vacoaster09

I think the inversion on Hades will go right after the tunnel before the turn around in the parking lot or after the turn around right before the re-entry into the tunnel. *Correction* Mt. Olympus Facebook just released video.. The Zero G is going to be right out of the tunnel before the turn around. So now S&S is stepping up and now have free flipping 4d coasters to compete with intamin Zach Spins. This is a great move for S&S. Compact coasters tend be the rides that get alot of sales, especially because small parks are now in the market to get a ride. Will with Originators of 4D have a better product than Intamin Zac Spins?

I wonder if they can get Hades to where it can run with two trains.

We are going to have ride Hades 360 in its first year because after that.. the ride goes back to hell. Mt Olympus is not going to maintain the ridewell ... we can assume that.

OMG... THIS IS THE SHOCKER OF THE DAY... HADES + TIMBERLINERS+ INVERSION + GRAVITY GROUP!!!!! WHAT!!!!!!!!!! OMG! I AM EXCITED AND SCARED TO DEATH AT THE SAME TIME!!!! TELL ME MORE! Ask them will they modify it to allow it to run two trains?

^yeah I think that was Martin & Vleminckx The new S&S free fly concept... is a good way to compete with the B&M wing rider craze. I never rode Tranan so I don't know if the ride experience is anything special. But It looks to incorporate the best of Suspended coaters with sensation of riding on a wing. I guess it wouldnt be impossible to inversions though unless they can control where the seats can swing freely or if they are locked throughout the course of the ride. Outlaw Run!!!!! That's all I can say....

^Sounds like the same issue with Kingda Ka... I never ride KK in that back seat because it is extremely rough.... the vibrations are just too much once you get to full speed and start going up.

I have never heard of a park having a spare train for a boomerang before. That sounds very odd. Trains are expensive so I don't buy that rumor at all. It just doesn't make sense. Boomerang trains stay on the track year round. It's not like they can just transfer one train off and put a spare train on at whim. Again, I highly doubt that rumor.... its just silly to have a spare boomerang train that just happens to be sitting around.. what park does that?

I think that the type of track is just a matter of the wheel chasis (either inside the track or on the outside). I'm sure they manufacture both. Anyway... seeing as thought Six Flags not the only company to go with an outside manufactuer to develop new trains (hence Kumbak and the SLC trains)... I think the ultimate factor is PRICE! If a credible manufactuer has bid on a project with confidence and under competitor's prices then I'm sure a company like six flags would consider it. If Six Flags didn't go to Vekoma for new trains for Goliath then Im sure they may have another manufactuer like Premier do the job if the price is right. (I could see the Mr. freeze type train being used although it would be more restrictive).

^But Vekoma also has new 4 across seating trains (Battlestar Gallactica) and they are advertised on their site as well... They have the comfortable straps as opposed to the hard restraints. So I dont think your basis could entirely rull out the possibility. I mean honestly I was shocked Six Flags asked Premier when Vekoma has 4 across trains.

I am just throwing this out there based on the scream scape report stating that the flashback train is still sitting in the SFOT boneyard... There are some rumblings as it whether SFSTL could get new vekoma trains for the boomerang... my quesiton is... could Six Flags shock us again, and seek the help of Premier to design trains for the boomerang as well?

A intamin 10 inversion/12 inversion coaster would be a nice replacement and keep the snake theming.

If they take out Anaconda, does that mean they will go through with the station overhaul on Volcano. They annouced last season that they would be closing Volcano to do work on the station to increase capacity... what ever happened to that?

Oh the one at Happy Valley Shenzhen (aka Bullet Coaster with blue and white colors). I can't wait to see your report on that and the Vekoma Stingray.

Were all the S&S launch rides down on this trip... I don't get it.

OzIris. For me I now that were are in the last 2 months of the year... the most overrated ride seems to be OzIris. I choose this ride because the ride has an amazing looking layout and the themeing is among some of the best I've seen however, it was sad to hear that it was delivering a weak ride (force wise) compared to what many hope for from an B&M Invert.

"I want to get off Roller Coaster 1"

In honor of the day before Halloween lol

So Basically, Smaller Groups In Backwoods and adjust the sound in Blood Factory? In my opinion just sounds like opportunities to improve. Just a question? What was the line for Backwoods Bloodshed like?... could that have played a role as to why they sent groups of that size? ( I can understand the dilemna ... do you A. send smaller groups thus increasing your wait time and getting those kinds of complaints, or do B. you send a larger group and get comlaints for those who may feel they did not get scared to their satisfaction).

