Impulse roller coaster
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.
| Impulse roller coaster | |
|---|---|
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| Status | In Production |
| First manufactured | 1998 |
| No. of installations | 7 |
| Manufacturer | Intamin |
| Vehicles | 1 |
| Restraint Style | Over the shoulder |
| Max vertical angle | 90° |
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 Superman: Ultimate Escape at Six Flags Ohio in Aurora, Ohio. Built in 2000, it was the first Intamin Impulse roller coaster to feature a vertical twist and a holding brake on the rear tower. The largest installation, Wicked Twister built in 2002 at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, did away with the straight section containing the holding brake and instead had a second twisting tower. V2: Vertical Velocity at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, California originally had the twisted front and vertical rear towers when it was built in 2001. However, upon discovery of breaking the 150 ft. height restriction in the Vallejo area, the ride was altered to have a front section slanting at 45 degrees into an inline roll which ended with a straightaway, and the rear tower was lowered to the 150 ft height limit. The holding brake was also turned off, and has not been used since. V2: Vertical Velocity reopened in 2002, and is unique among Inverted Impulse roller coasters for being the only one with a true inversion. In 2004, Superman: Ultimate Escape was renamed to Steel Venom after Six Flags sold Six Flags Worlds of Adventure (which Six Flags Ohio had been renamed to after merging with adjacent SeaWorld Ohio in 2001) to Cedar Fair and the park reverted to its original name Geauga Lake. It operated under that name until the end of Geauga Lake's 2006 season and then was moved to Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom in Allentown, Pennsylvania. In 2008 the ride opened under the name Voodoo but was changed to Possessed the following year. The ride continues to operate at Dorney Park and is one of the few Inverted Impulse Roller Coasters that has, and still uses, the vertical holding brake.
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 has 2 launches, first to 68 mph and second to 70 mph. In February 2019, Kings Dominion announced in an article that Volcano would be removed and demolished for 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] |
| Vertical Velocity | 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 | Operating | [7] |
| Steel Venom | Valleyfair | 2003 | Operating | [8] |
| Possessed Formerly Superman: Ultimate Escape (2000-2003)and Steel Venom (2004-2006) | Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom Formerly Geauga Lake | 2008 2000-2007 | Operating | [9] |
References
- 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.