cedar Fairs (same people who own cedar point), they had to change the ride name due to copyright issues.

[@snorkupine210]

K9ERV They could have named it a lot of things besides The Bat. It wasn't even named Top Gun recently. It was previously named Flight Deck. They could've kept that too. The Bat was a great ride that used to be where the Vortex is now. Top Gun / Flight Deck doesn't even compare.

[@k9erv]

Oh, I'm not saying the new name is good. I was just answering your posted question as to why they changed the name. I don't remember the original Bat, so I will take your word on it that it was better than this Bat. Another good one they changed due to the copyright issue with Paramount was "Lora Croft Tomb Raider". I don't even remember what that one was re-named for the few years it operated prior to being taken out. And come to think of it, wasn't there a 2nd ride there called Top Gun? Seems like they had one that was on a really tall pole called Top Gun. If I remember correct, it just rotated around the pole, 2 seats per "capsule" and it had a joystick in the middle where you could make it barrel roll while in the air....Anyone else remember that one, and wasn't it also a "Top Gun"?

[@usernamunavailiable]

"Tomb Raider; The Ride" was renamed "The Crypt". The other ride you are thinking about was called "Flight Commander". Which was installed when the parks were owned by Lindner/KECo, and was removed when Paramount purchased it. (It was the ride the lady fell from on that infamous night in Jun 91)

[@cancelled148]

What is the deal with top gun.

[@DarkstalkerThePrimagen]

sounds like kings island had rain at the start.

[@Aoocci791]

after what happened in England (alton towers) dose this put you of going on roller coassters?

[@usernamunavailiable]

nope!

[@quentk8886]

No. US coaster standards are higher, and my favorite rides at KI are the B&Ms, and B&M has a perfect safety record

[@truefyre2949]

Which one do you prefer The Bat Vortex Ninja Vote in the comments

[@arctrooper6386]

Vortex

[@laneheron2576]

That lift hill though

[@quinntoppolis6454]

51-ish mph, seemed so much faster in video.

[@mollyhepburn8938]

I rode this one and cried on it

[@alexbarbro1241]

I love kings island. I have a gold pass and I rode that a few days ago for the first time this year. It's looks lame but it's so much cooler in person.

[@speedlightstudios7284]

Wow u have a gold pass? Lucky but we go once every two years this year we get to go during the Halloween haunt

[@fdanisndsa]

I live near mason :D Im too scared to go on the diamondback :/

[@usernamunavailiable]

Diamond back is awesome, not rough at all a very smooth ride.

[@Gamerguy-qv7xq]

im 13 and rode diamond back 4 times in one day but thats not my fav this one was

[@Nick-xb5nz]

Is this smooth or rough?

[@quentk8886]

The thing with suspended Arrows is that they swing, and that would help disguise any roughness so it's really not bad