Fourth-dimension roller coaster

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Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox attraction model

A fourth-dimension roller coaster is a type of steel roller coaster where riders are rotated independently of the track's orientation about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the track. This feature allows riders to experience inversions without the track rotating upside down. Some fourth-dimension roller coasters are controlled, with seats that rotate based on the spacing of two additional rails on the track. Others are free-spinning, where the seats flip primarily due to forces exerted by the ride's elements, offering a different experience during each ride.

History

In 1996, John F. Mares, a corporate attorney, invented a fourth-dimension roller coaster concept and holds six US patents related to the technology of their spinning seat systems: U.S. patent 5,791,254, U.S. patent 6,098,549, U.S. patent 6,227,121, U.S. patent 6,386,115, U.S. patent 6,477,961 & U.S. patent 6,606,953. In this concept, riders control the spinning action themselves.

The first fourth-dimension roller coaster to be built, X2, which opened at Six Flags Magic Mountain in 2002, was designed and patented by Alan Schilke.[1][2] In 2007, Intamin launched a variation of the fourth-dimension roller coaster under the name ZacSpin.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Design

Arrow Dynamics and S&S Worldwide

File:Sfmm X2 train Workings.gif
A) Rotation of seats
B) Seat on axle
C) Rack gear
D) Four rails

Arrow Dynamics was the first company to produce a fourth-dimension roller coaster, lending its name to the ride style. The trains feature seats capable of rotating forward or backward, 360 degrees in a controlled spin. This is achieved by having four rails on the track; two acting as per normal, and two to control the spin of the seats. The two rails that control the spin of the seats, known as "X Rails", vary in height relative to the track, and spin the train using a rack and pinion gear mechanism.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

The first installation, X,[1][2] was a prototype and cost Arrow Dynamics and Six Flags itself a lot of money due to technical difficulties and design flaws. In 2002, the park sued Arrow Dynamics, which went into bankruptcy. Since then, Arrow was bought out by S&S Worldwide and became the company's steel coaster division, S&S Arrow. In 2006, a second installation opened at Fuji-Q Highland in Japan under the name Eejanaika.[3] A third installation opened in 2012 at China Dinosaurs Park in China under the name Dinoconda.[4] The original X coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain reopened as X2 in 2008 with new, lighter trains and improved reliability and effects.[5]

Intamin ZacSpin first generation

Template:Unref section The Intamin ZacSpin was developed in response to the Arrow Dynamics fourth-dimension roller coaster. Some of the main differences between the Intamin and Arrow Dynamics/S&S Worldwide versions are the uncontrolled rotation of the seats, which produces a different ride each time, no need for an additional rail, and single cars with two riders back-to-back. Since these single cars do not rotate around the riders but around a common point quite far back behind their backs, this gave rise to complaints of rider discomfort. Another notable difference is the absence of any lateral movements, causing some enthusiasts to not consider the rides to be fourth-dimension roller coasters due to the fact that all movement is restricted to a two-dimensional plane.

The roller coaster Kirnu at Linnanmäki in Helsinki, Finland, opened for the 2007 season and was the first of its kind. Later that year Inferno opened at Terra Mítica in Benidorm, Spain with an identical compact layout. In 2009, Insane opened at Gröna Lund in Stockholm, Sweden with a different track layout. In 2011, the first ZacSpin in the United States opened at Six Flags Magic Mountain as Green Lantern: First Flight, and was themed to the DC Comics superhero of the same name. It features the same layout as Insane.

S&S Free Spin

In late 2012, S&S Worldwide unveiled a new concept called Free Spin which features a similar ride to Intamin ZacSpin. Each vehicle features two seating rows, and each row rotates independently. As the axis of rotation is at the center of mass of each guest, rider comfort is significantly improved. Like with ZacSpin, Seats spin freely, but during several track sections a system of magnets forces a controlled inversion.[6] The first installation of a 4D Free Spin was Batman: The Ride at Six Flags Fiesta Texas in 2015.[7]

Intamin ZacSpin second generation

In 2016, Intamin announced an updated version that like Free Spin also features a vehicle with two seating rows rotating independently, and an axis of rotation at the center of mass of each guest to improve rider comfort.[8]

