fraroc Posted August 10, 2016 Share Posted August 10, 2016 Or do you believe that the concept of a suspended coaster has become somewhat outdated since the inverted coaster came along? Me personally, I would love to see the suspended coaster make a modernized comeback. As it would not only mean that there would be new suspended coasters, it would also mean that maintainance for the pre-existing Arrow and Vekoma suspended coasters would be easier and they'd be able to last a while longer. In fact, there already is a company that has already made a modernized suspended coaster....While it sure doesn't look like much, the Zamperla Air Force is essentially a modernized suspended coaster and I think that the concept of the Air Force needs to be expanded to make larger and more thrilling suspended coasters. Reminiscent of rides like Flight Deck/The Bat and The Big Bad Wolf....Of course, this is probably not going to happen, but one can dream, am I right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ytterbiumanalyst Posted August 10, 2016 Share Posted August 10, 2016 I think it'd be awesome to see a new one of these. The only time in my life I've ridden an inverted and a suspended back to back was earlier this year, Banshee followed by Bat. They're both great rides and very different from each other. Really the only thing they have in common is that you ride below the track. The Bat's swinging on each turn was a very cool and intense experience; I wish there were more of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rill'o'beily Posted August 10, 2016 Share Posted August 10, 2016 I 100% agree and i'm on the boat of hoping that whatever is happening at the Vekoma plant right now is going to be a suspended-resurrection. Suspended coasters can be really fun and out of control feeling, and can be family friendly at the same time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoinItForTheFame Posted August 10, 2016 Share Posted August 10, 2016 I'd LOVE to see suspended roller coasters make a come back. The few that I have been on are awesome coasters, and IMO highly underrated coasters. With all the new technology that is available to manufactures now (as opposed to when suspended coasters first came out) I can only imagine how much more amazing a modern day suspended coaster could be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rai Fox Posted August 10, 2016 Share Posted August 10, 2016 Before they shut down, Arrow was working on a new 2nd gen version of the suspended coaster that could handle inversions. So, uh...YES MAKE THAT HAPPEN PLEASE. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Coaster Ninja Posted August 10, 2016 Share Posted August 10, 2016 Actually, the Vekoma Family Suspended rides are still true suspended coasters. Each seat, while connected, can swing individually. Look at image 29 on this page. Is it suspended the same way that the Arrow suspended were? Of course not. However, while larger rides have become less common, the ever growing lineup of Vekoma's suspended coasters have been taking off and show that there is still interest in the suspended coaster market... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nrthwnd Posted August 10, 2016 Share Posted August 10, 2016 R.I.P. XLR-8 in Astroworld. My very first suspended cars coaster. And I've ridden the ones in SFMM and CW and Kings Island. I loved them all. So why not bring back a more updated version of this particular suspended coaster? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geauga Dog Posted August 10, 2016 Share Posted August 10, 2016 Definitely!! I think the only company that could possibly do it before anyone else is Vekoma since they used to have a swinging suspended model in their catalog and, as stated, are already producing suspended family coasters which seem to be popping up a little more frequently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I305forever Posted August 10, 2016 Share Posted August 10, 2016 Yes. I went on the Big Bad Wolf when I was like 8 and it was amazing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YoshiFan Posted August 10, 2016 Share Posted August 10, 2016 Yes, I had wanted to try a suspended coaster for a while and got to ride Bat and Iron Dragon last year. I liked both coasters a lot even though Iron Dragon was kind of tame and wouldn't mind seeing a local park get a suspended coaster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoubleDown Posted August 10, 2016 Share Posted August 10, 2016 Yes! Suspended coasters are sweet and they are great for families. Ninja was a GREAT coaster for me and my younger brother to get used to for the more extreme rides in the park. And it is STILL and amazing (although short) coaster in the front and back seats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
defrocker Posted August 10, 2016 Share Posted August 10, 2016 I also love the suspended model. But here's the million dollar question... Is it marketable? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ytterbiumanalyst Posted August 10, 2016 Share Posted August 10, 2016 Boomerangs are marketable. Larson loops are marketable. So yes, as long as your marketing team are not completely inept, they can market a suspended coaster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterbill Posted August 10, 2016 Share Posted August 10, 2016 Boomerangs are marketable. Larson loops are marketable. So yes, as long as your marketing team are not completely inept, they can market a suspended coaster. This Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
