The Flying Dinosaur is the headline thrill ride of Jurassic Park at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka. It is a steel flying coaster from Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M) that opened on March 18, 2016. Riders are laid face-down, about 151 feet above the park at the tallest point, and sent through five inversions at up to 62 mph.
This guide covers the ride’s stats, its layout, how it compares with the other flying coasters (Tatsu and F.L.Y.), who can ride, and how to plan a visit. It also explains where to find current hours, tickets and wait-time options on the official site.
Quick Answer
The Flying Dinosaur is a B&M flying roller coaster at Universal Studios Japan (Osaka) that opened March 18, 2016. It is 151 ft tall, 3,687.7 ft long and hits 62 mph, with 5 inversions and a 124 ft drop. It was the world’s longest and fastest flying coaster at its debut. Today it is the second-longest flying coaster, behind Phantasialand’s F.L.Y., and it ties Tatsu at Six Flags Magic Mountain for the top speed among flying coasters.
The Flying Dinosaur Stats at a Glance
- Park: Universal Studios Japan, Osaka (Jurassic Park area)
- Manufacturer: Bolliger & Mabillard
- Type: Steel flying roller coaster
- Opened: March 18, 2016
- Height: 151 ft (46 m)
- Drop: 124 ft (38 m)
- Top speed: 62 mph (100 km/h)
- Track length: 3,687.7 ft (1,124.0 m)
- Inversions: 5
- Trains: 4 trains of 8 cars each, with riders seated 4 across in a single row of 32 riders per train
- Height requirement: 52-78 in (132-198 cm), per the ride’s Wikipedia listing. Check the official rider requirements before your trip, since park rules can change.
What the Ride Is Like
Like other B&M flying coasters, riders board while seated. The seats then tilt back into a horizontal position, so you are facing the ground with your legs stretched out behind you, before the train is dispatched. You climb the chain lift already in the flying position, looking down at the park.
After the drop the layout runs through a zero-g roll, a first inversion and a “fly-to-lie” element that turns riders to face the sky. It then goes into a half pretzel loop and a second pretzel loop with a small tunnel at its base. An airtime hill, a corkscrew, a helix and an inline twist follow before the brake run.
The whole circuit takes a couple of minutes, though published ride times vary from about two to three minutes depending on the source. The Jurassic Park theming and the pterosaur concept set the ride apart from other flying coasters, which usually rely on the ride experience alone.
Records: Is It Still the Fastest and Longest Flying Coaster?
When it opened in 2016, The Flying Dinosaur broke the length record set by Tatsu (Six Flags Magic Mountain, opened 2006) and matched Tatsu’s 62 mph top speed. That made it the longest flying coaster in the world.
Phantasialand’s F.L.Y. opened in Germany in September 2020 and took the length record. Roller Coaster DataBase lists F.L.Y. at about 4,055 ft (1,236 m), and Phantasialand describes it as just under 1.3 km. F.L.Y. is a launched Vekoma coaster and its top speed is about 48.5 mph, well below the Osaka ride.
That leaves the current standings among flying coasters like this:
- Longest: F.L.Y. (Phantasialand), with The Flying Dinosaur second
- Fastest: The Flying Dinosaur and Tatsu tie at 62 mph
- Tallest: Tatsu, at 170 ft (52 m)
Who Can Ride
Riders must fall within the posted height range, listed as 52-78 inches (132-198 cm). Riders are also expected to meet USJ’s general health and safety requirements, which the park publishes on its attraction requirements pages. Because the ride holds you face-down and upside down, expect to store all loose items, including hats, glasses, phones and cameras, in a locker before boarding. Lockers are provided near the ride, and staff check riders for loose articles.
If someone in your group doesn’t meet the requirements or doesn’t want to ride, USJ normally offers a way for the rest of the party to ride while the others wait. Ask a crew member at the entrance for the current procedure.
Planning Your Visit
The Flying Dinosaur is one of the most popular attractions at Universal Studios Japan, so plan around queues. The park sells regular admission tickets and separate paid ride-access add-ons (Express Pass-style products). The price and availability of both change with the date, the season and demand, so check them before you book. A typical Osaka pattern is that weekends, Japanese school holidays and seasonal events draw the longest lines.
A few habits help on a busy day:
- Ride early or late in the day, when standby times tend to be shorter.
- Check whether a single-rider line is running. Reports from visitors say it can be much shorter than the main line on some days, but it isn’t guaranteed.
- Decide about lockers before you get in line, so you aren’t sent back after reaching the front.
- Ride status changes without notice. Weather and maintenance can pause or close the coaster, so check wait times in the official USJ app or on the day’s park information.
For current opening hours, ticket types and prices, ride status and the official rider requirements, use the official Universal Studios Japan website as the source of truth.
How It Compares With Other Flying Coasters
Flying coasters are a small group, and B&M’s versions share the same face-down seating concept. Tatsu is taller and the older of the two, while The Flying Dinosaur is longer and has a more compact, pretzel-loop-heavy layout. F.L.Y. is a different type of ride, with a launch instead of a chain lift, and it is the longest but the slowest of the three. For a coaster enthusiast, The Flying Dinosaur is the fastest-and-longest combination that was ever built on one flying coaster, and it still holds a share of the speed record.
The Flying Dinosaur at Universal Studios Japan FAQs
What is The Flying Dinosaur at Universal Studios Japan?
It is a B&M steel flying roller coaster in the Jurassic Park area of Universal Studios Japan in Osaka. It opened March 18, 2016, is 151 ft tall, reaches 62 mph and has 5 inversions.
When did The Flying Dinosaur open?
It opened on March 18, 2016.
Is The Flying Dinosaur still the fastest flying coaster in the world?
It ties Tatsu at Six Flags Magic Mountain for the fastest flying coaster at 62 mph. Phantasialand’s F.L.Y. is longer but tops out at about 48.5 mph.
Is The Flying Dinosaur the longest flying coaster?
No longer. It held the record from 2016, but F.L.Y. at Phantasialand in Germany took the length record when it opened in September 2020. The Flying Dinosaur is now second-longest at 3,687.7 ft.
What is the height requirement for The Flying Dinosaur?
The listed range is 52-78 inches (132-198 cm). Check the official USJ rider requirements before you go, in case the rules have changed.
How many inversions does The Flying Dinosaur have?
Five, including a zero-g roll, pretzel loops, a corkscrew and an inline twist, along with a helix and a fly-to-lie element.
Who built The Flying Dinosaur?
Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M), the Swiss manufacturer that pioneered the flying coaster.
Can I bring my phone or glasses on The Flying Dinosaur?
No. Loose items, including glasses, must be stored in a locker or left with a non-riding member of your party. Confirm the current details on the official USJ site.
Where can I find current hours and ticket prices?
On the official Universal Studios Japan website at usj.co.jp. Hours and prices vary by date and season, so check before you book.
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