[go: up one dir, main page]

Stealth (roller coaster): Difference between revisions

Content deleted Content added
photo of new entrance sign
Dab link, unlinked duplicate
(20 intermediate revisions by 13 users not shown)
Line 5:
{{Infobox roller coaster
| name = Stealth
| logo = Stealth-Thorpe-3.jpg
| logodimensions = 250px
| image = Stealth at Thorpe Park - geograph.org.uk - 139055.jpg
| imagedimensions = 250px
Line 68:
}}
 
'''Stealth''' is a [[launched roller coaster]] in the [[Thorpe Park#Amity|Amity]] area of [[Thorpe Park]] located in [[Surrey]], England. Built and designed by [[Intamin]] of [[Switzerland]] for £12 million, the [[Accelerator Coaster]] model opened in 2006 as the fastest roller coaster in the UK, andbefore being passed by [[Hyperia (roller coaster)|Hyperia]] in 2024. It is also the third tallest in the UK after [[Hyperia (roller coaster)|Hyperia]] and the [[Big One (roller coaster)|Big One]] at [[Blackpool Pleasure Beach]]. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://stealth.thorpepark.com/your_questions/august_2005_answers.asp?css=2 |title=Stealth: Your questions |publisher=Stealth.thorpepark.com |date=August 2005 |access-date=2013-01-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060709113830/http://stealth.thorpepark.com/your_questions/august_2005_answers.asp?css=2 |archive-date=July 9, 2006}}</ref> It reaches a height of {{Convert|62.5|m}} and accelerates from 0 to {{convert|80|mph|km/h|abbr=on|sigfig=3}}.<ref name="rcdb stealth">{{Cite web|url=https://rcdb.com/3081.htm|title=Stealth - Thorpe Park (Chertsey, Surrey, England, United Kingdom)|website=rcdb.com|access-date=2019-03-13}}</ref> Riders experience a maximum of 4.7 [[g-force|''g'']].<ref>{{cite web |title=The Science of Roller Coasters |url=https://www.thorpepark.com/media/2c5pph5o/thorpe-park-thrills-workshop-at-home-science-of-rollercoasters.pdf |publisher=[[Thorpe Park]] |access-date=August 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230128010000/https://www.thorpepark.com/media/2c5pph5o/thorpe-park-thrills-workshop-at-home-science-of-rollercoasters.pdf |archive-date=January 28, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref>
 
== Ride experience ==
{{Overly detailed|section|details=|date=March 2024}}
When the passengers board the ride, the noise of a car engine revving can be heard in the station audio loop. After passengers are securely restrained, the launch sequence begins when the brake fins are retracted. Theand the train moves forward, and attachesattaching to the catch car. SmokeGuests wasalso reintroduced in the 2023 season and issee producedsmoke from below the cars, presumablya tofeature simulatereintroduced wheelspinin the 2023 season. Overhead, a series of five red lights illuminate one by one in a horizontal row, as thea voiceprerecorded in the recording once againannouncement states “Place"Place your heads back, face forwards…”.forwards…" Shortlyand after, a second row of greenthe lights beginchange to illuminategreen. as theThe voice in the recording enthusiastically shouts “Three, two, one, GO GO GO!” followed by the sound of tires screeching. After that, theThe train launches, quickly accelerating to {{convert|80|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}<!-- The exact duration of the acceleration is disputed. Establish consensus on the talk page before adding to the article. --> into a steep, vertical [[Top hat (Roller coaster element)|top hat]] element, with a height of {{Convert|62.5|m|ft}}. The train turns 90 degrees to the left as it crests the top hat and makes another 90-degree left turn as it descends the other side of the element. After reaching the bottom, the train enters an [[Air time (rides)|airtime hill]], which produces a brief sensation of weightlessness before the train enters the magnetic brake run and returns to the station. As the car returns to the station, the voice in the recording enthusiastically says “Woah! What a race! Now undo your safety belts, push your bars up, and exit to the left hand side. What a race!”.<ref>{{Citation |title=Stealth at Thorpe Park - POV - Front Row - 4K - 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zL3ouDsYR3c |access-date=2023-12-07 |language=en}}</ref> The ride's layout is similar to [[Kingda Ka]], although narrower in scope.
[[File:Thorpe_Park_Stealth_2024-03-25.jpg|thumb|left|The entrance of Stealth as of March 2024, with new signage showing the new acceleration rate of 0-80mph in 1.8 seconds]]
When the passengers board the ride, the noise of a car engine revving can be heard in the station audio loop. Also in the station loop while the passengers sit in their seats and pull the restraints down, an American-accented pre-recorded voice states “Place your heads back, face forward, hold on tight and brace yourself!”. This is followed by the sound of tyres screeching.
 
