Suspended Looping Coaster

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Template:Short description Template:Infobox attraction model

The Suspended Looping Coaster (or SLC) is a model of steel inverted roller coaster built by Dutch manufacturer Vekoma. There are at least 39 different installations across the world. The minimum rider height requirement is Template:Convert. Vekoma is now marketing a Suspended Thrill Coaster as a successor to the Suspended Looping Coaster. The Odyssey is the largest, fastest and tallest SLC ever built at Fantasy Island in the UK.

History

The first Suspended Looping Coaster installation was El Condor at Walibi Holland in the Netherlands.[1] It was initially designed to run with ten cars in each train. Trouble with this configuration led to the trains being shortened to eight cars to a train.[2] T2 at Kentucky Kingdom was the second prototype model Suspended Looping Coaster and the first in the United States.[3] Like El Condor, it was designed to run with ten cars in a train, though T3's trains were shortened to seven cars for similar reasons.[2]

The roller coaster is considered to still be in productionScript error: No such module "Unsubst".. The latest new installation (i.e. not relocated) was Queen Cobra at Sun World Danang Wonders in Đà Nẵng, Vietnam which opened in 2017.[4]

Ride

Layouts

There are several different layouts of Suspended Looping Coasters although most feature a similar pattern.[2] The ride starts by taking riders up a Template:Convert chain lift hill.[5] Once at the top, the train drops down a steep, banked right turn where it enters the first inversion element - a right rollover. A rollover is an Immelmann loop followed by a Dive Loop[6] After exiting this element, the train traverses a tall, banked left turn and approaches the ride's next inversion - a left sidewinder.[5] A sidewinder is similar to an Immelmann loop; however, it features a half-loop followed by a half-corkscrew (rather than an inline twist).[7] After exiting the sidewinder, the train navigates a 270o right upwards helix before entering the ride's final two inversions - a double inline twist. A banked 90o turn to the right then turns the train back around to face towards the station. At this point, some models feature an additional helix to the left, while others simply continue straight into the brake run.[5] The standard model also has a relatively compact layout, providing numerous "footchoppers".

Vekoma have also manufactured three custom Suspended Looping Coasters: The Great Nor'easter at Morey's Piers (which is nearly identical to standard SLC, but with a custom station and supports), Kumali at Flamingo Land, and Jubilee Odyssey at Fantasy Island.[8]

Name Number of installations First installation Last installation
662m Prototype 2 1994 1995
689m Standard 27 1995 2017
765m Extended w/Helix 5 1995 1999
787m Extended 2 1997 2007
671m Shenlin 2 2002 2006
748m Shenlin w/Helix 2 2006 2009
Custom 2 1995 2002
42 1994 2017

Trains

File:Vekomawheels.jpg
Close up of an SLC wheel assembly

Many Suspended Looping Coasters operate with two trains consisting of ten cars, though some operate with as few as seven cars. Poor maintenance, poor track layout or most likely non-exact track manufacturing can cause SLC riders to experience notoriously painful "head banging", whereby the head hits the Over the Shoulder Restraints. They also use very small plastic seats with little or no room for a person to move. Contrary to popular belief, the wheel spacing on the trains (the 'gaps' between the side friction wheels, up-stop wheels, and the track) adds little to the roughness of these rides. Vekoma is currently manufacturing new trains with convenient hip harnesses. Unlike the first generation of trains, this modification will make the overall ride experience more comfortable. Vekoma also makes vest-like harnesses that allow to rider to sit more comfortably while riding. The only four known places to have these trains are Morey's Piers,[9] Isla Magica in Spain, Six Flags New England in Agawam, MA and Beto Carrero World in Santa Catarina, Brazil, along with Nopuko Air Coaster at Lost Island in Waterloo, Iowa. In 2012, Lethal Weapon - The Ride at Warner Bros. Movie World reopened as Arkham Asylum - Shock Therapy. The newly opened ride runs with trains manufactured by Kumbak and uses less restrictive harnesses which are similar, but not identical to, the vest-like restraints found on the SLCs at Morey's Piers and Isla Magica.[10]

The Suspended Looping Coaster is similar in design to other inverted roller coasters, however unlike the four-across seating found on Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M) inverted roller coasters, Vekoma SLC's use two-across seating.

