Suspended Looping Coaster
The Suspended Looping Coaster (or SLC, as referred to by coaster enthusiasts) is a model of steel inverted roller coaster built by Vekoma. There are at least 39 different installations across the world. The minimum rider height requirement is 130 centimetres (4 ft 3 in). Vekoma is now marketing a Suspended Thrill Coaster as a successor to the Suspended Looping Coaster. The Odyssey is the largest, fastest and tallest SLC ever built at Fantasy Island in the UK.
| Suspended Looping Coaster (SLC) | |
|---|---|
| Status | In Production |
| First manufactured | 1994 |
| No. of installations | 41 |
| Manufacturer | Vekoma |
| Vehicle type | Roller coaster train |
| Height restriction | 130 cm (4 ft 3 in) |
| Type | Steel - Inverted |
| Lift system | Single chain lift hill |
| Succeeded by | Suspended Thrill Coaster |
| Suspended Looping Coaster (SLC) at RCDB | |
History edit
The first Suspended Looping Coaster installation was El Condor at Walibi Holland in the Netherlands.[1] It was initially designed to run with ten cars in each train. Trouble with this configuration led to the trains being shortened to eight cars to a train.[2] T2 at Kentucky Kingdom was the second prototype model Suspended Looping Coaster and the first in the United States.[3] Like El Condor, it was designed to run with ten cars in a train, though T3's trains were shortened to seven cars for similar reasons.[2]
The roller coaster is considered to still be in production[citation needed]. The latest new installation (i.e. not relocated) was Queen Cobra at Sun World Danang Wonders in Đà Nẵng, Vietnam which opened in 2017[4]
Ride edit
Layouts edit
There are several different layouts of Suspended Looping Coasters although most feature a similar pattern.[2] The ride starts by taking riders up a 33.3-metre (109 ft) chain lift hill.[5] Once at the top, the train drops down a steep, banked right turn where it enters the first inversion element - a right rollover. A rollover is an Immelmann loop followed by a Dive Loop[6] After exiting this element, the train traverses a tall, banked left turn and approaches the ride's next inversion - a left sidewinder.[5] A sidewinder is similar to an Immelmann loop; however, it features a half-loop followed by a half-corkscrew (rather than an inline twist).[7] After exiting the sidewinder, the train navigates a 270o right upwards helix before entering the ride's final two inversions - a double inline twist. A banked 90o turn to the right then turns the train back around to face towards the station. At this point, some models feature an additional helix to the left, while others simply continue straight into the brake run.[5] The standard model also has a relatively compact layout, providing numerous "footchoppers".
Vekoma have also manufactured three custom Suspended Looping Coasters: The Great Nor'easter at Morey's Piers (which is nearly identical to standard SLC, but with a custom station and supports), Kumali at Flamingo Land, and Jubilee Odyssey at Fantasy Island.[8]
- The 765m Extended w/Helix layout
- The 689m Standard, the layout of most Suspended Looping Coasters
- Mind Eraser directly before the rollover
- Mind Eraser's signature rollover
- Mind Eraser directly before the sidewinder
- Mind Eraser preparing to enter its brake run
- Darien Lake's Mind Eraser
| Name | Number of installations | First installation | Last installation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 662m Prototype | 2 | 1994 | 1995 |
| 689m Standard | 27 | 1995 | 2017 |
| 765m Extended w/Helix | 5 | 1995 | 1999 |
| 787m Extended | 2 | 1997 | 2007 |
| 671m Shenlin | 2 | 2002 | 2006 |
| 748m Shenlin w/Helix | 2 | 2006 | 2009 |
| Custom | 2 | 1995 | 2002 |
| 42 | 1994 | 2017 |
Trains edit
Many Suspended Looping Coasters operate with two trains consisting of ten cars, though some operate with as few as seven cars. Poor maintenance, poor track layout or most likely non-exact track manufacturing can cause SLCs riders to experience notoriously painful "head banging", whereby the head hits the Over the Shoulder Restraints. They also use very small plastic seats with little or no room for a person to move. Contrary to popular belief, the wheel spacing on the trains (the 'gaps' between the side friction wheels, up-stop wheels, and the track) adds little to the roughness of these rides. Vekoma is currently manufacturing new trains with convenient hip harnesses. Unlike the first generation of trains, this modification will make the overall ride experience more comfortable. Vekoma also makes vest-like harnesses that allow to rider to sit more comfortably while riding. The only four known places to have these trains are Morey's Piers,[9] Isla Magica in Spain, Six Flags New England in Agawam, MA and Beto Carrero World in Santa Catarina, Brazil. In 2012, Lethal Weapon - The Ride at Warner Bros. Movie World reopened as Arkham Asylum - Shock Therapy. The newly opened ride runs with trains manufactured by Kumbak and uses less restrictive harnesses which are similar, but not identical to, the vest-like restraints found on the SLCs at Morey's Piers and Isla Magica.[10]
The Suspended Looping Coaster is similar in design to other inverted roller coasters, however unlike the four-across seating found on Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M) inverted roller coasters, Vekoma SLC's use two-across seating.
