The S&S Air Launch Coaster

For my first post, I decided to mention the air launch coaster from S&S. First of all, can anyone jog my memory about what the actual name for this kind of coaster is? I for the life of me cannot remember. Secondly I could see a smaller scaled design of this perhaps going where Disaster Transport is now. If you look at the land area, there is definitely room to make a simple yet exciting experience of that kind there. If you just study it for long enough, there's no reason it can't be record breaking either. Especially with the nature of the coaster. The only setback I could see would be electrical requirements, though over my years of CP fanatacism this hasn't seemed to be a problem. This all said, I still love Disaster Transport, and love it or hate it, it will still be a part of CP history. I personally like the ride experience. Anyway lemme know what you all think. Thanks

V/R,

Rob

I can answer your first question. The type of coasters ARE referred to as Air Launch Coasters and currently there's 3 in operation. HyperSonic XLC at Kings Dominion, Dodonpa at Fuji-Q Highland, and Powder Keg at Silver Dollar City.

The possibility of Cedar Point getting one however is very, VERY, unlikely.

Or were you looking for S&S's proto-type name: ThrustAir2000

While nothing very good came out of Hypersonic XLC and Dononpa, Powder Keg is a different story. I've never been to Silver Dollar City, but I really like the idea of it being a family ride and get this 36" height limit. That means a lot.

CP seems to run into problems when it comes to getting height limits below 48". I can't tell you how many times I had to direct people to Iron Dragon and Disaster Transport because those were the only "big" rides their kids could ride when they were 47.5". The park does have a lot of kiddy rides, but that's exactly what they are "kiddy". Most are kids only (no adults) and those that can be ridden by adults aren't all that much enjoyable for them. Let's face it, Mom and Dad are just happy when the kids are happy, but the 12 year old brother/daughter who get dragged on aren't that thrilled to go round-and-round on Balloon Race.

There are some very outgoing kids who are under 46". They look at TTD and Maverick and get excited, but what do they get to ride, NOTHING even close. Cadillac Cars and Antique Cars can't even be driven by anyone under 48".

This is where CP suffers the most when you look at other family parks. I believe Gonch. said that on the CoasterBuzz Podcast when he reviewed Silver Dollar City earlier this year.

So while I kind of ran off topic, if S&S can build a ride with a height limit under the normal 48", I think that it would be great for CP. In fact, build one in place of Disaster Transport and you now have a great family area with Kiddy Kingdom, Giant Wheel, Space Spiral, and whatever is going in place of Peanuts Playground.

What exactly is so bad with Hypersonic XLC?

From what I read, the launch is crazy, but after the tower it's insanely rough and the capacity is pitiful with those small trains.

Hypersonic is okay, it isn't anything special and Gomez you are right the launch is good and so is the drop but then it hurts ending in a screeching stop. Nothing really comfortable about it, the restraints are not like M.F. or T.T.D. they strap on your waiste but also have a bar for your legs, it really hurts when you are going straight down. I thought I heard on here somewhere that they are selling it so, it obviously is a pain. It also has a very slow capacity. The ramp up to M.F. takes about 15 min., on Hypersonic the same length takes about 30 minutes., They only run like two trains. Granted the last time I was there was before Cedar Fair owned it so I am guessing it has improved, all I know was that I did not enjoy that ride nearly as much as T.T.D.

I agree with Gomez. I think it would be a great idea for a family attraction. I don't think Cedar Point needs to necesarily needs to "shatter" records at the mioment. I don't think height is all that much of a concern to be honest. The park should have a high comfort and boasting level with 3 "barrier" breaking rides and many other firsts. I think Maverick proved this. I also do agree with the long lines though. I think it would be a nice concept though to do the air launch. It'd be a nice break from LIM.

I rode Hypersonic 8 years ago (wow, that's been 8 years?!), and I barely got to ride it. It was only open for about 10 minutes all day, but I saw it testing and got in line. Anyway, I got front seat. The launch is incredible, as is the hill. But you're right, after that the turns are really jerky, and there's not much left to the ride. The restraints are pretty ridiculous too, as was previously mentioned. But just for the launch and the hill, that ride was awesome.

I rode Hypersonic this past summer. Biggest waste of a 45 minute wait ever. That ride hurt me in many ways, and really just wasn't at all thrilling. It was just lame.

halltd said:
What exactly is so bad with Hypersonic XLC?

It sucks.
It's down more than it's up.
It sucks.
The restraints are terrible and painful.
It sucks.
The capacity is low.
It sucks.
It doesn't do anything after the tower.
It sucks.
It's really short.
It sucks.

Did I mention it sucks?

^Well at least TTD isn't terrible and painful. :)

Shhhhh Craig! Dont tempt them! You forget what kind of people are members here.;)

Sounds like a great ride! I have to make a trip next year!

Craig - your favorite toy as a kid was a stick and hornets nest wasn't it?

Another bad thing about hypersonic is the trim brakes! They slow you down while you're going UP the hill.... whereas TTD could use a little more speed......... but that's a whole different discussion :P

Those brakes are for rollbacks. They don't touch the train going up.

The only one I have been on is Powder Keg...and I LOVED IT!! It was a fantastic ride! I thought it was best ride there. I liked Wildfire, but PK was better IMO. It was just so much fun! The transfer up to launch was pretty cool too! Something I hadn't seen before. Also, the restraints were pretty much like Skyhawk's without the clips.

The launching isn't the issue on Hypersonic. That part is fairly cool. It's the horrible restraints and the fact that the amount of control it offers over the top is not very precise. I had bruises on my thighs and I hurt like crazy the day after riding it. Who needs that?