Suspended swing roller coaster
Encyclopedia
A suspended roller coaster is a type of steel roller coaster
in which the car hangs from the bottom of the rolling stock
by a pivoting fulcrum or hinge assembly. This allows the car and riders to swing side to side as the train races along the track. Due to the swing designs, these roller coasters cannot invert riders.
, California
in the early 1900s. Riders on Bisby's Spiral Airship rode in square gondolas suspended from the track above, which were then carried via lift hill
to the top of a tower. The gondolas then rolled down the track, which spiraled down the tower back to the loading platform. The attraction operated at least until the mid 1910s.
In 1975, German aircraft manufacturer Messerschmidt
debuted Alpenflug at the annual Oktoberfest
fair. Featuring multi-car trains and a 2700-foot twisting, spiraling layout, Alpenflug was a hit during the 16-day fair. However, the design was scrapped after analysis revealed significant stress in the track, whose curves were not banked, and in the wheel assemblies, as the train's brake fins were located at the bottom of the train's gondolas instead of near the track itself.
The first permanent modern suspended roller coaster was The Bat at Kings Island
. Built by Arrow Dynamics
, The Bat opened April 21, 1981, but it was soon plagued with problems. The problems included: excessive stress on the support springs due to the unbanked curved track sections and stress on the wheels because the brakes were mounted at bottom of the swinging cars. Kings Island's USD $3.8 million ride closed in 1983 and was later scheduled for demolition. The Bat's former site is now occupied by the Arrow-designed looping coaster Vortex. The suspended coaster would return to Kings Island in 1993 with the addition of Flight Deck (Formerly Top Gun).
Arrow Dynamics continued to refine its suspended roller coaster design, culminating in the debut of The Big Bad Wolf
at Busch Gardens Williamsburg and XLR-8
at Six Flags Astroworld
in 1984. Since 1984, Arrow manufactured ten suspended roller coasters, including Iron Dragon at Cedar Point
, Ninja
at Six Flags Magic Mountain
and Vampire (roller coaster)
at Chessington World of Adventures
.
Other manufacturers have also constructed their variations on the suspended roller coaster. Dutch designer Vekoma
manufactured a suspended model dubbed "Swinging Turns," of which three copies were constructed. Vekoma offers both traditional car designs as well as a new "floorless" car with seats similar to those found on an inverted roller coaster
Like on the Arrow-designed Vampire (roller coaster)
at Chessington World of Adventures
(The ride was modified with the new cars in 2001). Caripro, another designer based in The Netherlands, manufactured twelve suspended roller coasters and American designer Setpoint manufactured four.
Steel roller coaster
A steel roller coaster is a roller coaster that is defined by having a track made of steel. Steel coasters have earned immense popularity in the past 50 years throughout the world...
in which the car hangs from the bottom of the rolling stock
Rolling stock
Rolling stock comprises all the vehicles that move on a railway. It usually includes both powered and unpowered vehicles, for example locomotives, railroad cars, coaches and wagons...
by a pivoting fulcrum or hinge assembly. This allows the car and riders to swing side to side as the train races along the track. Due to the swing designs, these roller coasters cannot invert riders.
History
One of the earliest suspended roller coasters was known as Bisby's Spiral Airship, built in Long BeachLong Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in the early 1900s. Riders on Bisby's Spiral Airship rode in square gondolas suspended from the track above, which were then carried via lift hill
Lift hill
A lift hill, or chain hill, is often the initial upward-sloping section of track on a typical roller coaster that initially transports the roller coaster train to an elevated point or peak in the roller coaster ride...
to the top of a tower. The gondolas then rolled down the track, which spiraled down the tower back to the loading platform. The attraction operated at least until the mid 1910s.
In 1975, German aircraft manufacturer Messerschmidt
Messerschmidt
*For the Danish politician - see Morten Messerschmidt*For the German physician and explorer of Siberia - see Daniel Gottlieb Messerschmidt*For the German aircraft designer and manufacturer - see Willy Messerschmitt...
debuted Alpenflug at the annual Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest, or Wiesn, is a 16–18 day beer festival held annually in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, running from late September to the first weekend in October. It is one of the most famous events in Germany and is the world's largest fair, with more than 5 million people attending every year. The...
fair. Featuring multi-car trains and a 2700-foot twisting, spiraling layout, Alpenflug was a hit during the 16-day fair. However, the design was scrapped after analysis revealed significant stress in the track, whose curves were not banked, and in the wheel assemblies, as the train's brake fins were located at the bottom of the train's gondolas instead of near the track itself.