defrocker Posted August 10, 2016 Share Posted August 10, 2016 Boomerangs are marketable. Larson loops are marketable. So yes, as long as your marketing team are not completely inept, they can market a suspended coaster. Both of those are moderately inexpensive investments, so it doesn't take much to get a return. We're talking full scale rollercoaster here. Can you legitimately get a return on one is what I'm getting at? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarienLaker Posted August 10, 2016 Share Posted August 10, 2016 In my opinion regarding the return of suspended roller coasters, I don't really think the concept is outdated, but it's too bad Arrow isn't around anymore to make swinging suspended coasters without floorless trains. The swinging suspended coaster concept is good idea for kids who just reach 48" mark and are still not up for riding the more thrilling coasters, but have outgrown kiddie coasters. Suspended roller coasters can be marketable, if B&M, S&S, Vekoma, or some other company is willing to bring back old style suspended coasters without the floorless trains. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Linn Posted August 10, 2016 Share Posted August 10, 2016 I'm surprised that more weren't built, honestly. They are (to me) a perfect intermediate roller coaster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SixFlagsAstroworld Posted August 10, 2016 Share Posted August 10, 2016 YES! Bring it back! I only rode Ninja at SFMM and it was really fun. My only question is which company should make them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarienLaker Posted August 10, 2016 Share Posted August 10, 2016 YES! Bring it back! I only rode Ninja at SFMM and it was really fun. My only question is which company should make them? My guess is either B&M or S&S! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBad Posted August 10, 2016 Share Posted August 10, 2016 I also love the suspended model. But here's the million dollar question... Is it marketable? It would be more difficult to advertise than if it included a "world's first" or any kind of record, but the first modern suspended coaster with cars gracefully yet forcefully swinging from side to side would give some good footage. I don't see this as any harder than advertising other mid-sized coasters. Someone suggested B&M as a manufacturer. I don't see it, at least not until someone else does it, as great as their design would be. I could see Mack or especially Intamin doing it. A dark horse candidate is RMC since Schilke worked for Arrow and might have some insight into the finer details of the physics. Anyway, I vote YES! A swinging suspended coaster could be a good family ride, but a company like Intamin could make one that's very intense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_koppen Posted August 10, 2016 Share Posted August 10, 2016 Suspended coasters are much more of a nightmare in terms of maintenance when compared to a regular inverted family ride. The question one have to ask is if the added investment and the added cost for maintenance is going to pay itself back and also if the more expensiver suspended ride will bring in any more guests compared to the regular inverted one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nrthwnd Posted August 10, 2016 Share Posted August 10, 2016 ^ Well, hasn't it been a while since a new version of this one, has opened? (just checking here) With new technology since any last coaster was built, this could be a new challenge to a coaster designer and mfg-er. And a new ride experience for all of us. My 5 cents. And 'nightmares' happen, with the eventual maintenance required, with the best of them, especially after just opening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheJewelOfJool Posted August 11, 2016 Share Posted August 11, 2016 Actually, the Vekoma Family Suspended rides are still true suspended coasters. Each seat, while connected, can swing individually. Look at image 29 on this page. Is it suspended the same way that the Arrow suspended were? Of course not. However, while larger rides have become less common, the ever growing lineup of Vekoma's suspended coasters have been taking off and show that there is still interest in the suspended coaster market... I didn't know that. That's a neat little feature. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skramp Posted August 11, 2016 Share Posted August 11, 2016 I think a suspended coaster with open trains like the one referenced earlier could be amazing. The cool part about suspended coasters was how you could use the terrain to enhance the ride without having to have massive inversions (think The Bat and Big Bad Wolf). You would need the right application and terrain to really make it nice, but very feasible and not as expensive as some other coasters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lameformer Posted August 11, 2016 Share Posted August 11, 2016 I've only ridden one suspended coaster in my life, and that's Ninja at Six Flags Magic Mountain, which I believe is considered one of the better suspended coasters. The ride is a decent family coaster, but it's definitely no where near a great ride. In my opinion, spinning coasters like Cobra's Curse and Sierra Sidewinder and family launch coasters like Verbolten and Firechaser Express are better, more reliable options for family coasters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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