oriolat

^Shambhala is getting three 32-seat V-shaped trains...

Moonsault Scramble. The contraption at Fuji-Q pulled something outrageous like 6 Gs during the pretzel inversion.

I don't think that's the top support. If you follow the layout of the helix, there are still other taller supports to be raised! I think you must be right! The tallet portion of the helix is facing the other way.

As construction goes on, so do the updates. Yesterday they were working on the helix (now you can see the top support). Today, focus is on the chaintrough (which has reached the first support) and on finishing the second support for the lift hill. I wouldn't be surprised if they end up putting the lift hill track up to the first column today since there is a 200 feet crane with three other minor cranes on that same spot... Now, onto the photos: Supports for the first and third hills. Source: PAFans.com I haven't seen any coaster lift hill built like that; first the trough and THEN the track? WTF? This is mere speculation but there are rumours pointing that the top sections of Khan's inversions (giant loop, diving loop and cobra roll) have not been painted because they could receive a "blending" treatment and be painted differently (i.e. melting snow) to fit in the area... Does Khan really need to pull a Dominator?

A friend of mine is in FITUR (International Tourism Trade Fair) and has sent me the following picture. This pretty much confirms the tunnel on the first drop (head chopper anyone?), the shape of the helix, a "speed hump", the splash and the MCBR almost at the end (like Carowinds' Intmimidator). Also note the station looks like a refuge. As for construction itself, recent updates show that supports are being placed for the first airtime hill and the helix is progressing nicely (at least the lower parts).

Sorry but this is not the official recreation. In fact, PA hasn't released any press material other than the artwork showing the train going down the first drop. Good work, anyway! I hope the tunnels and splash come true.

According to Jivo from Bloggercoaster.com the lift hill is about to go up. Some supports have been placed after the station and they were lifting pieces of track for the turn leading to the lift hill. A bunch of high-quality photos can be found here: http://www.bloggercoaster.com/

Amazing photos, Hanno! BTW, has anybody noticed the antirollbacks on most (if not all) of the layout? I haven't seen them placed like that on other GCIs. Another question, how is Europa Park going to run 3 trains if there is no MCBR?

RCS have already installed their camp and equipment to start vertical construction. Different sources from trusted people working at the park have confirmed that track is, in fact, in the park. Pieces of track are turquoise blue. Up we go!

A use from PAC has posted a picture of the park's skyline after the coaster sits next to Khan. Not only Khan is completely dwarfed, but it seems non-existant unless you pay attention to it. I really think it's sad to see such a good coaster visually smashed by a steel monster like Shambhala. Don't get me wrong; PA is stepping in the right direction adding a much needed and supposedly good ride to their line-up but, seriously, next to Khan?

The park said it would have tunnels, some of which might be aboveground (a bit like the concrete tunnel on Furius Baco). Pretty accurate but I think the drop will go UNDER Khan's drop. Why? According to the park's stats, the coaster will go up 76 meters but will have a 78-meter first drop. Hopefully this means trench or underground tunnel. Can you imagine the headchopper? BTW, looking at the station/transfer track section, looks like it will have an awkward transfer track configuration (not 3 parallel tracks like other B&Ms but one very long section on one side, allowing 2 trains, and another shorter storage track for a third train on the other side).

For those waiting for a final OFFICIAL announcement, the ride will be presented this Friday. According to Catalunya Radio (local radio station), the President of the Catalan Government (Artur Mas) will set the coaster's first stone this Friday, when the park is due to announce further details. The same station has mentioned that the ride will: - reach speeds up to 85 mph, - be built by a Swiss Company called Bolliger and Mabillard, - sit next to Khan - be the park's new starship ride (poor Khan ) Can't wait for Friday! New picture from the groundwork. This one shows the backside of the Imperial Theatre (across Khan's entrance plaza). The coaster is said to go as far as Sesamo Aventura (Polynesia) and as far as Templo del Fuego (Mexico). For those not familiar with the park that is a long, long stretch.

Keep praying No, seriously. I really hope they go back to B&M. Dragon Khan proved that B&M can do wonders and it is about time the park gets a ride with a decent layout (Stampida's layout is really clever and nothing smart layout-wise has been built ever since).

Looking at the ride's elements on RCDB it looks like a Intamin 10-inversion clone with a loop instead of the hill between the loop and the cobra roll.

No word about that. I think they are holding the announcement until Halloween season has finished (mid-November) since it's a big draw for the park (again, pure speculation).

I recall seeing a picture of Great Bear's panel at Hersheypark and it had these little joysticks instead of dispatch buttons you always see on most coasters.

Well, this works in Europe just fine. I too went to Europa Park this summer and it's amazing how everybody just knows what they have to do (board, pull down bar, go - simple, huh?). But I guess that America works differently and people might freak out because tradition tells that if you are going on a roller coaster, your restraint will be checked or else something is going wrong. Is there any American park that does NOT check restraints on their rides?

Yeah, sorry, I meant that. Even with one secondary dispatch button, couldn't the other attendant at least see that his/her colleague hadn't reached the end of the station?

Don't these Arrow coasters have a second dispatch button that the attendant has to push in sync with the main booth to dispatch the ride? And, regardless of the incident, you wouldn't have died if no one had checked your restraint.

I browsed those pictures and I found that: Is that the control panel? If so, it is VERY funky looking. The only ride with that kind of seat/panel I can think of is Silver Star.

I loved that the guy running the interview actually mentioned the trashcans!

I never thought IJ was meant to be a drifting coaster. It would be cool if the cars could do this on Verbolten as it would add to 'car out of control' feeling.

Because it will be the highlight of the ride.

Seriously? How can you dispatch a 8-person car in 90 seconds? Even with one attendant per car it shouldn't take more than 30 seconds or so...

I don't think CF will ever buy a Flyer, or a 4D for that matter, since they are rides that tend to break down a lot and need a lot of maintenance work to keep them runnning at its best. Plus, if not run well, their capacity suck (again, CF rides are capacity-orientated).