Impulse roller coaster
This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2010) |
Impulse roller coaster | |
---|---|
Status | In Production |
First manufactured | 1998 |
No. of installations | 8 |
Manufacturer | Intamin |
Vehicles | 1 |
Restraint Style | Over the shoulder |
Max vertical angle | 90° |
An Impulse roller coaster is a form of a launched inverted roller coaster manufactured by Intamin. The first Impulse roller coaster appeared in Japan, and the ride type has since evolved to include four specific layouts, three of these varieties being built in the United States. It uses LIMs to launch a train out of the station and (in most installations) up a vertical spiral. The train then falls backward, is powered again through the station, and heads up a back tower. The train then falls forward, and continues in this fashion for a total of 2½ cycles per ride (three forward launches, two backward). On the final forward launch, with a slightly reduced speed, the train is sent up the front tower, and brakes then deploy on the launch track. The train then slows down and heads back into the station.
The original
The original Inverted Impulse roller coaster, Linear Gale, was built in 1998 at LaQua Amusement Park at Tokyo Dome City in Tokyo, Japan. Like the more modern Impulse roller coasters, it began with a LIM launch. However, instead of going through a vertical twist, it simply headed up a straight tower. It headed backward through the launch section and station and into another vertical tower of track, this time facing the ground. After a few more cycles, the train slowed and came to a stop in the station. It closed on October 31, 2010.[1]
Variations
Intamin Impulse Coaster
The first installation in the United States was
Intamin Suspended Catapult Coaster
Although technically not an Inverted Impulse coaster, Volcano: The Blast Coaster utilized technology that would eventually be included in Impulse designs. It was manufactured by Intamin, the same company that manufacturers modern Impulse coasters; thus it utilized LIM motors, trains, and track structure similar to modern Impulse coasters. However, it was unlike Impulse coasters because of its full circuit, multiple train, dual-launch design. It had 2 launches, first to 68 mph and second to 70 mph. In February 2019, Kings Dominion announced that Volcano would be demolished before the 2019 season, citing maintenance issues.[2][3]
Installations
Name | Park | Opened | Status | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Linear Gale | Tokyo Dome City | 1998 | Demolished | [1] |
Screaming Condor | Leofoo Village Theme Park | 2001 | Operating | [4] |
The Flash: Vertical Velocity Formerly V2: Vertical Velocity (2001-2021) |
Six Flags Great America | 2001 | Operating | [5] |
The Flash: Vertical Velocity Formerly V2: Vertical Velocity (2001-2018) |
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom | 2001 | Operating | [6] |
Wicked Twister | Cedar Point | 2002 | Demolished | [7] |
Steel Venom | Valleyfair | 2003 | Operating | [8] |
Possessed Formerly Superman: Ultimate Escape (2000-2003), Steel Venom (2004-2006), and Voodoo (2008) |
Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom Formerly Geauga Lake |
2008 2000-2007 |
Operating | [9] |
Legendary Twin Dragon | Chongqing Sunac Land | 2021 | Operating | [10] |
References
- ^ a b Marden, Duane. "Linear Gale (Tokyo Dome City)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 18 March 2012.
- ^ Staff (February 9, 2019). "Kings Dominion to remove Volcano: The Blast Coaster". WTVR. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
- ^ Tyree, Elizabeth (February 9, 2019). "Kings Dominion announces decision to remove Volcano: The Blast Coaster". WSET. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Screaming Condor (Leofoo Village Theme Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 18 March 2012.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Vertical Velocity (Six Flags Great America)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 18 March 2012.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "V2: Vertical Velocity (Six Flags Discovery Kingdom)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 18 March 2012.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Wicked Twister (Cedar Point)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 18 March 2012.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Steel Venom (Valleyfair)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 18 March 2012.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Possessed (Dorney Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 18 March 2012.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Legendary Twin Dragon (Chongqing Sunac Land)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 26 April 2022.