Griffon (roller coaster)

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Griffon
Location Busch Gardens Europe
Park Section France
Type Steel - Dive - Floorless
Status Under Construction
Opened Spring 2007
Manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard
Model Floorless Dive Machine
Lift/launch system Chain lift hill
Height 205 ft (62.5 m)
Drop 205 ft (62.5 m)
Length 3108 ft (947.3 m)
Max speed 71 mph (114.3 km/h)
Inversions 2
Duration 3:00
Max Vertical Angle 90 degrees
Capacity 1,400 riders per hour
Max G force 4
Height Restriction 54 in (137.2 cm)
Griffon at RCDB
Pictures of Griffon at RCDB


Griffon is a roller coaster, announced on August 23, 2006, under construction at Busch Gardens Europe. The coaster, a Bolliger & Mabillard diving machine, now reigns as tallest and fastest dive machine coaster surpassing its sister, SheiKra, at Busch Gardens Africa. Griffon originally had two other names "IronEagle" and "Volture", before they came up with Griffon.

Contents

[edit] Theme

Set amid a French village, Griffon carries riders up 205 feet, then hurtles them 90 degrees straight down at 70 mph. And that’s just the beginning.

Griffon will be themed to a mythological bird who is ravaging a small French Village. It will feature several new shops located in a new islet area located to the left of the park's Left Bank Portrait shop, and the right of the Grande Gourmet ice cream and dessert shop. The ride will maneuver through the new section, including a water splash zone near what looks like the current France Bistro, and a first drop that dives under a bridge that will be built up over the existing ground level.

[edit] Ride Elements

  • 205 foot 90 degree drop
  • Immelmann
  • 130 foot 81 degree drop
  • Immelmann
  • Water Finale
  • 360° climbing carousel
  • 71 mph
  • Track length of 3,108 feet, more than half a mile
  • Ride Duration: Three minutes

[1]

[edit] Records and Firsts

  • The world's tallest dive machine coaster (205 ft)
  • The world's fastest dive machine coaster (71 mph)
  • The world's first and only floorless dive machine coaster.
  • The world's only multi-inversion dive machine coaster.
  • The world's only coaster that seats riders in ten-seat rows. The trains have three cars each, giving them a total capacity of 30 riders. In addition, the trains' seats are arranged in a stadium seating configuration.
  • The world's first dive coaster to include two Immelmann loops

[2] [3]

[edit] Opening Date

Currently, Griffon is scheduled to open Late Spring 2007.

[edit] External links

Roller coasters at Busch Gardens Europe

Alpengeist - Apollo's Chariot - Big Bad Wolf - Griffon - Loch Ness Monster