Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (BGT Discussion Thread)

[rcjp]

Wow that's a big weight!

[yay101]

It needs to be, haha!

 

I think this is going to be way better than a normal drop tower, I mean, it better portrays the height/acrophobic sensation. I mean...straight down...

[stricklandCC]

I never knew drop towers had counter weights. Honestly kind of stumped on the purpose, can anyone shed light on exactly how/why they are used?

[Guy T. Koepp]

I'm not an engineer or anything, but remembering simple mechanics based entirely on a theatrical flyrail system. The counterweight would be used to offset the ride vehicle weight. This causes less stress on the actual lift motors creating less wear and tear and less downtime.

 

Someone in the know can now begin to correct my uneducated blathering in 3... ...2... ...1.

[alpengeist04]

Does anyone know if Falcon's Fury has been topped yet?

 

As of this afternoon, the answer is no.

[Bmggt83]

This ride is going to really push everyone's limits! I love the colors! You would not believe how much this ride changes the parks skyline. If you stand anywhere in the park you are able to see it. Can't wait for the ride to open! Got to love Intamin!

[rcjp]

I'm not an engineer or anything, but remembering simple mechanics based entirely on a theatrical flyrail system. The counterweight would be used to offset the ride vehicle weight. This causes less stress on the actual lift motors creating less wear and tear and less downtime.

 

Someone in the know can now begin to correct my uneducated blathering in 3... ...2... ...1.

That's also what I thought, but then after the car is dropped and the catch car is being lowered, won't the motors have to pull the counterweight up all by themselves?

[_koppen]

I'm not an engineer or anything, but remembering simple mechanics based entirely on a theatrical flyrail system. The counterweight would be used to offset the ride vehicle weight. This causes less stress on the actual lift motors creating less wear and tear and less downtime.

 

Someone in the know can now begin to correct my uneducated blathering in 3... ...2... ...1.

 

I think It's a permanent, non moving weight. Tall structures, that is very exposed to wind (think skyscrapers), always have one at the top. It's to prevent to much swaying on the structure, as this cause a lot of stress that will weaken the entire tower.

 

Counter weights for the "up and down" movements is not of this size. I can't find a picture of one, but next time your up close with a Star Flyer you can watch inside the tower, and you will see it going up and down.

Edited January 22, 2014 by _koppen

[rcjp]

^Now that does make some sense.

[Moose]

^^which would make it a mass damper and not a counterweight as it was called in the post.

[Guy T. Koepp]

^Ahhhhhhh! A mass damper. They use these in skyscrapers to counterweight the sway of the building during high winds or earthquakes, yes? I was thinking the literal use of a counterweight based on my only knowledge of them. The theater. Or as we say in Franch, "Le Theatre!"

 

Guy "Counterweight, Mass Damper, Science! Meh!" Koepp

[rcrider4]

I don't know if anyone has noticed this yet, but the three kiddie rides in Timbuktu are listed on Busch Garden's Ride Update page as coming back April 19, 20, and 21st. Looks like an Easter weekend opening for Falcon's Fury might be right after all.

[B&MBoy1982]

Falcon's Fury counterweight that weights 68 tons!

 

From BGT's Facebook page

 

 

See the wheels at the top of this thing? This leads me to believe it will travel opposite of the lift mechanism. Thus being a counterweight.

[Fooz]

I'm not an engineer or anything, but remembering simple mechanics based entirely on a theatrical flyrail system. The counterweight would be used to offset the ride vehicle weight. This causes less stress on the actual lift motors creating less wear and tear and less downtime.

 

Someone in the know can now begin to correct my uneducated blathering in 3... ...2... ...1.

That's also what I thought, but then after the car is dropped and the catch car is being lowered, won't the motors have to pull the counterweight up all by themselves?

 

I would imagine that the idea is that the time between the lift cycles is longer than the lift cycles, and the engine can run at a slower speed for longer than if it had to lift the ride vehicle by itself. Another possibility is that the counterweight does not travel the whole height of the tower, and that there's a pulley system inside, which could affect the strain or cost of the system in more ways.

[cwgator]

From the park's Facebook page posted yesterday (1-23):

 

You only have a few more days to catch our Critter Castaways show! But don’t worry, our animal stars aren’t going anywhere. Stay tuned as we’ll be unveiling big plans for something exciting and new coming to Busch Gardens’ newest land, Pantopia later this year.

[B&MBoy1982]

From a friend's Facebook page:

[Cyrbuzz]

Dang that sucker is freaking tall! What a ride to the ground this thing is going to give. Now if we can get that giga coaster to replace Gwazi what a skyline that would be.

[coasterfreak101]

An Intamin giga in the Gwazi footprint...

[rcjp]

^I suppose that the bottom of its first drop would have to be quite tight, something like this.

Imagine: the new ride will reach 58 Gs and you will experience every single bone of your body being crushed into dust!

[willthegolfer]

^That would be much less painful than Gwazi!

[tarheel1231]

Why can't the park just get a B&M hyper? Why not let us up north at Carowinds have the only giga?

[coasterfreak101]

^Because yours will be a boring B&M and more people in the world deserve to experience the greatness that is I305.

[cfc]

^Because yours will be a boring B&M and more people in the world deserve to experience the greatness that is I305.

 

[willthegolfer]

^^I don't see an intamin as a likely candidate over B&M, especially since the i305 breakdown. At the gatekeeper and banshee announcement ceremonies, the park managers kept referring to B&M's reliability, so I don't think they want to take a risk with Intamin unfortunately.

[XYZ]

^^I don't see an intamin as a likely candidate over B&M, especially since the i305 breakdown. At the gatekeeper and banshee announcement ceremonies, the park managers kept referring to B&M's reliability, so I don't think they want to take a risk with Intamin unfortunately.

 

Yet BGT spent millions on an Intamin coaster a few years ago...