Installations

Template:As of, there are 42 different installations across the world which have been located at 52 different theme parks.[11]

Name Park Opened Status Model Image
Arkham Asylum – Shock Therapy
Formerly Lethal Weapon - The Ride		 Warner Bros. Movie World 1995 Removed 765m Extended w/ Helix File:Lethal Weapon - The Ride - inversions.JPG [5]
Batman - The Ride Six Flags Mexico 2000 Operating 689m Standard File:Six Flags México - Batman the Ride.jpg [12]
Blue Tornado Gardaland 1998 Operating 765m Extended w/ Helix File:BlueTornado.jpg [13]
Condor
Formerly El Condor		 Walibi Holland 1994 Operating 662m Prototype File:El condor Walibi Wolrd.JPG [1]
Death Rail Al Zawraa Land 2015 Operating 689m Standard [14]
Desafío Parque de la Costa 1999 Operating 689m Standard File:Montañas rusas en el Parque de la Costa.jpg [15]
Dragon in Clouds Happy Valley Chengdu 2009 Operating Shenlin w/ Helix File:Dragon in Clouds 11.jpg [16]
Ednör – L'Attaque
In Storage
Formerly Serial Thriller		 La Ronde
Great Escape
Six Flags AstroWorld		 2010
2005
1999		 Operating
2009
Closed 2005		 689m Standard File:Ednör - L'Attaque (Opposite Lake View May 15 2010).jpg [17][18][19]
F2 Fright Flight Nasu Highland Park 1995 Operating 689m Standard [20]
FireWhip
Formerly Blackout		 Beto Carrero World
Suzuka Circuit		 2008
1995		 Operating 689m Standard File:FireWhip (8).JPG [21][22]
Flight Deck
Formerly Top Gun		 Canada's Wonderland 1995 Operating 689m Standard File:Flight Deck at Canada's Wonderland.jpg [23]
The Gauntlet Magic Springs and Crystal Falls 2004 Operating 689m Standard File:Gauntlet roller coaster, Magic Springs and Crystal Falls (2004).jpg [24]
Golden Wings over the Snowfield
Formerly Golden Wings in Snowfield		 Happy Valley Beijing 2006 Operating Shenlin w/ Helix [25]
The Great Nor'Easter
Formerly Fly the Great Nor'Easter		 Morey's Piers 1995 Operating Custom File:Nor'easter.JPG [26]
Hurricane Rusutsu Resort 1996 Operating 689m Standard [27]
Infusion
Formerly TraumaTizer		 Blackpool Pleasure Beach
Pleasureland Southport		 2007
1999		 Operating
Closed 2006		 689m Standard File:Infusion.JPG [28][29]
Iron Claw
Formerly MP-Xpress
Formerly FX
Formerly Eraser		 Movie Park Germany 2001 Operating 689m Standard File:MoviePark Xpress.JPG [30]
Jaguar Isla Magica 1997 Operating 765m Extended w/ Helix [31]
Kong
Formerly Hangman		 Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
Opryland USA		 1998
1995		 Operating
Closed 1997		 689m Standard File:Kong Six Flags Discovery Kingdom.jpg [32][33]
Kumali Flamingo Land 2006 Operating Shenlin File:Kumali.jpg [34]
Kumba Superland 2001 Operating 689m Standard File:RLZ Superland - SLC 689m Kumba Roller Coaster 02.JPG [35]
Maya Adventure
Formerly Mayan Adventure		 Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village 1997 Operating 689m Standard [36]
Mind Eraser Six Flags Darien Lake 1997 Operating 689m Standard File:Mind Eraser.jpg [37]
Mind Eraser Elitch Gardens 1997 Operating 689m Standard File:Mind Eraser (Elitch Gardens) 2.jpg [38]
Professor Screamore's SkyWinder
