Eurofighter (Zoosafari Fasanolandia)
Eurofighter is a steel roller coaster at Zoosafari Fasanolandia in Fasano, Italy. Eurofighter is the only Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter model roller coaster that bears the name of the coaster model.[1] At 97 degrees, the coaster is also the steepest roller coaster in Italy.[2]
Eurofighter | |
---|---|
Zoosafari Fasanolandia | |
Location | Zoosafari Fasanolandia |
Coordinates | 40.8303°N 17.3398°E |
Status | Operating |
Opening date | 6 August 2011 |
Cost | €2,187,000 |
General statistics | |
Type | Steel – Euro-Fighter |
Manufacturer | Gerstlauer |
Height | 23 m (75 ft) |
Length | 395 m (1,296 ft) |
Speed | 70 km/h (43 mph) |
Inversions | 2 |
Max vertical angle | 97° |
Trains | a single car. Riders are arranged 4 across in 2 rows for a total of 8 riders per train. |
Eurofighter at RCDB Pictures of Eurofighter at RCDB |
History
Built by Gerstlauer, the installation of Eurofighter was delayed several years because of conflict between Zoosafari Fasanolandia and the city of Fasano. The coaster was purchased in 2007 for a total of €2,187,000, but when construction was about to begin, the local police intervened and blocked construction on 5 March 2007, claiming that there were issues with the building permits. Permits were eventually granted on 28 September 2009, and construction began on 15 December 2010.[3][4] The coaster finally opened on 6 August 2011.[5]
The delay in the construction led the park owners to seek compensation for the revenue that they claimed was lost as a result of the delay in coaster installation. The park owners demanded €3,000,000 from the city of Fasano, and threatened to remove the entire park and move its operations to Ravenna if its demands were not met.[6] In addition, the park terminated more favorable admission rates for residents of Fasano.[7]
Layout
Eurofighter has a similar layout to Rage, another Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter roller coaster at Adventure Island in Southend-On-Sea, Essex, UK, and has the steeper-than-vertical 97-degree drop characteristic of all Gerstlauer Euro-Fighters.[8] The coaster is reported in some sources as having 2 inversions[5][8] and in other sources as having 3 inversions.[9][10] All sources describe the coaster as having a vertical loop and a roll (alternatively described as the often misidentified heartline roll[10] or an inline twist[5]), but some sources report that an overbanked curve in the coaster qualifies as an "inline loop".[10]
References
- Marden, Duane. "List of Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter roller coasters". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
- Marden, Duane. "List of roller coasters in Italy by angle". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
- ""Fasanolandia", ricorso presentato in ritardo: niente risarcimento dal Comune di Fasano" ["Fasanolandia" appeal filed late: no compensation from the municipality of Fasano]. TR NEWS.it (in Italian). 9 August 2013. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
- "Lo Zoosafari ricorre al Consiglio di Stato contro il Comune" [The Zoosafari resorts to the Counsel of State against the City]. Go Fasano (in Italian). Association Gonet. 27 September 2013. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
- Marden, Duane. "Eurofighter (Zoosafari Fasanolandia)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
- "Zoosafari: si trasferisce a Ravenna" [Zoosafari: moved to Ravenna]. Dottor Salute News (in Italian). 17 June 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
- di Lello, Parise (17 June 2012). "Lo Zoosafari minaccia il trasloco"Dal Comune di Fasano solo ostacoli"" [The Zoosafari threat of removal "From the town of Fasano only obstacles"]. La Repubblica Bari (in Italian). Retrieved 22 August 2014.
- Begali, Deborah (20 July 2011). "Zoosafari Fasanolandia Ripresi i lavori all'Eurofighter della Gerstlauer" [Zoosafari Fasanolandia resumed the work of the Gerstlauer Eurofighter]. theParks.it (in Italian). Retrieved 22 August 2014.
- "Eurofighter -Zoosafari Fasanolandia". Coaster Details. American Coaster Enthusiasts. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
- "Euro-Fighter 400 für den italienischen Freizeitpark ZooSafari Fasanolandia" [Euro-Fighter 400 for the Italian Amusement Park Zoo Safari Fasano]. Coasters and More (in German). Retrieved 22 August 2014.