Bizarro (roller coaster)

Bizarro
Previously known as Medusa (1999-2008)
Six Flags Great Adventure
Park section Frontier Adventures
Coordinates 40°8′17.62″N 74°25′56.42″W / 40.1382278°N 74.4323389°W / 40.1382278; -74.4323389Coordinates: 40°8′17.62″N 74°25′56.42″W / 40.1382278°N 74.4323389°W / 40.1382278; -74.4323389
Status Operating
Opening date April 2, 1999
May 23, 2009Re-theming
Cost USD15,000,000
General statistics
Type Steel
Manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard
Designer Werner Stengel
Model Floorless Coaster / Medusa
Lift/launch system Chain lift hill
Height 142 ft (43 m)
Drop 132 ft (40 m)
Length 3,985 ft (1,215 m)
Speed 61 mph (98 km/h)
Inversions 7
Duration 2:20
Capacity 1350 riders per hour
G-force 4
Height restriction 54 in (137 cm)
Trains 3 trains with 8 cars. Riders are arranged 4 across in a single row for a total of 32 riders per train.
Flash Pass available
Bizarro at RCDB
Pictures of Bizarro at RCDB

Bizarro (previously Medusa) is a steel floorless roller coaster built by Bolliger & Mabillard at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township, New Jersey, United States. The ride debuted as Medusa on April 2, 1999 as the world's first floorless roller coaster. The ride was repainted and rethemed at the end of the 2008 season and reopened in 2009 as Bizarro.

History

Medusa (1999−2008)

Medusa was part of a $42 million expansion at Six Flags Great Adventure for the 1999 season. It was also one of three roller coasters introduced in the expansion.[1] The ride officially opened on April 2, 1999 as the first Floorless Coaster in the world.[2][3]

Bizarro (2009 −present)

On October 23, 2008, Six Flags announced that Medusa would be re-designed for the 2009 operating season.[4] On April 1, 2009, Six Flags officially announced the details of Bizarro.[5] Although no changes were made to the track layout, a new theme highlighting Superman's evil clone, Bizarro, was added. The track was repainted blue with dark purple supports and multiple special effects were added such as rings in the shape of Bizarro's S shield that the train passes through, and flame effects. The three trains also received on-board audio. Six Flags introduced an "alternate reality game" to market the re-themed ride.[6] Bizarro opened on May 23, 2009, at the start of Memorial Day weekend.[7]

For the 2013 season the on-board audio was taken off and the train's capacity returned to 32, with the two seats in the 8th car being reused.

Ride experience

Layout

Once the train is loaded and secured, the floor drops and the front bars that block the train from leaving while loading, open. After leaving the station, the train makes a U-turn to the left and begins to climb the 142-foot (43 m) tall chain lift hill. Once riders reach the top, they go through a small pre-drop before dropping 132 feet (40 m) to the left at a 55-degree angle. The train then reaches a top speed of 61 miles per hour (98 km/h) and passes through several fogged Bizarro's S shields. Riders then enter the 114-foot (35 m) vertical loop followed by a turn to the right into the 96-foot (29 m) diving loop. Upon exiting the diving loop there is a burst of fire shot out on each side of the track. After the diving loop, the train passes the station and goes through a Zero G roll. The train then goes through the 78-foot (24 m) cobra roll. Riders then enter the mid-course brake run which is located next to the lift hill. Similar to the first drop, the train drops to the left and enters a 270-degree helix followed by the two Interlocking corkscrews. The corkscrews interlock around a mist which sprays the riders with water. Riders to through a small dip then enter the final brake run before returning to the station. Once returned, the floors go back up and the bars close back up enabling riders to unload and next ones to load.[8][9][10] Following the conclusion of the ride, guests can purchase an on-ride photo which was taken between the cobra roll and zero-g roll.

Trains

Bizarro train in station

Bizarro operates with three steel and fiberglass trains. Each train has eight cars that have four seats in a single row. When the ride was re-themed, the middle two seats of the last row were removed on each train to install a computer and power module for the on-board audio. This reduced the capacity of the trains from 32 to 30 riders per train.[2] Each seat on every train has a speaker to the left and right of the rider. A recording of Bizarro, fighting and talking is played for the duration of the ride. Frequently, while the train is braked, waiting to enter the station platform, riders hear Bizarro chanting his name and "Bizarro #1".[10] For the 2013 season the on-board audio speakers were removed; there was some speculation towards the end of the current (2013) season that the audio equipment would be given to Six Flags America so that the park's stand-up roller coaster Apocalypse could be fitted with an audio track for the 2014 season.

Track

The steel track is approximately 3,985 feet (1,215 m) in length and the height of the lift is approximately 142 feet (43 m). The first drop is 132 feet (40 m). The track is blue and its supports are purple. The track was originally painted in a lime green.[9]

Rankings

Mitch Hawker's Best Roller Coaster Poll: Best Steel-Tracked Roller Coaster[11]
Year 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Ranking
17
-
19
32
28
41
37
66
50
71
72
72
-
101

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Major expansion at Sx Flags Great Adventure in 1999". Philadelphia Inquirer. January 21, 1999. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
  2. 1 2 Marden, Duane. "Bizarro  (Six Flags Great Adventure)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
  3. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Roller Coaster Search Results  (Category = Floorless)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
  4. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Bizarro Press Release  (Six Flags Great Adventure)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Six Flags Announces the Arrival of ‘BIZARRO’". RedOrbit. April 1, 2009. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
  6. ↑ Danko, Jim (April 5, 2009). "Six Flags roller coaster transformed". The Republican. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Bizarro Transformation Debuts At Six Flags Great Adventure". Ultimate Roller Coaster. May 22, 2009. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Bizarro (Six Flags Great Adventure) at Ultimate Roller Coaster". Ultimate Roller Coaster. Retrieved November 9, 2012.
  9. 1 2 "Bizarro at Coaster-Net". Coaster-Net. Retrieved January 1, 2013.
  10. 1 2 "Bizarro POV". YouTube. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
  11. ↑ "Best Steel Roller Coaster Poll 11 year results table". BestRollerCoasterPoll.com. Retrieved October 1, 2012.
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