Launched Loop (Arrow Dynamics)
A Launched Loop is a type of steel launched shuttle roller coaster manufactured by Arrow Dynamics. With 8 different installations, 7 of them being relocated at least once, the ride was introduced in 1977, with the last one opening in 1993.
Launched Loop | |
---|---|
Sidewinder at Elitch Gardens in 2006. | |
Status | Discontinued |
First manufactured | 1977 |
No. of installations | 8 |
Manufacturer | Arrow Dynamics |
Height | 56.0 ft (17.1 m) |
Drop | 47 ft (14 m) |
Length | 635.0 ft (193.5 m) |
Speed | 45.0 mph (72.4 km/h) |
G force | 4.0 |
Vehicle type | Roller coaster train |
Vehicles | 1 |
Riders per vehicle | 4 |
Rows | 2 |
Riders per row | 2 |
Duration | 1:06 |
Inversions | 1 |
Launched Loop at RCDB |
History
The first installation of a Launched Loop dates back to 1977 with the installation of Demon at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio. Two more of the coaster would also open in 1977, them being Zoomerang at Boardwalk and Baseball in Haines City, Florida, and Black Widow at Six Flags New England in Agawam, Massachusetts. These were most likely built to rival Intamin's Shuttle Loop, which started being built the same year. In 1987, Demon at Kings Island became the first Launched Loop to be relocated, becoming Thunderbolt Express at Camden Park in Huntington, West Virginia. As of September 2019, only 3 launched loops operate, them being Revolution at Blackpool Pleasure Beach in Lancashire, England, Sidewinder at Elitch Gardens in Denver, Colorado, and Diamond Back at Frontier City in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Notable installations
- Lightnin' Loops was a combination of two different launched loop roller coasters with interlocking loops built for Six Flags Great Adventure in 1987. One track closed in 1987 and stood nonoperational until 1992 when the other track closed.[1][2] The track that closed in 1987 was then relocated to Frontier City as Diamond Back as the other track was relocated to Six Flags America as Python, both opening in 1993.[3][4]
- Demon at Kings Island while not being the first built, was the first launched loop to open. The ride was then relocated to Camden Park as Thunderbolt Express where it operated until 1999.[5]
- Revolution at Blackpool Pleasure Beach is the longest operating launched loop, opening in 1979, and also is the only of its kind to not be relocated any time in its lifetime.[6]
Installations
Name | Park | Opened | Closed | Status | Cite(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Afterburner
Zoomerang |
Fun Spot Park | 1991
1977 |
2008
1990 |
Closed
Relocated |
[7][8] |
Black Widow | Six Flags New England | 1977 | 1999 | Closed | [9] |
Boomerang | Tokyo Dome City | 1980 | 1984 | Closed | [10] |
Diamond Back | Frontier City | 1993
1978 |
Operating
1986 |
Operating
Relocated |
[11][12] |
Python | Six Flags America | 1993
1978 |
1998
1992 |
Closed
Relocated |
[13][14] |
Revolution | Blackpool Pleasure Beach | 1979 | Operating | Operating | [15] |
Sidewinder
Roaring Tornado |
Elitch Gardens | 1990
1980 |
Operating
1989 |
Operating
Relocated |
[16][17][18] |
Thunderbolt Express
Demon |
Camden Park | 1988
1977 |
1999
1987 |
Closed
Relocated |
[19][20] |
References
- "Lightnin' Loops - Six Flags Great Adventure (Jackson, New Jersey, United States)". rcdb.com. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
- "Lightnin' Loops - Six Flags Great Adventure (Jackson, New Jersey, United States)". rcdb.com. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
- "Python - Six Flags America (Upper Marlboro, Maryland, United States)". rcdb.com. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
- "Diamond Back - Frontier City (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States)". rcdb.com. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
- "Demon - Kings Island (Mason, Ohio, United States)". rcdb.com. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
- "Revolution - Blackpool Pleasure Beach (Blackpool, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom)". rcdb.com. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
- "Afterburner - Fun Spot Park (Angola, Indiana, United States)". rcdb.com. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
- "Zoomerang - Boardwalk and Baseball (Haines City, Florida, United States)". rcdb.com. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
- "Black Widow - Six Flags New England (Agawam, Massachusetts, United States)". rcdb.com. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
- "Boomerang - Tokyo Dome City (Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan)". rcdb.com. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
- "Diamond Back - Frontier City (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States)". rcdb.com. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
- "Lightnin' Loops - Six Flags Great Adventure (Jackson, New Jersey, United States)". rcdb.com. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
- "Python - Six Flags America (Upper Marlboro, Maryland, United States)". rcdb.com. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
- "Lightnin' Loops - Six Flags Great Adventure (Jackson, New Jersey, United States)". rcdb.com. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
- "Revolution - Blackpool Pleasure Beach (Blackpool, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom)". rcdb.com. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
- "Sidewinder - Elitch Gardens (Denver, Colorado, United States)". rcdb.com. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
- "Sidewinder - Elitch Gardens (Denver, Colorado, United States)". rcdb.com. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
- "Roaring Tornado - Magic Springs Theme and Water Park (Hot Springs, Arkansas, United States)". rcdb.com. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
- "Thunderbolt Express - Camden Park (Huntington, West Virginia, United States)". rcdb.com. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
- "Demon - Kings Island (Mason, Ohio, United States)". rcdb.com. Retrieved 2019-09-23.