I wonder if insurance will go up or if they will mandate an increased height ordinance like they did to the people on the gulf coast because of katrina.. fair is fair.

On Batwing, the electrical rails that used to run from the station to the top of the lift which the GAUs would engage have been removed so its no longer possible for the train to recline on the lift. I have personally ridden Batwing when it would depart the station in the upright position and then recline as the train started ascending the lift... It was much more comfortable than being on your back. When the train re-entered the station each car would being raising up as it engaged the rails in the station. It was pretty cool to watch but it just was not consistent. (Again, I guess becasue of loose wires or the GAUs not engaging the rails like they were supposed to each time.) So I imagine you would get some instances where a trail would be stopped on the lift because a fault involving some of the cars not reclining would arise or some the cars not raising back up when the train re-enters the station. I think that a system similar to the way 4d coasters work would be a fix. An additional rail on each side of the track that runs from the top of the lift to the brake run that a wheel, attached to each car, similar to the ones on Firehawk (that engage those mechanical lifting platforms) would guide along.... and depending on the position of the additional rails relative to the actual track, it would determine the position of the car (either raised up or fully reclined).

Batwing has what is called a GAU Motor.. GAU = Guest Accommodation Unit - in other words the individual car. So each car of the train has a GAU Motor which controls the raising and lowering of the cars. In the station there are electrical rails on both sides of the track which the cars engage. These supply power to the motors and allow them to actuate the lifting and lowering. Unfortunately, these motors and all associated wires and such are on board the train and are subject to all the forces and vibrations. What happens when you have a loose wire? Exactly! So you can imagine the problems... it can be quite the headache. Especially when you have to figure which wire may be loose. It can be a hit one day and a miss the next. It can be fine one cycle and not the next. So I think Cedar Fair felt they had more consistency with having the motors and the mechanism embedded in the station instead of onboard the train thus you have the system that you see. Personally, I think Batwing should get the same system. It appears from looking at the recent TPR Vekoma Stingray video that Vekoma may have worked out the issues.. because the trains can be seen raising up as they re-enter the station. The question is it consistent without any issues? If so, then I think batwing would benefit from an overhaul to install that mechanism used at Suzhou Giant Wheel Park.

Yay! Thats great to know, as I have been neglecting the park this year, and I need to get that credit! @allilstronger I'll be there Saturday too! Do the teacups, as they are crazy fun, and Superman has the best night rides. You guys take pictures please!!! Might be the last opportunity to get any season pics because of Sandy coming. Also I prefer the front seat of Apocalypse. I too press my upper body against the restraint. Also I learn my head in the directions of the turns (so if the corkscrew is turning left I lean/tilt my head a little to the left.

Yes coverage of the testing would be nice.

As far as the coasters are concerned no... not really. I think on Joker Jinx they may have the lights turned off in the spaghetti bowl portion but don't quote me. I know on tower of Doom they turned the lights off that usually shine down from the top of the tower. Bumper Cars is now Road Rage Cage and they put in the lighting effects and fog and turned off the lights (pretty cool!). Tea Cups is now Terror Twister where they enclosed the ride and its also filled with fog and lighting effects synched to a master mix of Party Rock Anthem (Love It!). Superman is awesome at night regardless of fright fest or not... becuase the ride ventures way out of the park and there are no lights... its pitch black! Aside from that , it's pretty much the same. So coaster wise, definitely get your night ride in on Superman once it's absolutely dark and maybe JJ. Make it a must to check out Tea Cups, Bumper Cars, and maybe Tower since they actually enchance those rides at night. Now Backwoods and Blood Factory..... there's just no way I can do them.... im too scared of Backwoods Bloodshed from last year lol! But the effects that people are talking about in Blood Factory are just to die for!! lol.... But seriously.. I would literally die lol. People are saying that one maze is better than BGW's and KD's. SFA really outdid themselves. Also don't miss the Awakening.

I've heard Blood Factor is amazing as well as Backwoods. Apocalypse when I rode earlier this month was fairly smooth compared to what I remember Iron Wolf. Just that one spot where you get a slight head back after the corkscrew but that's it. Overall I love the what they did with the ride it looks great!