The first permanent modern suspended roller coaster was The Bat at Kings Island
Kings Island
Kings Island is a amusement park located northeast of Cincinnati in Mason, Ohio. Opened in 1972 by Taft Broadcasting Company and now owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, Kings Island is the most visited seasonal amusement park in the U.S...
. Built by Arrow Dynamics
Arrow Dynamics
Arrow Dynamics was a roller coaster and amusement ride design company based in Clearfield, Utah, United States. In 2002, the company went bankrupt but was quickly bought by fellow amusement ride manufacturer S&S Power to form S&S Arrow. During its peak, Arrow Dynamics was responsible for some of...
, The Bat opened April 21, 1981, but it was soon plagued with problems. The problems included: excessive stress on the support springs due to the unbanked curved track sections and stress on the wheels because the brakes were mounted at bottom of the swinging cars. Kings Island's USD $3.8 million ride closed in 1983 and was later scheduled for demolition. The Bat's former site is now occupied by the Arrow-designed looping coaster Vortex. The suspended coaster would return to Kings Island in 1993 with the addition of Flight Deck (Formerly Top Gun).
Arrow Dynamics continued to refine its suspended roller coaster design, culminating in the debut of The Big Bad Wolf
Big Bad Wolf (roller coaster)
The Big Bad Wolf was a suspended roller coaster in the Oktoberfest section of Busch Gardens Williamsburg. First opened in 1984, the ride operated for 25 years and the ride closed on September 7, 2009...
at Busch Gardens Williamsburg and XLR-8
XLR-8
XLR-8 was a steel suspended roller coaster. It was designed by Arrow Dynamics and located at Six Flags Astroworld from when it was constructed 1984 until AstroWorld closed in 2005...
at Six Flags Astroworld
Six Flags Astroworld
AstroWorld was a seasonally operated theme park located on approximately of land between Kirby Drive and Fannin Avenue, directly south of Loop 610 in Houston, Texas, USA...
in 1984. Since 1984, Arrow manufactured ten suspended roller coasters, including Iron Dragon at Cedar Point
Cedar Point
Cedar Point is a 364 acre amusement park located in Sandusky, Ohio, United States on a narrow peninsula jutting into Lake Erie. Cedar Point is the only amusement park with four roller coasters that are taller than...
, Ninja
Ninja (Six Flags Magic Mountain)
Ninja is an Arrow Dynamics steel suspended roller coaster located at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California. It is the fastest roller coaster of its kind in the world, joint with Vortex at Canada's Wonderland, both with top speeds of ....
at Six Flags Magic Mountain
Six Flags Magic Mountain
Six Flags Magic Mountain is a theme park located in Valencia, California north of Los Angeles. It opened on Memorial Day weekend on May 30, 1971 as Magic Mountain, by the Newhall Land and Farming Company. In 1979, Six Flags purchased the park and added the name Six Flags to the park's title. In...
and Vampire (roller coaster)
Vampire (roller coaster)
Vampire is an Arrow suspended swinging roller coaster at Chessington World of Adventures theme park in London, England. It opened in 1990 in the new Transylvania area, and was designed by John Wardley. It originally featured bat-themed trains, which were later replaced with floor less models. The...
at Chessington World of Adventures
Chessington World of Adventures
Chessington World of Adventures Resort is a theme park and zoo in South West London, England. It lies south of Central London. Historically opened as Chessington Zoo in 1931, a theme park was developed alongside it, opening in 1987...
.
Other manufacturers have also constructed their variations on the suspended roller coaster. Dutch designer Vekoma
Vekoma
Vekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V. is a roller coaster and thrill ride designer with its facilities based in the Netherlands. The company was founded in 1926 by Hendrik op het Veld under the name "Veld Koning Machinefabriek" and had first manufactured agricultural machinery and mining equipment...
manufactured a suspended model dubbed "Swinging Turns," of which three copies were constructed. Vekoma offers both traditional car designs as well as a new "floorless" car with seats similar to those found on an inverted roller coaster
Inverted roller coaster
An inverted roller coaster is a roller coaster in which the train runs under the track with the seats directly attached to the wheel carriage. This latter attribute is what sets it apart from the older suspended coaster, which runs under the track, but "swings" via a pivoting bar attached to the...
