Huracan (Belantis)
Huracan is a steel roller coaster at Belantis amusement park in Leipzig, Germany. Huracan is one of two Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter model roller coasters in Germany, the other being Fluch von Novgorod.
Huracan | |
---|---|
Belantis | |
Location | Belantis |
Coordinates | 51.253122°N 12.312455°E |
Status | Operating |
Opening date | 26 June 2010 |
Cost | €5,000,000 |
General statistics | |
Type | Steel – Euro-Fighter |
Manufacturer | Gerstlauer |
Designer | Werner Stengel |
Height | 32 m (105 ft) |
Length | 560 m (1,840 ft) |
Speed | 85 km/h (53 mph) |
Inversions | 5 |
Duration | 1:30 |
Max vertical angle | 97° |
Capacity | 800 riders per hour |
G-force | 4.3 |
Height restriction | 130 cm (4 ft 3 in) |
Huracan at RCDB Pictures of Huracan at RCDB |
History
Huracan was originally intended to be delivered to the proposed F1-X Dubai amusement park in Dubai,[1] but the Financial crisis of 2007–08 and the Great Recession led to the cancellation of the coaster's installation in Dubai.[2] Instead, the coaster was acquired by Belantis amusement park for €5,000,000[3] and the coaster was opened on 26 June 2010.[4] Nikolaus Job, the CEO of Belantis has stated he expected the installation of Huracan would lead to a 10 to 15 percent growth in visitor volume.[3]
The installation of Huracan has also led to other rides at Belantis being themed to match Huracan. For example, a kiddie coaster—and one of the smallest kiddie coasters in the world[5]—was built to match Huracan.[6] This coaster was built in 2014, is only 23 metres (75 ft) in length, and is named Huracanito.[7]
Layout and theme
As with all Euro-Fighters, Huracan's most noteworthy feature is its steeper-than-vertical first hill, which falls at an angle of 97 degrees.[4] The coaster has a total of five inversions, including a cobra roll, zero-g roll, and interlocking corkscrews.[4] Although the coaster has a Mayan theme to it,[2] the coaster structure's red paint job reflects its former destination at a Formula One-themed amusement park.[1] The coaster is unusual for a Euro-Fighter in that its cars have three rows of two seats per car, instead of the more traditional two rows of four seats per car.[4]
References
- Lanfer, Frank. "Huracan" (PDF). Kirmes & Park Revue (in German). Retrieved 23 August 2014.
- Seitz, Kerstin (2 July 2010). "Die härteste Achterbahn Europas" [The hardest rollercoaster in Europe]. T Online (in German). Deutsche Telekom AG. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
- "Freier Fall und fünf Loopings: Start für neue Riesen-Achterbahn im Freizeitpark Belantis" [Freefall and five loops: Start of new giant roller coaster at the amusement park Belantis]. LVZ Online (in German). Leipzig: Leipziger Volkszeitung. 26 June 2010. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
- Marden, Duane. "Huracan (Belantis)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
- Marden, Duane. "List of roller coasters by length in reverse order". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
- "Achterbahn für Kinder: Belantis baut Mini-Huracan" [Roller coaster for children: Belantis builds mini-Huracan]. Bild (in German). Leipzig. 8 March 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
- Marden, Duane. "Huracanito (Belantis)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 23 August 2014.