Pax Bumerang

In 2023, Russian amusement ride manufacturer Pax unveiled two concepts for shuttle fourth-dimension coasters. Like the S&S and Intamin versions, the track is vertically stacked, and the seats spin freely.[9][10] The smaller model pulls a 16-passenger train up the outside of an approximately Template:Convert spike, then drops it into an outside raven turn. The train then travels up a shorter spike before rolling back down it and traversing the same layout backwards. This model is listed at a length of Template:Convert and a price of Template:Currency, or Template:Currency.[11] The larger model pulls a 20-passenger train up the inside of an approximately Template:Convert spike, dropping riders into an inside raven turn, then an outside raven turn stacked above it. The train then reaches the top of the Template:Convert track and rolls back, traversing the layout backwards to the station. This model is listed at a price of Template:Currency, or Template:Currency.[12] The first Bumerang was announced to open in 2025 at Balalyk Park in Kyrgyzstan.[13]

Inversion ambiguity

There is considerable debate within the roller coaster community as to whether or not the spinning of these coasters qualifies as an inversion for the purpose of records. Guinness World Records gave Eejanaika the record with 14 inversions. However, other more coaster-specific record bodies such as the Roller Coaster Database do not recognize this claim and instead count only track inversions, which gives the record of 14 to The Smiler at Alton Towers in Staffordshire, United Kingdom.[14]

Installations

Name Park Years Model Status Image
Batman: The Ride Template:Flagicon Six Flags Fiesta Texas 2015 to present S&S Worldwide 4D Free Spin Operating [15] File:Batman The Ride SFFT.jpg
Template:Flagicon Six Flags Discovery Kingdom 2019 to present
Arashi Template:Flagicon Nagashima Spa Land 2017 to present S&S Worldwide 4D Free Spin Operating
The Joker Template:Flagicon Six Flags Great Adventure 2016 to present S&S Worldwide 4D Free Spin Operating [16] File:Joker (Six Flags Over Texas).png
Template:Flagicon Six Flags Great America 2017 to present
Template:Flagicon Six Flags Over Texas
Template:Flagicon Six Flags New England
Wonder Woman Coaster Template:Flagicon Six Flags México 2018 to present S&S Worldwide 4D Free Spin Operating [17]
Dinoconda Template:Flagicon China Dinosaur Park 2012 to present S&S Worldwide 4th Dimension Operating [18]
Dragon Slayer Template:Flagicon Adventureland Park 2021 to present S&S Sansei 4D Free Spin Operating [19]
Eejanaika Template:Flagicon Fuji-Q Highland 2006 to present S&S Arrow 4th Dimension Operating [3] File:Eejanaika coaster FujiQ 1024.jpg
Inferno Template:Flagicon Terra Mítica 2007 to present Intamin ZacSpin Operating [20] File:Inferno.inversió.jpg
Insane Template:Flagicon Gröna Lund 2009 to present Intamin ZacSpin Operating [21] File:Insane Gröna Lund 2011.jpg
John Wick: Open Contract Template:Flagicon Motiongate Dubai 2022 to present S&S Worldwide 4D Free Spin Operating
Kirnu Template:Flagicon Linnanmäki 2007 to present Intamin ZacSpin Operating [22] File:Kirnu linnanmäki.jpg
Tumbili Template:Flagicon Kings Dominion 2022 to present S&S Sansei 4D Free Spin Operating [23]
X2
Formerly X		 Template:Flagicon Six Flags Magic Mountain 2002 to present Arrow Dynamics 4th Dimension Operating [2] File:Six Flags Magic Mountain X (1).jpg
Green Lantern: First Flight
was to be relocated to La Ronde as Vipère		 Template:Flagicon Six Flags Magic Mountain 2011-2017: operated
2017-2019: inactive		 Intamin ZacSpin Removed [24]
[25]
[26]		 File:Green Lantern First Flight (Six Flags Magic Mountain).jpg
Template:Flagicon La Ronde 2019-2022: stored
2022: cancelled		 Cancelled; in storage

See also

References

Template:Reflist

External links

Template:Sister project

Template:Rollercoaster tracks Template:Intamin Template:S&S Worldwide

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