Like on the Arrow-designed Vampire (roller coaster)
Vampire (roller coaster)
Vampire is an Arrow suspended swinging roller coaster at Chessington World of Adventures theme park in London, England. It opened in 1990 in the new Transylvania area, and was designed by John Wardley. It originally featured bat-themed trains, which were later replaced with floor less models. The...
at Chessington World of Adventures
Chessington World of Adventures
Chessington World of Adventures Resort is a theme park and zoo in South West London, England. It lies south of Central London. Historically opened as Chessington Zoo in 1931, a theme park was developed alongside it, opening in 1987...
(The ride was modified with the new cars in 2001). Caripro, another designer based in The Netherlands, manufactured twelve suspended roller coasters and American designer Setpoint manufactured four.
Installations
| Name | Park | Manufacturer | Status | Opened |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aerial Glide | Shipley Glen Pleasure Grounds | ?? | Demolished | 1900 |
| Bisby's Spiral Airship | Queens Park | ?? | Demolished | 1902 |
| Alpenflug | Oktoberfest | Zierer/Messerschmitt | Demolished | 1973 |
| The Bat | Kings Island Kings Island Kings Island is a amusement park located northeast of Cincinnati in Mason, Ohio. Opened in 1972 by Taft Broadcasting Company and now owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, Kings Island is the most visited seasonal amusement park in the U.S... |
Arrow Dynamics Arrow Dynamics Arrow Dynamics was a roller coaster and amusement ride design company based in Clearfield, Utah, United States. In 2002, the company went bankrupt but was quickly bought by fellow amusement ride manufacturer S&S Power to form S&S Arrow. During its peak, Arrow Dynamics was responsible for some of... |
Demolished | April 21, 1981 |
| Big Bad Wolf Big Bad Wolf (roller coaster) The Big Bad Wolf was a suspended roller coaster in the Oktoberfest section of Busch Gardens Williamsburg. First opened in 1984, the ride operated for 25 years and the ride closed on September 7, 2009... |
Busch Gardens Europe Busch Gardens Europe Busch Gardens Williamsburg is a 383 acre theme park located in James City County, Virginia about 3 miles southeast of Williamsburg, originally developed by Anheuser-Busch and currently owned by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, a division of The Blackstone Group... |
Arrow Dynamics Arrow Dynamics Arrow Dynamics was a roller coaster and amusement ride design company based in Clearfield, Utah, United States. In 2002, the company went bankrupt but was quickly bought by fellow amusement ride manufacturer S&S Power to form S&S Arrow. During its peak, Arrow Dynamics was responsible for some of... |
Demolished | 1984 |
| XLR-8 XLR-8 XLR-8 was a steel suspended roller coaster. It was designed by Arrow Dynamics and located at Six Flags Astroworld from when it was constructed 1984 until AstroWorld closed in 2005... |
Six Flags Astroworld Six Flags Astroworld AstroWorld was a seasonally operated theme park located on approximately of land between Kirby Drive and Fannin Avenue, directly south of Loop 610 in Houston, Texas, USA... |
Arrow Dynamics Arrow Dynamics Arrow Dynamics was a roller coaster and amusement ride design company based in Clearfield, Utah, United States. In 2002, the company went bankrupt but was quickly bought by fellow amusement ride manufacturer S&S Power to form S&S Arrow. During its peak, Arrow Dynamics was responsible for some of... |
Demolished | 1984 |
| Iron Dragon | Cedar Point Cedar Point Cedar Point is a 364 acre amusement park located in Sandusky, Ohio, United States on a narrow peninsula jutting into Lake Erie. Cedar Point is the only amusement park with four roller coasters that are taller than... |
Arrow Dynamics Arrow Dynamics Arrow Dynamics was a roller coaster and amusement ride design company based in Clearfield, Utah, United States. In 2002, the company went bankrupt but was quickly bought by fellow amusement ride manufacturer S&S Power to form S&S Arrow. During its peak, Arrow Dynamics was responsible for some of... |
Operating | 1987 |
| Dream Catcher | Bobbejaanland | Vekoma Vekoma Vekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V. is a roller coaster and thrill ride designer with its facilities based in the Netherlands. The company was founded in 1926 by Hendrik op het Veld under the name "Veld Koning Machinefabriek" and had first manufactured agricultural machinery and mining equipment... |
Operating | 1987 |
| Ninja Ninja (Six Flags Magic Mountain) Ninja is an Arrow Dynamics steel suspended roller coaster located at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California. It is the fastest roller coaster of its kind in the world, joint with Vortex at Canada's Wonderland, both with top speeds of .... |
