● Overview
DTCE designed a double 22 m-span flying fox system for a New Zealand school playground. The project combined structural design, dynamic cable behaviour, terrain modelling and playground safety requirements.
The sloping site and moving rider loads meant the flying fox could not be treated as a simple static structure. Ground levels, cable sag, rider speed, braking and clearance all needed to work together safely.

● Scope
DTCE completed LiDAR scanning, soil testing, cable analysis, support-frame design and foundation design. The system was assessed for users ranging from children through to adults and checked against the relevant playground requirements.

● Solution
A detailed cable model was used to simulate rider movement across the span and confirm cable sag, speed and ground clearance. Timber A-frames and reinforced concrete footings were designed to resist the cable forces, including significant uplift. Site-specific soil testing allowed the footing design to be tailored to the actual ground conditions.

● Result
The completed design provides a safe, durable, and enjoyable flying fox system suited to repeated school use, while keeping the support structure and foundations practical for the site.