Dive roller coaster
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A dive roller coaster, known by Roller Coaster Tycoon fanatics as a vertical roller coaster, is a scream machine based prominently around a tall vertical drop of at least 100 feet in height. At the present time, only three of these roller coasters stand in the world, with a fourth one being opened at Busch Gardens Europe on May 25, 2007.
The concept of a dive roller coaster was invented by Swiss roller coaster manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard in 1998, when Oblivion opened at Alton Towers (UK). Today, Bolliger & Mabillard is still the only company to design and build such roller coasters.
[edit] Design
Dive roller coasters are characterized by distinctly wide trains. The most common arrangement is 2 to 3 cars, seating 8 abreast. Additionally, stadium seating is employed, as to provide all riders a clear view and optimal experience while on the coaster. With the creation of the dive roller coaster also came the concept of a pre-drop braking system. At the top of a dive coaster's primary vertical drop (usually the ride's first and the tallest drop), a system holds the train for 3 to 5 seconds. At this position, all riders on the train are able to see the adrenalizing drop below them. Then the train is released and plummets back down to Earth. In the case of Oblivion, the coaster's height is only 65 feet, yet the track plummets another 115 feet while underground.
[edit] Dive Coasters
| Name | Height | Speed | Length | Inversions | Park | Opened |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oblivion | 65' | 68 mph | 1,222' | 0 | Alton Towers | March 14, 1998 |
| Diving Machine G5 | 179' | 68 mph | 1,250' | 0 | Janfusun Fancyworld (Taiwan) | March 29, 2000 |
| SheiKra | 200' | 70 mph | 3,188' | 1 | Busch Gardens Africa | May 21, 2005 |
| Griffon | 205' | 71 mph | 3,108' | 2 | Busch Gardens Europe | Spring 2007 |
