Unspecified/General

FlyOver Canada is a flight-simulation attraction at Canada Place on the Vancouver waterfront that gives visitors the sensation of soaring across the country, suspended before a vast spherical screen as wind, mist and scents are added to the moving images to create a vivid illusion of flight. Opened in 2013 in a former IMAX cinema, it was the first of what has grown into an international family of similar rides, and it was inspired by the simulated flight attractions pioneered at major theme parks. The experience begins with a short pre-show that sets the scene before guests are secured into seats arranged in rows that, once the show begins, swing forward and lift so that their feet dangle in the air, suspended within a great dome onto which a film is projected. Over the course of the journey the seats tilt, rise and dip in time with the footage, which was shot from aircraft over many weeks across the breadth of the country, sweeping the audience over towering coastal mountains and glaciers, across the prairies, above forests, lakes and waterfalls, past cities and along both the Atlantic and Pacific shores, while jets of air, sprays of mist and bursts of scent reinforce the sense of really being there. The result is a short but exhilarating virtual tour of some of the most spectacular landscapes of the nation, easily enjoyed by all ages and requiring no physical effort, and its location at the cruise and tourism hub of Canada Place makes it a popular stop for visitors to the city. The success of FlyOver Canada led to the concept being exported, and similar attractions have since opened in the United States, Iceland and elsewhere, but the original remains devoted to the landscapes of its home country and is periodically refreshed with new films. The technology descends from the simulated hang-gliding rides pioneered at major theme parks, and the careful synchronisation of the moving seats with the projected footage is what creates the convincing illusion of flight; as the film banks and swoops, the seats follow, so that the body feels the dives and climbs even as the eye is filled with the curving screen. The footage was captured over weeks of aerial filming across the country, gathering sweeping shots of mountains, coastlines, forests, prairies and cities. Short, comfortable and requiring no exertion, the ride appeals to almost every age, and its setting within the busy tourism hub of Canada Place makes it an easy and popular addition to a day exploring the area.

Type: Activity

Address: 999 Canada Place, Vancouver, Canada

Website: https://www.flyovercanada.com

Opening Date: 29/06/2013