Inverted roller coaster: Difference between revisions
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==History== | ==History== | ||
The inverted coaster was developed in the early 1990s by engineers Walter Bolliger and Claude Mabillard of the Swiss roller coaster manufacturer [[Bolliger & Mabillard]] in cooperation with engineer Robert Mampe and Jim Wintrode, at the time the [[general manager]] of [[Six Flags Great America]], who first envisioned a suspended coaster capable of inversions.<ref>{{cite web |last=Meyer |first=Russell |date=May 12, 2014 |title=Coaster Tech: An Insider's look at inverted coasters |url= | The inverted coaster was developed in the early 1990s by engineers Walter Bolliger and Claude Mabillard of the Swiss roller coaster manufacturer [[Bolliger & Mabillard]] in cooperation with engineer Robert Mampe and Jim Wintrode, at the time the [[general manager]] of [[Six Flags Great America]], who first envisioned a suspended coaster capable of inversions.<ref>{{cite web |last=Meyer |first=Russell |date=May 12, 2014 |title=Coaster Tech: An Insider's look at inverted coasters |url=https://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201405/4014/ |access-date=May 21, 2015 |work=themeparkinsider.com}}</ref><ref name="ACE">{{cite web|title=Coaster Landmark Award – Batman: The Ride|url=http://www.aceonline.org/CoasterAwards/details.aspx?id=45|publisher=American Coaster Enthusiasts|access-date=January 6, 2013|date=June 20, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107232141/http://www.aceonline.org/CoasterAwards/details.aspx?id=45|archive-date=January 7, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="In my office: Jim Wintrode">{{cite journal|last=O'Brien|first=Tim|title=In my office: Jim Wintrode|journal=Amusement Business|date=March 24, 2003|volume=115|issue=12}}</ref> The result of this partnership, [[Batman: The Ride]], [[Soft launch|soft opened]] at Six Flags Great America as the first inverted coaster in the world on May 2, 1992, officially opening on May 9, 1992.<ref name="ACE"/> With the coaster's success, [[WarnerMedia|Time Warner]], [[Six Flags]]' parent company at the time, moved to construct a series of duplicates of the ride at various Six Flags parks. In 1993, a second installation of Batman: The Ride at Six Flags Great Adventure opened as the second inverted coaster in the world.<ref name=SFGA>{{cite RCDB|coaster_name=Batman The Ride|location=Six Flags Great Adventure|rcdb_number=32|access-date=January 6, 2013}}</ref> Six Flags has since gone on to construct five additional duplicates of the ride.<ref name=BTR>{{cite web |url=https://rcdb.com/r.htm?ot=2&mo=8310|title= Batman: The Ride Installation List|author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website= Roller Coaster Database |publisher= |access-date= August 20, 2023 |quote=}}</ref> | ||
The second unique inverted coaster was [[Flight Deck (California's Great America)|Flight Deck]] which opened in 1993 at [[California's Great America]] as Top Gun.<ref name=FDCGA>{{cite RCDB|coaster_name=Flight Deck|location=California's Great America|rcdb_number=80|access-date=August 21, 2023}}</ref> [[Nemesis Reborn]] was the first inverted coaster constructed outside the United States when it opened at [[Alton Towers]] in [[Staffordshire|Staffordshire, England]] in 1994.<ref name=NAT>{{cite RCDB|coaster_name=Nemesis|location=Alton Towers|rcdb_number=776|access-date=August 21, 2023}}</ref> That same year, [[Raptor (Cedar Point)|Raptor]] opened at [[Cedar Point]]. With a 3,790-foot (1,160 m) track layout, Raptor was far larger and featured a less compact layout than its predecessors. It also featured the first cobra roll on an inverted coaster.<ref>{{cite web|url= | The second unique inverted coaster was [[Flight Deck (California's Great America)|Flight Deck]] which opened in 1993 at [[California's Great America]] as Top Gun.<ref name=FDCGA>{{cite RCDB|coaster_name=Flight Deck|location=California's Great America|rcdb_number=80|access-date=August 21, 2023}}</ref> [[Nemesis Reborn|Nemesis]] was the first inverted coaster constructed outside the United States when it opened at [[Alton Towers]] in [[Staffordshire|Staffordshire, England]] in 1994.<ref name=NAT>{{cite RCDB|coaster_name=Nemesis|location=Alton Towers|rcdb_number=776|access-date=August 21, 2023}}</ref> That same year, [[Raptor (Cedar Point)|Raptor]] opened at [[Cedar Point]]. With a 3,790-foot (1,160 m) track layout, Raptor was far larger and featured a less compact layout than its predecessors. It also featured the first cobra roll on an inverted coaster.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.americacoasters.com/Reviews/?page=raptor|title=Raptor|publisher=AmericaCoasters.com|access-date=January 4, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://sanduskyregister.com/news/516715/raptor-roller-coaster-turns-30/ |title= Raptor roller coaster turns 30 |last=Helbig |first=Don |date=19 April 2024|website=Sandusky Register |publisher=The Sandusky Register |access-date=11 June 2024}}</ref> | ||