Six Flags Magic Mountain Six Flags Magic Mountain Six Flags Magic Mountain is a theme park located in Valencia, California north of Los Angeles. It opened on Memorial Day weekend on May 30, 1971 as Magic Mountain, by the Newhall Land and Farming Company. In 1979, Six Flags purchased the park and added the name Six Flags to the park's title. In... |
Arrow Dynamics Arrow Dynamics Arrow Dynamics was a roller coaster and amusement ride design company based in Clearfield, Utah, United States. In 2002, the company went bankrupt but was quickly bought by fellow amusement ride manufacturer S&S Power to form S&S Arrow. During its peak, Arrow Dynamics was responsible for some of... |
Operating | May 21, 1988 |
| Centrifuge | World Expo Park | Vekoma Vekoma Vekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V. is a roller coaster and thrill ride designer with its facilities based in the Netherlands. The company was founded in 1926 by Hendrik op het Veld under the name "Veld Koning Machinefabriek" and had first manufactured agricultural machinery and mining equipment... |
Relocated | 1988 |
| Vampire* | Chessington World of Adventures Chessington World of Adventures Chessington World of Adventures Resort is a theme park and zoo in South West London, England. It lies south of Central London. Historically opened as Chessington Zoo in 1931, a theme park was developed alongside it, opening in 1987... |
Arrow Dynamics Arrow Dynamics Arrow Dynamics was a roller coaster and amusement ride design company based in Clearfield, Utah, United States. In 2002, the company went bankrupt but was quickly bought by fellow amusement ride manufacturer S&S Power to form S&S Arrow. During its peak, Arrow Dynamics was responsible for some of... |
Operating | 1990 |
| Vortex Vortex (Canada's Wonderland) Vortex at Canada's Wonderland is a suspended roller coaster, which enables it to swing under the track. It officially opened during the 1991 season. On "Vortex" riders are taken up through the top of the mountain and dropped at high speeds... |
Canada's Wonderland | Arrow Dynamics Arrow Dynamics Arrow Dynamics was a roller coaster and amusement ride design company based in Clearfield, Utah, United States. In 2002, the company went bankrupt but was quickly bought by fellow amusement ride manufacturer S&S Power to form S&S Arrow. During its peak, Arrow Dynamics was responsible for some of... |
Operating | 1991 |
| Eagle Fortress | Everland | Arrow Dynamics Arrow Dynamics Arrow Dynamics was a roller coaster and amusement ride design company based in Clearfield, Utah, United States. In 2002, the company went bankrupt but was quickly bought by fellow amusement ride manufacturer S&S Power to form S&S Arrow. During its peak, Arrow Dynamics was responsible for some of... |
SBNO | September 8, 1992 |
| Hayabusa | Tokyo SummerLand | Arrow Dynamics Arrow Dynamics Arrow Dynamics was a roller coaster and amusement ride design company based in Clearfield, Utah, United States. In 2002, the company went bankrupt but was quickly bought by fellow amusement ride manufacturer S&S Power to form S&S Arrow. During its peak, Arrow Dynamics was responsible for some of... |
Demolished | July, 1992 |
| Flight Deck | Kings Island Kings Island Kings Island is a amusement park located northeast of Cincinnati in Mason, Ohio. Opened in 1972 by Taft Broadcasting Company and now owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, Kings Island is the most visited seasonal amusement park in the U.S... |
Arrow Dynamics Arrow Dynamics Arrow Dynamics was a roller coaster and amusement ride design company based in Clearfield, Utah, United States. In 2002, the company went bankrupt but was quickly bought by fellow amusement ride manufacturer S&S Power to form S&S Arrow. During its peak, Arrow Dynamics was responsible for some of... |
Operating | April 9, 1993 |
| Hanging Coaster | Dream World | Vekoma Vekoma Vekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V. is a roller coaster and thrill ride designer with its facilities based in the Netherlands. The company was founded in 1926 by Hendrik op het Veld under the name "Veld Koning Machinefabriek" and had first manufactured agricultural machinery and mining equipment... |
Relocated/Operating | 1994 |
| Batflyer | Lightwater Valley Lightwater Valley Lightwater Valley is a theme park in Ripon, North Yorkshire, England. The park is perhaps best known for being the home of Europe’s longest rollercoaster - The Ultimate.... |
Caripro | Relocated | 1996 |
| Batflyer** | Duinrell Duinrell Duinrell is an amusement park situated in Wassenaar, Netherlands. It also contains a caravan park and a camp-site. Duinrell has been critically acclaimed for its attraction park with swimming pool , which has the longest waterslides in the Netherlands..The park is located on the estate of the... |
