Flying and the Fly-rail

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Not all studios are equipped with fly-lines but when the are, the fly-rail is fitted at chest height to one side wall of the studio. The fly-rail might or might not run the length of the studio but the fly-rail is where one end of the flying ropes are tethered. The ropes go up the wall to pulleys fixed into the studio ceiling where the ropes cross the ceiling to another row of pulleys fixed at known positions as indicated on the studio plan.

The terms used for the rows of flying lines are adopted from those used in the Theater, namely your short, medium and long lines. The lines nearest the fly-rail are your short lines while those furthest away are your long lines.

From the pulleys in the ceiling the lines pass down through the lighting grid where a sandbag is tied to the loop at the end of the rope. The sandbag acts as a counter weight to the weight of the rope going all the way back to the fly-rail and allows for the line to be dropped in for scenic elements to be tied to it for flying in or out as required.

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