A Suspended Family Coaster is a steel inverted roller coaster built by Vekoma designed for families with no inversions. Just like all inverted roller coasters the train runs under the track with the seats directly attached to the wheel carriage. This latter attribute is what sets it apart from the older suspended swinging coaster, which runs under the track, but "swings" via a pivoting bar attached to the wheel carriage.
| Suspended Family Coaster | |
|---|---|
 Woodstock’s Air Rail(formerly Rugrats Runaway Reptar and Flying Ace Ariel Chase) at Kings Island was one of the first Family Inverted Coaster models.[1] | |
| Status | In production |
| First manufactured | 2001 |
| No. of installations | 11 |
| Manufacturers | Vekoma, S&S Sensei |
| Type | Steel – Inverted – Family |
| Models | 294 m, 342 m, and 395 m |
| Lift system | Drive tire |
| Suspended Family Coaster at RCDB | |
History
editThe Suspended Family Coaster debuted in 2001 with the Rugrats Runaway Reptar opening at Kings Island in Ohio, USA,[1] and Silver Streak at sister park Canada's Wonderland.[2] Several clones and variations have opened since.[3]
The original designs featured trains with a safety system consisting of over-the-shoulder restraints. These restraints would lock into place with a belt-type connector which would be attached the seat base. All of the original track designs were of the 342m model with concrete footers.
In March 2007, Vekoma debuted a new version of the Suspended Family Coaster, the 294 m model. The first installation of this was Jimmy Neutron's Atomic Flyer at Movie Park Germany. The ride differs from previous Suspended Family Coasters because it has a portable base-frame beneath the track rather than concrete footers and features a new train style with fully padded seats that use lap bar restraints.[4]
One month later in April 2007, the 395 m model was launched at Gröna Lund in Sweden. The ride, which was named Kvasten, features the same redesigned trains as Jimmy Neutron's Atomic Flyer. The ride also features a larger layout with a peak height of 20 metres (66 ft) and a length of 395 metres (1,296 ft).[5]
Models
editAll models have one train, which has 10 cars with 2 seats on each car.[6] This caters for up to 650 riders per hour. All of the models feature lift hills powered by tires and magnetic brake runs.
- 294 m — features a compact footprint where riders rise to 13 metres (43 ft) before completing a 48-second ride of turns and drops.[4]
- 342 m — riders are taken up 14.8 metres (49 ft) and go through a tight helix, followed by a series of small turns and drops for a one-and-a-half-minute ride.[6]
- 395 m — This model stands 20 metres (66 ft) above the ground and reaches speeds of up to 55 kilometres per hour (34 mph).[5]
Installations
editGallery
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Kenny's Forest Flyer at Dreamworld is a standard 342 m (1,122 ft) model.
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A car from Swamp Thing at Wild Adventures.
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Roller coaster train for the Bat at the Lagoon Amusement Park.
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Kvasten at Gröna Lund is the first 395m model in operation.
References
edit- ^ a b Rugrats Runaway Reptar, Kings Island, Coaster-Net
- ^ Wonderland has 4 new thrills, Toronto Star, Jim Fox, 5 May 2001
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Suspended Family Coaster". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
- ^ a b c Marden, Duane. "Jimmy Neutron's Atomic Flyer (Movie Park Germany)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
- ^ a b c Marden, Duane. "Kvasten (Grona Lund)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
- ^ a b c Marden, Duane. "Escape from Madagascar (Dreamworld)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Bat (Lagoon)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Big Top (Oriental Heritage Changsha)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Dragon Flier (Dollywood)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Eagle Warriors (VinWonders)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Family Coaster (Children's Grand Park, Seoul)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Flight of the Pterosaur (Paultons Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Fire Mountain (Zigong Fantawild Dinosaur Kingdom)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Flying Ace Aerial Chase (Kings Island)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
- ^ "Vekoma". Martin & Vleminckx. Archived from the original on 25 November 2013. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Flying School (Legoland Florida)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Freedom Flyer (Fun Spot America)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Insomnio (Kataplum)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Flying Ace Aerial Chase (Carowinds)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Orkanen (Fårup Sommerland)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Orochi (Parc du Bocasse)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Phoenix (Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Roller Coaster (Galaxy)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Silver Streak (Canada's Wonderland)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Suspended Family Coaster (Happy Valley Nanjing)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Steel Lasoo (Frontier City)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Swamp Thing (Wild Adventures)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 July 2013.