Holovis Takes to the Skies with Ferrari World’s Flying Aces

Apr 13, 2016 Joe Kleiman News, Technology & Media, Theme Parks 0

Lutterworth, UK –– Ferrari World Abu Dhabi has unveiled its latest record-breaking attraction, Flying Aces; the world’s steepest steel rollercoaster with a launch hill inclined by 51 degrees, speeds of 30km/h making it the fastest inclined cable lift ever created and featuring the world’s tallest loop standing at 52 metres.

This iconic ride needed a pre-show that would create an exciting journey for guests and immerse them into the story of the Cavallino Rampante’s birth, while establishing an emotional connection with the legendary car brand. Holovis Media and the Holovis AV division was brought on board to create, design and integrate all the complex projection systems and spatial audio with the purpose-designed media for a pre-show that compellingly tells the Flying Aces story ahead of the adrenaline-fuelled experience.

Flying Aces projection mapped sky

The pre-show area is themed as a WWI Italian airfield with a striking 100 square meter Sky Mural as its centrepiece. The projection mapping brings to life a ‘moving painting’ depicting the skyline through which the Flying Aces’ squadron flies, creating an immersive, ground-shaking experience as planes swoop through the space from all directions.

“The creative team at Holovis gave what I like to call all-things-magical to the project,” Creative Director George Walker explains. “They animated wonder into the sunset sky mural with amazing planes that fill the horizon, breathed life into the faces of scenic figures, populated the environment with holographic characters, layered the scenes with environmental audio illusions, and then underscored the whole thing with a brilliant, cinematic orchestral score. Holovis played an integral role in the story-telling component of this attraction, right down to the comically clever safety film that plays in the briefing room just before guest’s board.”

Guests journey through the queue-line experience and are immersed in the story of the Flying Aces squadron through media-rich scenes, including a projected illusion of two soldiers playing cards aligned with the props in foxhole and pilots tangled in the scenic trees who speak to you via projection-mapped faces. The themed interiors are periodically lined with windows that include specially embedded display technology to create the illusion of a world beyond.

Flying Aces projected window display

Under the direction of the Farah Experiences project team, Holovis Media, the company’s creative, media and game development division, scripted, show produced and designed all the media elements within the 29 different story zones that people travel through, producing a full 45-minute queue line and preshow experience for guests.

Stuart Hetherington, CEO of Holovis explains: “This spectacular attraction features the thrill of a traditional e-ticket coaster, but also puts people at the heart of a compelling story, thanks to the immersive storytelling in the preshow. Holovis is unique in having both in-house creative media and gaming teams that work along our software development specialists, enabling us to deliver very high production values in a total package. Our 50+ strong team of technologists, solution architects, story-tellers, creatives and programmers make us one of the largest dedicated attractions design studios, ideal for ensuring a perfect unity between the story being told and the most appropriate technology. And because all this can be delivered whilst incorporating our world-leading AV design and installation capabilities, the final experience achieves the highest possible levels of fault-free, seamless integration.”

Jesse Vargas, General Manager at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi says: “Following the introduction of two new attractions in 2015, we are starting 2016 with the biggest ride unveiling since our grand opening, with the launch of the incredible, record-breaking roller coaster, Flying Aces.

Our new attractions and ongoing development have largely contributed to reinvent the Park which now provides all-new, thrilling experiences to complement its existing entertainment offering. A theme park evolution on this scale is unheard of and we are so proud to bring even more fun to one of Abu Dhabi’s premier leisure destinations, Yas Island.”