Formerly Mind Eraser 		Six Flags America 1995 Operating 689m Standard File:Mind Eraser (Sidewinder).JPG [39]
Nio Greenland 1997 Operating 689m Standard [40]
Nopuko Air Coaster
Formerly Cobra
Formerly Cape Cobras		 Lost Island Theme Park
Ratanga Junction		 2022
1998		 Operating 765m Extended w/ Helix File:The Cobra at Ratanga Junction.jpg [41][42]
The Odyssey
Formerly Jubilee Odyssey		 Fantasy Island 2002 Operating Custom File:Jubilee Odyssey.JPG [43]
Queen Cobra Asia Park 2017 Operating 689m Standard [44]
Raptor
Formerly Dream Thunder		 Fantasilandia
International Dream Exchange Fair		 2008
1997		 Operating 689m Standard File:Raptorsidewinder.JPG [45][46]
Roller Coaster Dream Park 1999 Operating 765m Extended w/ Helix [47]
Roller Coaster Mayan Energylandia 2015 Operating 689m Standard File:Energylandia - Mayan 2018.jpg [48]
Snow Mountain Flying Dragon Happy Valley Shenzhen 2002 Closed Shenlin [49]
Suspended Looping Coaster Suzhou Amusement Land 2003 Removed 787m Extended [50]
T3
Formerly T2		 Kentucky Kingdom 1995 Removed
Closed 2022		 662m Prototype File:T3 at Kentucky Kingdom - Jeremy Thompson.jpg [3]
The Riddler Revenge
Formerly Mind Eraser		 Six Flags New England 1997 Operating
Renamed 2018		 689m Standard File:Riddler Revenge (Six Flags New England) 1.jpg [51]
Thunderhawk
Formerly Serial Thriller		 Michigan's Adventure
Geauga Lake		 2008
1998		 Operating
Closed 2007		 689m Standard File:Thunderhawk Michigan's Adventure.jpg [52][53]
Titánide
Formerly Tizona		 Terra Mitica 2003 Operating 689m Standard File:Tizona.maranya.jpg [54]
Toxic Garden
Formerly Limit		 Heide Park 1999 Operating 689m Standard File:Limitheidepark.jpg [55]
Twisted Typhoon
Formerly Hangman		 Wild Adventures 1999 Operating 689m Standard File:Twisted Typhoon 2012.JPG [56]
Vampire Walibi Belgium 1999 Operating 689m Standard File:Walibi Belgium - Vampire (16).JPG [57]
Vortex
Formerly Pusing Lagi		 Siam Amazing Park
Jerudong Park Playground		 2007
1997		 Operating
Closed 2006		 787m Extended File:Jerudong2004-Roller coaster.jpg [58][59]

Similar roller coasters

In China, several alternate versions of this ride have been built. One of them is Shenzhou Coaster, an inverted roller coaster at Beijing Shijingshan Amusement Park in Beijing, China. The train and track are similar to the Suspended Looping Coaster design by Vekoma, but the ride was instead designed and manufactured by Beijing Shibaolai Amusement Equipment. There have been several problems with other models with the same layout, most notably bad pacing in parts of the ride. For example, the "Hanging Roller Coaster" at Crab Island stalled before its sidewinder element, stranding 12 people for over 3 hours. Other SLC's in China are sometimes manufactured by Hebei Zhongye Metallurgical Equipment Manufacturing Co. Ltd., which are known for being poorer than the Beijing Shibaolai models. HZM has tried to smooth out the transitions but the rides experience has not improved. None of these models can operate during winds in excess of 15 mph.[60]

References

Template:Reflist

External links

Template:Vekoma

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