Floorless roller coaster
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The floorless roller coaster is a fairly new concept brought forth by legendary coaster manufacturers, Bolliger & Mabillard. The first ever floorless coaster debuted in 1999 at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey. The coaster, Medusa, opened to great reviews and continues to earn its place on the Amusement Today Top 50 Steel Coasters list.
[edit] Design
As of 2006, only Bolliger & Mabillard, who invented the concept, are in the business of designing and manufacturing floorless coasters. Their designs employ a multi-inversion layout (usually four-seven) and high capacity (often two-three trains). These roller coasters are becoming more common with each passing year, ranging in heights of eighty feet or so, up to 168 feet. These coasters are known for their smooth rides, excellent reliablity and usually high cost.
[edit] Floorless Coasters
| Name | Height | Speed | Length | Inversions | Park | Opened | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medusa | 142' | 61 mph | 3,985' | 7 | Six Flags Great Adventure | April 2, 1999 | |
| Superman: Krypton Coaster | 168' | 70 mph | 4,025' | 6 | Six Flags Fiesta Texas | March 11, 2000 | |
| Medusa | 150' | 65 mph | 3,937' | 7 | Six Flags Marine World | March 18, 2000 | |
| Dominator | 157' | 67 mph | 4,210' | 5 | Geauga Lake | May 5, 2000 | |
| Kraken | 149' | 65 mph | 4,177' | 7 | Sea World Orlando | June 1, 2000 | |
| Insane Speed | 131' | 53 mph | 2,677' | 4 | Janfusun Fancyworld | 2001 | |
| Superman / la Atracción de Acero | 164' | 61 mph | ? | 7 | Parque Warner Madrid | April 6, 2002 | |
| Batman: The Dark Knight | 117' | 55 mph | 2,600' | 5 | Six Flags New England | April 20, 2002 | |
| Scream! | 150' | 63 mph | 3,985' | 7 | Six Flags Magic Mountain | April 12, 2003 | |
| Demon | 92' | 48 mph | 1,850' | 3 | Tivoli Gardens | April 16, 2004 | |
| Hydra: The Revenge | 95' | 53 mph | 3,198' | 7 | Dorney Park | May 7, 2005 |
Note: Griffon is a dive coaster with floorless trains with the normal dive machine layout. Lacking the floorless style Griffon is not considered a floorless coaster.