- A Vekoma Suspended Looping Coaster train seats riders 2 across.
- A Bolliger & Mabillard Inverted Roller Coaster train seats riders 4 across.
Installations edit
There are at least 42 different installations across the world which have been located at 48 different theme parks.[11]
| Name | Park | Opened | Status | Model | Image | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkham Asylum – Shock Therapy Formerly Lethal Weapon - The Ride | Warner Bros. Movie World | 1995 | Removed | 765m Extended w/ Helix | [5] | |
| Batman - The Ride | Six Flags Mexico | 2000 | Operating | 689m Standard | [12] | |
| Blue Tornado | Gardaland | 1998 | Operating | 765m Extended w/ Helix | [13] | |
| Condor Formerly El Condor | Walibi Holland | 1994 | Operating | 662m Prototype | [1] | |
| Death Rail | Al Zawraa Land | 2015 | Operating | 689m Standard | [14] | |
| Desafío | Parque de la Costa | 1999 | Operating | 689m Standard | [15] | |
| Dragon in Clouds | Happy Valley Chengdu | 2009 | Operating | Shenlin w/ Helix | [16] | |
| Ednör – L'Attaque In Storage Formerly Serial Thriller | La Ronde Great Escape Six Flags AstroWorld | 2010 2005 1999 | Operating 2009 Closed 2005 | 689m Standard | [17][18][19] | |
| F2 Fright Flight | Nasu Highland Park | 1995 | Operating | 689m Standard | [20] | |
| FireWhip Formerly Blackout | Beto Carrero World Suzuka Circuit | 2008 1995 | Operating | 689m Standard | [21][22] | |
| Flight Deck Formerly Top Gun | Canada's Wonderland | 1995 | Operating | 689m Standard | [23] | |
| The Gauntlet | Magic Springs and Crystal Falls | 2004 | Operating | 689m Standard | [24] | |
| Golden Wings over the Snowfield Formerly Golden Wings in Snowfield | Happy Valley Beijing | 2006 | Operating | Shenlin w/ Helix | [25] | |
| The Great Nor'Easter Formerly Fly the Great Nor'Easter | Morey's Piers | 1995 | Operating | Custom | [26] | |
| Hurricane | Rusutsu Resort | 1996 | Operating | 689m Standard | [27] | |
| Infusion Formerly TraumaTizer | Blackpool Pleasure Beach Pleasureland Southport | 2007 1999 | Operating Closed 2006 | 689m Standard | [28][29] | |
| Iron Claw Formerly MP-Xpress Formerly FX Formerly Eraser | Movie Park Germany | 2001 | Operating | 689m Standard | [30] | |
| Jaguar | Isla Magica | 1997 | Operating | 765m Extended w/ Helix | [31] | |
| Kong Formerly Hangman | Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Opryland USA | 1998 1995 | Operating Closed 1997 | 689m Standard | [32][33] | |
| Kumali | Flamingo Land | 2006 | Operating | Shenlin | [34] | |
| Kumba | Superland | 2001 | Operating | 689m Standard | [35] | |
| Maya Adventure Formerly Mayan Adventure | Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village | 1997 | Operating | 689m Standard | [36] | |
| Mind Eraser | Six Flags Darien Lake | 1997 | Operating | 689m Standard | [37] | |
| Mind Eraser | Elitch Gardens | 1997 | Operating | 689m Standard | [38] | |
| Mind Eraser | Six Flags America | 1995 | Closed | 689m Standard | [39] | |
| Nio | Greenland | 1997 | Operating | 689m Standard | [40] | |
| Nopuko Air Coaster Formerly Cobra Formerly Cape Cobras | Lost Island Theme Park Ratanga Junction | 2022 1998 | Operating | 765m Extended w/ Helix | [41] [42] | |
| The Odyssey Formerly Jubilee Odyssey | Fantasy Island | 2002 | Operating | Custom | [43] | |
| Queen Cobra | Asia Park | 2017 | Operating | 689m Standard | [44] | |
| Raptor Formerly Dream Thunder | Fantasilandia International Dream Exchange Fair | 2008 1997 | Operating | 689m Standard | [45] [46] | |
| Roller Coaster | Dream Park | 1999 | Operating | 765m Extended w/ Helix | [47] | |
| Roller Coaster Mayan | Energylandia | 2015 | Operating | 689m Standard | [48] | |
| Snow Mountain Flying Dragon | Happy Valley Shenzhen | 2002 | Closed | Shenlin | [49] | |
| Suspended Looping Coaster | Suzhou Amusement Land | 2003 | Removed | 787m Extended | [50] | |
| T3 Formerly T2 | Kentucky Kingdom | 1995 | Removed Closed 2010; Reopened as T3 in 2015 | 662m Prototype | [3] | |
| The Riddler Revenge Formerly Mind Eraser | Six Flags New England | 1997 | Operating Renamed 2018 | 689m Standard | [51] | |
| Thunderhawk Formerly Serial Thriller | Michigan's Adventure Geauga Lake | 2008 1998 | Operating Closed 2007 | 689m Standard | [52][53] | |
| Titánide Formerly Tizona | Terra Mitica | 2003 | Operating | 689m Standard | [54] | |
| Toxic Garden Formerly Limit | Heide Park | 1999 | Operating | 689m Standard | [55] | |
| Twisted Typhoon Formerly Hangman | Wild Adventures | 1999 | Operating | 689m Standard | [56] | |
| Vampire | Walibi Belgium | 1999 | Operating | 689m Standard | [57] | |
| Vortex Formerly Pusing Lagi | Siam Amazing Park Jerudong Park Playground | 2007 1997 | Operating Closed 2006 | 787m Extended | [58][59] |
Similar roller coasters edit
In China, several alternate versions of this ride have been built. One of them is Shenzhou Coaster, an inverted roller coaster at Beijing Shijingshan Amusement Park in Beijing, China. The train and track are similar to the Suspended Looping Coaster design by Vekoma, but the ride was instead designed and manufactured by Beijing Shibaolai Amusement Equipment. There have been several problems with other models with the same layout, most notably bad pacing in parts of the ride. For example, the "Hanging Roller Coaster" at Crab Island stalled before its sidewinder element, stranding 12 people for over 3 hours. Other SLC's in China are sometimes manufactured by Hebei Zhongye Metallurgical Equipment Manufacturing Co. Ltd., which are known for being poorer than the Beijing Shibaolai models. HZM has tried to smooth out the transitions but the rides experience has not improved. None of these models can operate during winds in excess of 15 mph.[60]