== Installations == | == Installations == | ||
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{{commons category|Inverted roller coasters}} | {{commons category|Inverted roller coasters}} | ||
* [http://www.bolliger-mabillard.com/ Bolliger & Mabillard official site] | * [http://www.bolliger-mabillard.com/ Bolliger & Mabillard official site] | ||
* [ | * [https://www.intaminworldwide.com/ Intamin official site] | ||
* [ | * [https://www.vekoma.com/ Vekoma official site] | ||
{{Rollercoaster tracks}} | {{Rollercoaster tracks}} | ||
Latest revision as of 10:06, 28 June 2025
Template:Short description Template:More citations needed Template:Infobox attraction model
An inverted roller coaster is a type of steel roller coaster in which the train runs under the track with the seats directly attached to the wheel carriage. Riders are seated in open cars, letting their feet swing freely. The inverted coaster was pioneered by Swiss roller coaster manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard in the early 1990s with the development of Batman: The Ride, which opened at Six Flags Great America on May 9, 1992.
Versions of inverted coasters have since been produced by other major coaster manufacturers such as Vekoma and Intamin. Intamin has few designs classified as inverted coasters, although they do install inverted coaster trains on some of their launched designs. Vekoma, however, predominantly mass-produced the same design (Suspended Looping Coaster) with 41 identical coasters installed around the world, though Vekoma now markets a newer style of inverted coaster, the Suspended Thrill Coaster, which utilises lap-bar restraints instead of the traditional over-the-shoulder restraints.[1] Vekoma was also the first manufacturer to install a family-friendly inverted roller coaster with the opening of Flying Ace Aerial Chase at Kings Island in 2001. Giovanola also has a single inverted coaster operating, which uses the box-track design, also used by Bolliger & Mabillard.
The inverted coaster differs from the older suspended coaster, which runs under the track, but features cars that enclose the rider's legs and lower body and are attached to the track above by a pivoting bar, whereas the trains on inverted coasters are directly attached to the track. This direct attachment facilitates inversions, which aren't possible on suspended coasters. Inversions typically featured on inverted coasters include vertical loops, zero-g rolls, Immelmann loops, cobra rolls, and corkscrews, though Vekoma's suspended loopers typically feature sidewinder and in-line twist elements.
History
The inverted coaster was developed in the early 1990s by engineers Walter Bolliger and Claude Mabillard of the Swiss roller coaster manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard in cooperation with engineer Robert Mampe and Jim Wintrode, at the time the general manager of Six Flags Great America, who first envisioned a suspended coaster capable of inversions.[2][3][4] The result of this partnership, Batman: The Ride, soft opened at Six Flags Great America as the first inverted coaster in the world on May 2, 1992, officially opening on May 9, 1992.[3] With the coaster's success, Time Warner, Six Flags' parent company at the time, moved to construct a series of duplicates of the ride at various Six Flags parks. In 1993, a second installation of Batman: The Ride at Six Flags Great Adventure opened as the second inverted coaster in the world.[5] Six Flags has since gone on to construct five additional duplicates of the ride.[6]
The second unique inverted coaster was Flight Deck which opened in 1993 at California's Great America as Top Gun.[7] Nemesis was the first inverted coaster constructed outside the United States when it opened at Alton Towers in Staffordshire, England in 1994.[8] That same year, Raptor opened at Cedar Point. With a 3,790-foot (1,160 m) track layout, Raptor was far larger and featured a less compact layout than its predecessors. It also featured the first cobra roll on an inverted coaster.[9][10]
Installations
231 inverted roller coasters have been installed at various theme parks, some of which have been relocated. The following list is not exhaustive and only shows the most notable installations.
Gallery
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A Vekoma inverted coaster, Limit at Heide Park
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A former Vekoma inverted coaster, Traumatizer at Pleasureland Southport
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An Intamin launched shuttle inverted coaster, The Flash: Vertical Velocity at Six Flags Great America
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A Gerstlauer infinity inverted coaster, Storm - The Dragon Legend at Tusenfryd
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See also
References
External links
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