During events (such as Fright Nights), a different launch announcement may be used.
After passengers are securely restrained, the launch sequence begins when the brake fins are retracted. The train moves forward and attaches to the catch car. Smoke was reintroduced in the 2023 season and is produced from below the cars, presumably to simulate wheelspin. Overhead, a series of five red lights illuminate one by one in a horizontal row, as the voice in the recording once again states “Place your heads back, face forwards…”. Shortly after, a second row of green lights begin to illuminate as the voice in the recording enthusiastically shouts “Three, two, one, GO GO GO!” followed by the sound of tires screeching. After that, the train launches, quickly accelerating to {{convert|80|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}<!-- The exact duration of the acceleration is disputed. Establish consensus on the talk page before adding to the article. --> into a steep, vertical [[Top hat (Roller coaster element)|top hat]] element with a height of {{Convert|62.5|m|ft}}. The train turns 90 degrees to the left as it crests the top hat and makes another 90-degree left turn as it descends the other side of the element. After reaching the bottom, the train enters an [[Air time (rides)|airtime hill]], which produces a brief sensation of weightlessness before the train enters the magnetic brake run and returns to the station. As the car returns to the station, the voice in the recording enthusiastically says “Woah! What a race! Now undo your safety belts, push your bars up, and exit to the left hand side. What a race!”.<ref>{{Citation |title=Stealth at Thorpe Park - POV - Front Row - 4K - 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zL3ouDsYR3c |access-date=2023-12-07 |language=en}}</ref>
 
During events, the launch announcement has a different voice and normally has a different announcement.
 
For the 2024 season, Stealth's station and entrance areas have been completely repainted and the theming has been enhanced as part of the Sparkle Project, a scheme to give the park a facelift taking place over three closed seasons.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Thorpe Park Shares Project Sparkle Update {{!}} Theme Park Guide |url=https://themeparkguide.co.uk/news-page/Thorpe-Park-Shares-Project-Sparkle-Update |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=themeparkguide.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>
 
== Rollbacks ==
As with many [[Intamin]] Launch Coasters, Stealth experiences occasional [[Rollback (roller coaster)|rollbacks]], which occur when a train is unable to complete the course, specifically failing to make it over the top hat element as a result of energy loss. Occurrences are rare, and there is a braking system in place on the launch side of the track to safely bring the roller coaster back to a complete stop. However, rollbacks are safe, and all staff/engineers are trained to safely evacuate guests off the train.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlHDDzfP4_4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/tlHDDzfP4_4 |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|title=Stealth rollback (Thorpe park) |work=YouTube.com |date=2006-04-10 |access-date=2013-01-30}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
 
==2024 revamp==
 
For the 2024 season, Stealth's station and entrance areas have been completely repainted and the theming has been enhanced as part of the Sparkle Project, aan ongoing scheme to give the park a facelift taking place over three closed seasons.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Thorpe Park Shares Project Sparkle Update {{!}} Theme Park Guide |url=https://themeparkguide.co.uk/news-page/Thorpe-Park-Shares-Project-Sparkle-Update |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=themeparkguide.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>
 
{|style="margin: 0 auto;"
| [[File:Stealth-Thorpe-3.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Stealth's entrance in 2009]]
| [[File:Thorpe_Park_Stealth_2024-03-25.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Stealth's entrance in 2024]]
|}
 
==References==