References edit
- ^ a b Marden, Duane. "Condor (Walibi Holland)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
- ^ a b c Marden, Duane. "SLC (662m Prototype)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
- ^ a b Marden, Duane. "T3 (Kentucky Kingdom)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
- ^ "Roller Coaster Search Results". rcdb.com. Retrieved 2019-09-25.
- ^ a b c d Marden, Duane. "Arkham Asylum – Shock Therapy (Warner Bros. Movie World)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Roll Over". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Sidewinder". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Roller Coaster Search Results - Model = SLC (Custom)". Database Entry. Roller Coaster Database. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
- ^ . viewer.zmags.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2008-07-18.
- ^ "Arkham Asylum - Shock Therapy - Warner Bros. Movie World (Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia)".
- ^ Marden, Duane. "SLC". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Batman: The Ride (Six Flags Mexico)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 13 December 2010.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Blue Tornado (Gardaland)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 13 December 2010.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Death Rail (Al Zawraa Land)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Desafío (Parque de la Costa)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Dragon in Clouds (Happy Valley)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Ednör - L'Attaque (La Ronde)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "unknown (Great Escape)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Serial Thriller (Six Flags Astroworld)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "F2 Fright Flight (Nasu Highland Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "FireWhip (Beto Carrero World)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Blackout (Suzuka Circuit)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Flight Deck (Canada's Wonderland)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Gauntlet (Magic Springs & Crystal Falls)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Golden Wings over the Snowfield (Happy Valley)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "The Great Nor'Easter (Morey's Piers)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Hurricane (Rusutsu Resort)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Infusion (Blackpool Pleasure Beach)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Traumatizer (Southport Pleasureland)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Iron Claw (Movie Park Germany)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Jaguar (Isla Magica)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Kong (Six Flags Discovery Kingdom)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Hangman (Opryland USA)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Kumali (Flamingo Land)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Kumba (Superland)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Maya Adventure (Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Mind Eraser (Darien Lake)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Mind Eraser (Elitch Gardens)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Mind Eraser (Six Flags America)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Nio (Greenland)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Nopuko Air Coaster (Lost Island Theme Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Cobra (Ratanga Junction)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Odyssey (Fantasy Island)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Queen Cobra (Asia Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Raptor (Fantasilandia)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Dream Thunder (International Dream Exchange Fair)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Roller Coaster (Dream Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Roller Coaster Mayan (Energylandia)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Snow Mountain Flying Dragon (Happy Valley)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Suspended Looping Coaster (Suzhou Amusement Land)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "The Riddler Revenge (Six Flags New England)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Thunderhawk (Michigan's Adventure)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Thunderhawk (Geauga Lake)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Titanide (Terra Mitica Spain)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Toxic Garden (Heide Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Twisted Typhoon (Wild Adventures)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Vampire (Walibi Belgium)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Vortex (Siam Amazing Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Pusing Lagi (Jerudong Park Playground)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Shenzhou Coaster (Beijing Shijingshan Amusement Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
External links edit
- Official website
- Listing of all Suspended Looping Coasters on the Roller Coaster Database