Hypercoaster
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A hypercoaster can mean one of two things;
- A "style/model"[1] [2] [3] of roller coaster that incorporates three features:
- An initial drop and/or lift hill of 200-299 feet
- Lacks any inverting elements
- Features a lift hill, not a launch
- A height classification of roller coasters that incorporates only one of the above features, a lift hill/drop of 200-299 feet.
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[edit] History
The world's first hypercoaster was Magnum XL-200 by Cedar Point. Costing a hefty $8,000,000 USD, Cedar Point chose industry leader (at the time) Arrow Dynamics to design and construct Magnum XL-200. Construction on the world's tallest, fastest, longest,and steepest roller coaster began in 1988. By May 6, 1989, Magnum XL-200 was ready for its first riders. Since its debut Magnum XL-200 has thrilled more than 34 million guests [4] and spawned over a dozen of other hypercoasters.
[edit] Description
A hypercoaster is one that is built for speed and airtime. To accomplish this the elements of a hypercoaster are a large first drop, generally several additional drops of declining height, a turn around and then many airtime-inducing hills. Hypercoasters are commonly designed with an out and back layout, although some hypercoasters, such as Raging Bull are built with a twisted design. All hypercoasters feature lap bar restraints.
Hypercoasters are generally well accepted by the public and dominate the Amusement Today Golden Ticket Awards. For 2006, Superman: Ride of Steel, located at Six Flags New England was ranked highest at #1. Several other hypercoasters followed such as Magnum XL-200 (#3), Nitro (#4), Apollo's Chariot (#5). The hypercoasters make up the majority of the 2006 Top 10 Steel Coasters, filling 7/10 positions! [5]
Hypercoasters were first manufactured by Arrow Dynamics in the late 1980s to early 1990s. Since then, Bolliger & Mabillard, Intamin AG, Chance-Morgan, and Giovanola have all begun to design and construct hypercoasters. The price tag of hypercoasters continues to rise, currently, Bolliger & Mabillard manufactures the most expensive hypercoasters, many of which cost $20,000,000 USD and above.
[edit] Hypercoasters
These hypercoasters are coaster's that the manufacturer's specifically list as hypercoasters, therefore classifying them as a "style" of roller coaster
- *These coasters received hypercoaster "style/model" status when they were renovated in some way but always met the height classification
These hypercoasters are coaster's that meet the height requirement of hypercoaster, making their height classification a hypercoaster, these coasters may feature inversions and/or launch mechanisms
| Name | Park | Manufacturer | Status | Opened |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moonsault Scramble | Fuji-Q Highland | Meisho Amusement Machines | Demolished | 1983 |
| Xcelerator | Knott's Berry Farm | Intamin AG | Operating | June 22, 2002 |
| SheiKra | Busch Gardens Africa | Bolliger & Mabillard | Operating | May 21, 2005 |
| Stealth | Thorpe Park | Intamin AG | Operating | March 15, 2006 |
| Zaturn | Space World | Intamin AG | Operating | April 29, 2006 |
| Griffon | Busch Gardens Europe | Bolliger & Mabillard | Under Construction | Late Spring 2007 |
