Hypersonic XLC
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Hypersonic XLC | |
 The launch section |
|
| Location | Kings Dominion |
|---|---|
| Type | Steel |
| Status | Open |
| Opened | March 24, 2001 |
| Manufacturer | S&S Power |
| Model | Thrust Air Coaster |
| Lift/launch system | Pneumatic |
| Height | 165 feet (50.3 m) |
| Drop | 133 feet (40.5 m) |
| Length | 1,560 feet (475.5 m) |
| Max speed | 80 mile per hour (128.7 km/h) |
| Duration | 0:16 |
| Max Vertical Angle | 90 degrees |
| Capacity | 1,380 riders per hour |
| Cost | $15,000,000 USD |
| Acceleration | 0-80 in 1.8 seconds |
| Height Restriction | 54 inches (137.2 cm) |
| Hypersonic XLC at RCDB | |
| Pictures of Hypersonic XLC at RCDB | |
Hypersonic XLC is a roller coaster located at Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia. Hypersonic was the first compressed air launch coaster in the world, and still remains the only one in North America. Hypersonic was built by S&S Power, a company who specializes in air-powered rides such as Skyhawk at Cedar Point, and Power Tower, also located at Cedar Point.
Hypersonic is S&S Power's actual prototype for an air-launched coaster; the prototype, called Thrust Air 2000, was reconstructed at Paramount's Kings Dominion after it moved from its original location in Utah. S&S Power slightly redesigned the portion of Thrust Air 2000 after the 90-degree drop so that it would fit into the landscape of Paramount's Kings Dominion. [1] As with some other prototype rides such as X at Six Flags Magic Mountain, Hypersonic XLC has had problems with extended periods of downtime; it was closed for almost three months at the beginning of PKD's 2002 season.
[edit] The Launch System
Hypersonic XLC's launch system is a rather new launch system that utilizes compressed air to launch a train full of passengers at high speeds in a short amount of time. Currently the compressed air launch system is used on the world's fastest accelerating ride, Dodonpa, which accelerates to 106.9 mph in just 1.8 seconds (Kingda Ka and Top Thrill Dragster are both faster rides than Dodonpa is, but Dodonpa is the ride with the quickest acceleration). A characteristic about compressed air launches is their short launch runway. Unlike hydraulic and LIM/LSM launches compressed air needs only a short time to accelerate a train.
[edit] Hypersonic to Great America?
Originally, Hypersonic was supposed to go to Great America in California. The park had prepared construction of the ride by removing its popular miniature railway attraction and had prepared the site for the coaster. However, a last minute decision was made (possibly due to the park having received Stealth a year prior) to send the ride to Kings Dominion instead. The removal of the train also began the removal of several other "Marriott-era" rides without any replacement.
