Montu (roller coaster)

Montu is an inverted roller coaster at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Tampa, Florida. Built by Bolliger & Mabillard of Switzerland, it is the park's second roller coaster designed by the company after the success of Kumba. When the ride opened on May 16, 1996, it was the world's tallest and fastest inverted roller coaster. The ride stands at 150-foot-tall (46 m) and reaches 60 miles per hour (97 km/h). Previously, that record was held by the Raptor at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. Montu's record was short lived; one year later, it was succeeded by Alpengeist at sister park Busch Gardens Williamsburg. Montu is named after the Egyptian god of war Monthu.

Guests begin their experience on Montu entering through the park's Egypt section. A small midway of games on one end and a replica of Tut's Tomb on the other end greets guests entering through the area. On the horizon, Montu looms ahead, along with a 50-foot-tall (15 m) pylon that houses a gift shop and restrooms. The ride begins with a small dip turnaround out of the station; at one time, this section of the ride had live Nile Crocodile living below. Because the animals eventually grew too large, they were moved to the park's animal habitat. After the dip comes the lift hill that takes riders 150 feet (46 m) into the sky.

The drop then twists down 150 feet (46 m) and into a 104-foot-tall (32 m) vertical loop, reaching speeds that go over 60 miles per hour (97 km/h). Following the vertical loop, an Immelmann loop comes next, and provides a 'foot chopper' element with the pylon. After completing the Immelmann, the train goes through a zero-G roll. Following the zero-G roll, riders are then flipped upside down twice during the Batwing element (a rare element found on inverted roller coasters, another inverted coaster with a batwing being Afterburn at Carowinds). Following the Batwing, the trains slow down on the block brake before entering a twisting dive to the right and going through a second, 66-foot-tall (20 m) vertical loop and then into sweeping arches finishing off with a corkscrew finale. A final turn brings the train into the brake run. In total, the ride has seven inversions: a 104-foot (32 m) vertical loop, an Immelmann loop, a Zero G roll, a Batwing (two inversions), a 66-foot-tall (20 m) vertical loop, and a corkscrew.

Awards

External links

• RCDB's entry on Montu

References