Suspended Family Coaster

Suspended Family Coaster
Flying Ace Aerial Chase (formerly Rugrats Runaway Reptar) at Kings Island was one of the first Family Inverted Coaster models.[1]
Status	In Production
First manufactured	2001
No. of installations	11
Manufacturer	Vekoma
Type	Steel - Inverted - Family
Models	294m, 342m and 395m
Lift system	Drive tire
Suspended Family Coaster at RCDB

A Suspended Family Coaster is a steel inverted roller coaster built by Vekoma designed for families with no inversions. Just like all inverted roller coasters the train runs under the track with the seats directly attached to the wheel carriage. This latter attribute is what sets it apart from the older suspended swinging coaster, which runs under the track, but "swings" via a pivoting bar attached to the wheel carriage.

History

The Suspended Family Coaster debuted in 2001 with the Rugrats Runaway Reptar opening at Kings Island in Ohio, USA,^[1] and Silver Streak at sister park Canada's Wonderland.^[2] Several clones and variations have opened since.^[3]

The original designs featured trains with a safety system consisting of over-the-shoulder restraints. These restraints would lock into place with a belt-type connector which would be attached the seat base. All of the original track designs were of the 342m model with concrete footers.

In March 2007, Vekoma debuted a new version of the Suspended Family Coaster, the 294m model. The first installation of this was Jimmy Neutron's Atomic Flyer at Movie Park Germany. The ride differs from previous Suspended Family Coasters because it has a portable base-frame beneath the track rather than concrete footers and features a new train style with fully padded seats that utilize lap bar restraints.^[4]

One month later in April 2007, the 395m model was launched at Grona Lund in Sweden. The ride, which was named Kvasten, featured the same redesigned trains as Jimmy Neutron's Atomic Flyer. The ride also features a larger layout with a peak height of 20 metres (66 ft) and a length of 395 metres (1,296 ft).^[5]

Models

All models have one train, which has 10 cars with 2 seats on each car.^[6] This caters for up to 650 riders per hour. All of the models feature lift hills powered by tires and magnetic brake runs.

• 294m — features a compact footprint where riders rise to 13 metres (43 ft) before completing a 48-second ride of turns and drops.^[4]
• 342m — riders are taken up 14.8 metres (49 ft) and go through a tight helix, followed by a series of small turns and drops for a one-and-a-half minute ride.^[6]
• 395m — This model stands 20 metres (66 ft) above the ground and reaches speeds of up to 55 kilometres per hour (34 mph).^[5]

Operation

Two staff members are required to operate the ride. One is designated as the ride operator and is responsible for operating the ride and safety mechanisms, and checking half of the restraints (either the first six rows, or one side of the train) The other employee is designated as a ride attendant and is responsible for letting guests into the loading platform, ensuring the guests are of the proper height, making seat assignments, and checking the restraints on the other half of the seats. In order to launch the train, both the ride operator and attendant must verify that the coaster is ready to launch. Some parks require three staff members: two attendants share the attendant duties and restraint checking between them, while the operator remains behind the controls.^{[citation needed]}

Installations

Gallery

• 

  Escape from Madagascar at Dreamworld is a standard 342 m (1,122 ft) model.

• 

  A car from Swamp Thing at Wild Adventures.

• 

  Roller coaster train for the Bat at the Lagoon Amusement Park.

• 

  Kvasten at Gröna Lund is the first 395m model in operation.

References

External links

• Official website