Sitting Coaster (B&M model)

The Sitting Coaster is a model produced by Bolliger & Mabillard mainly in the 1990s. However only 5 models were sold making it one of the less successful models designed by the company.[3]

Sitting Coaster[1]
Kumba's interlocking corkscrews at Busch Gardens Tampa in Florida, USA.
StatusIn Production
First manufactured1993
No. of installations5
ManufacturerBolliger & Mabillard
Vehicle typeSeats with a floor, located above the track
Rows8
Riders per row4
Restraint StyleOver-the-shoulder
Sitting Coaster[2] at RCDB

History

After the success of the Inverted Coaster, B&M started planning their next model. After seeing the success of multi inversion models made by Intamin, Arrow Dynamics or Vekoma, B&M took on the task to make one of these.

The first installation of the model went to Busch Gardens Tampa and was named Kumba.[4] This model received praise for its smoothness and how it rode.

But like any other B&M model, the Sitting Coaster never took off because of its price tag and how competitive the market was. Furthermore B&M beat themselves at their own game by producing the Floorless Coaster. This was much preferred as it was different to other looping coasters. This experience was a lot more free, therefore selling a lot more.

Another of this model was planned to open in 1992 for Busch Gardens Williamsburg. B&M would have built it but due to the success of the Inverted Coaster, Arrow Dynamics took on the project, Drachen Fire, instead.

Even though the last of this model was built in 2008, one is rumoured to go to the new Universal Studios Beijing in 2021. Looking at the concept art it looks like a very near clone to the The Incredible Hulk Coaster at Universal's Islands of Adventure[5] but themed to the Transformers.[6]

Design
Diagram comparing a standard lift hill and the B&M pre-drop lift hill.

Across the 5 different models currently built all include 8 cars for 4 people in one row. The total capacity of each train is 32.

Inversions found on B&M Sitting Coasters are: Vertical Loops (with 8), Corkscrews (with 8), (5) Cobra Rolls, Zero-g Rolls (with 4), (2) Dive Loops and one Immelmann.

However, B&M were successful at breaking the record of the most inversions on a single coaster twice. Once in 1993 with Kumba with 7 inversions, and for the second time with Dragon Khan at PortAventura Park in Spain.


All of these coasters bar one, used the classic B&M pre-drop to disengage from the lift hill in a smoother manor compared to other rougher inversion coasters. Incredible Hulk was the first of only two B&M with launches.


Installations
Some B&M Inverts
Kumba at Busch Gardens Tampa, the first B&M Sitting Coaster[7]
Dragon Khan at PortAventura Park[8]
The Incredible Hulk Coaster at Universal's Islands of Adventure[9]
Wildfire at Silver Dollar City[10]
Time Machine at Freestyle Music Park in 2008 (Now Dragon's Run at Dragon Park Ha Long in Vietnam)[11][12]
Name Park Country Opened Status RCDb[13]
Kumba Busch Gardens Tampa  USA April 20, 1993 Operating [14]
Dragon Khan PortAventura Park  Spain May 2, 1995 Operating [15]
The Incredible Hulk Coaster Universal's Islands of Adventure  USA May 28, 1999 Operating [16]
Wildfire Silver Dollar City  USA April 4, 2001 Operating [17]
Dragon's Run
Formerly Time Machine		 Dragon Park
Freestyle Music Park		  Vietnam
 USA		 January 25, 2017
April 15, 2008		 Operating
Closed 2009		 [18]
[19]

References
  1. "Sitting Coaster".
  2. "Sitting Coaster".
  3. "B&M Sitting Coaster".
  4. "Kumba at Busch Gardens Tampa".
  5. "THE Incredible Hulk".
  6. "Universal Beijing Resort still on track to open in May 2021".
  7. Marden, Duane. "Kumba  (Busch Gardens Tampa)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  8. Marden, Duane. "Dragon Khan  (PortAventura Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  9. Marden, Duane. "The Incredible Hulk Coaster  (Universal's Islands of Adventure)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  10. Marden, Duane. "Wildfire  (Silver Dollar City)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  11. Marden, Duane. "Time Machine  (Freestyle Music Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  12. Marden, Duane. "Dragon's Run  (Dragon Park Ha Long)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  13. "Roller Coaster Database".
  14. Marden, Duane. "Kumba  (Busch Gardens Tampa)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  15. Marden, Duane. "Dragon Khan  (PortAventura Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  16. Marden, Duane. "The Incredible Hulk Coaster  (Universal's Islands of Adventure)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  17. Marden, Duane. "Wildfire  (Silver Dollar City)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  18. Marden, Duane. "Dragon's Run  (Dragon Park Ha Long)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  19. Marden, Duane. "Time Machine  (Freestyle Music Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
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