Griffon (roller coaster)
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| Griffon | |
| Location | Busch Gardens Europe |
|---|---|
| Park Section | Aquitaine (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 feet (62.5 m) |
| Drop | 205 feet (62.5 m) |
| Length | 3,108 feet (947.3 m) |
| Max speed | 71 mile per hour (114.3 km/h) |
| Inversions | 2 |
| Duration | 3:00 |
| Max Vertical Angle | 90 degrees |
| Capacity | 1,400 riders per hour |
| Cost | $15,600,000 USD |
| Max G force | 4 |
| Height Restriction | 54 inches (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 Busch Gardens decided on the name "Griffon". Griffon will notably replace The LeMann's Raceway, one of the park's original rides. Griffon will be the fourth diving machine coaster ever created, and the second ever constructed in the United States.
Set amid a French village, Griffon carries riders up 205 feet, then hurtles them 90 degrees straight down at 71 mph.
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.
Contents |
[edit] Ride Layout
Riders will climb a 45 degree lift hill, 205 feet up. Then it will make a turn to the right and face the Royal Palace Theatre. The trains will be held at a holding brake for several seconds and then let go dropping 205 feet 90 degrees downward hitting 71 mph. The ride will then go into a 146 foot Immelman inversion and then make a sweeping turn to the left into the block brake. Riders will then drop 130 feet down at 87 degrees towards The Rhine River and into another 100 foot Immelman inversion. Finally riders will exit a bunny hop into a water splash and make the final carousel turn into the brakes and station.
[edit] Ride Elements
- 205 foot 90 degree drop
- 146 foot Immelmann
- 130 foot 87 degree drop
- 100 foot Immelmann
- Airtime hill into a water finale with each of the three trains creating a unique splash formation.
- 360° climbing carousel
- 71 mph (Advertised as 75mph on the coaster's website)
- Track length of 3,108 feet, more than half a mile
- Ride Duration: Three minutes
[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 only multi-inversion dive machine coaster.
- The world's first floorless diving 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
[edit] Opening Date
Currently, Griffon is scheduled to open in late spring. Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial opening time.
"Our scheduled opening date is Memorial Day, and we will not miss it. If our guests come to the park expecting to ride the new coaster, it's no good to tell them, 'Well, there was a big storm' or 'We had a tough winter.' They want to ride the ride. And they'll be able to."Opening Date Article
The first test runs of Griffon were spotted from Route 60 on Tuesday, March 20th, 2007. Footage can be found on the Coaster Crew website
The Grand Opening for Griffon will be on May 25, 2007.