Caripro | Demolished | 1997 |
| Scooby's Ghoster Coaster | Kings Island Kings Island Kings Island is a amusement park located northeast of Cincinnati in Mason, Ohio. Opened in 1972 by Taft Broadcasting Company and now owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, Kings Island is the most visited seasonal amusement park in the U.S... |
Caripro | Demolished | 1997 |
| Pteranodon Flyers | Islands of Adventure Islands of Adventure Universal's Islands of Adventure is a theme park located in Orlando, Florida. It opened May 28, 1999 as part of an expansion that, along with CityWalk Entertainment District, the Portofino Bay Hotel, and Hard Rock hotel, converted Universal Studios Florida into the Universal Orlando Resort... |
Caripro/Setpoint | Operating | May 28, 1999 |
| Flying Super Saturator | Carowinds | Setpoint | Demolished | April 1, 2000 |
| Spellbreaker | Legoland California Legoland California Legoland California is a theme park located in Carlsbad, California, focused on Lego bricks. It opened on March 20, 1999. It is the third Legoland park to open, and the first Legoland outside of Europe... |
Caripro | Demolished | October 13, 2000 |
| Vleermuis | Plopsaland | Caripro | Operating | 2000 |
| Hydra Fighter II | Wet 'n Wild Emerald Pointe Wet 'n Wild Emerald Pointe Wet 'n Wild Emerald Pointe is a water park located in Greensboro, North Carolina, United States. It is part of the Wet 'n Wild chain of water parks. It is the 12th largest water park in the United States using over of water... |
Caripro | Relocated | June 29, 2001 |
| Boramae Coaser | Wonder Zone | R&C Entertainment | SBNO | 2001 |
| Sky Rider | Skyline Park | Caripro | Operating | 2001 |
| Batflyer | Hamanako Pal Pal | Caripro | Operating | 2001 |
| Batflyer | Nasu Highland Park | Caripro | Operating | 2001 |
| Roller Soaker Roller Soaker Roller Soaker is a suspended roller coaster at Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania. It was manufactured by Setpoint USA, and was the first interactive ride built in the park. It is located in Midway America at Hersheypark, behind Tidal Force... |
Hershey Park | Setpoint | Operating | 2002 |
| Batflyer | World In Miniature | Caripro | Relocated/Operating | 2003 |
| Vertigo | Walibi Belgium Walibi Belgium Walibi Belgium, formerly Walibi Wavre and then Six Flags Belgium, is a Belgian theme park located in Wavre, close to Brussels. During the 1998 to 2004 period, it was owned by Six Flags, Inc, an American theme park operator. It was later sold to Palamon Capital Partners... |
Input | Demolished | 2007 |
| Slippery When Wet | Hard Rock Park | Caripro | Operating | 2008 |
| Clone Zone | Milky Way | Caripro | Operating | ???? |
| Aeroplanes | Aerocity Parc | ?? | Demolished | ???? |
| Aerial Coaster | Riverview Park | Aerial Tramway Construction Co. | Demolished | ???? |
| Unknown | Zhongshan's Paradise | ?? | Operating | ???? |
| Cobra Cobra Cobra is a venomous snake belonging to the family Elapidae. However, not all snakes commonly referred to as cobras are of the same genus, or even of the same family. The name is short for cobra capo or capa Snake, which is Portuguese for "snake with hood", or "hood-snake"... |
Tivoli Friheden Tivoli Friheden Tivoli Friheden is an amusement park located in Aarhus, Denmark. The park was visited by more than 365.000 visitors in 2009, and the figure is rising.The park is situated about 2 km to the south of the city centre. It has several themed sections with different types of attractions... |
|||
| Canopy Flyer Canopy Flyer Canopy Flyer is a roller coaster attraction located at Universal Studios Singapore. It is a family-friendly outdoor attraction. The ride travels above most of the Lost World themed area, but also gives riders a bird's-eye view of the park.-Summary:... |
Universal Studios Singapore Universal Studios Singapore Universal Studios Singapore is a theme park located within Resorts World Sentosa on Sentosa Island, Singapore. It was a key component of Genting's bid for the right to build Singapore's second integrated resort. On 8 December 2006, the Singapore government announced that the consortium had won the... |
Setpoint | Operating | 18 March 2010 |
- * Currently operates with VekomaVekomaVekoma Rides Manufacturing B.V. is a roller coaster and thrill ride designer with its facilities based in the Netherlands. The company was founded in 1926 by Hendrik op het Veld under the name "Veld Koning Machinefabriek" and had first manufactured agricultural machinery and mining equipment...
trains http://rcdb.com/id945.htm - ** Never operated http://rcdb.com/id945.htm