Why are vertical drop coasters so short?

I've been on G5 in Taiwan and Obvilion in Alton Towers. Both are great vertical drop coasters, but why are they so short?

Those two coasters are so short for the same reason that Hypersonic XLC is short. Both vertical drop coasters are still very new designs and are short because they are the first of their kind. Hypersonic XLC is short because it's a prototype and later versions will be longer and that is the same thing that is going on with Oblivion and G5. Hypersonic XLC focuses the whole ride on the launch and the ascent and descent and soon later models will have more. Oblivion and G5 are the same way and concentrate on the 90* (or almost 90*) drop on both rides because that is the new coaster technology being used.
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Dave

Wouldn't want to invest TOO much if the new ride didn't pan out.  Can't say I wasn't getting DejaVu thinking about the Bat...
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rollergator - intent on improving the "guest experience" - coming soon to a park near you

Hey, it already cost $10 mil without any fancy stuff. In the advertising, they just go for the drop, so the GP probably couldn't tell if it was big or not.

I don't understand.. "new technology"? How is having a vertical drop even considered technology? They simply angled  a drop very steep. WOW. That does NOT take any technology at all.. Just math & physics. They could make ANY ride have a vertical drop, it has nothing to do with technology. (Im talking about the B&M models here)

Just look at the new Arrowbatic coasters. They are wild mice with vertical drops. And same with X. It's like the designers just threw in a vertical drop, because hey why not?

So you see vertical drops are NOT technology, just steep track...

Yeah, and why are vertical drop coasters so short?

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Spelling and grammer does not need to be corrected if the message gets across!

They needed to develop new trains and track to hold the trains on the drop.
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Nitro: The Most Explosive Coaster on the Planet explodes at Six Flags Great Adventure in 2001.

Vertical drop coasters are not short. B&M dive coasters are short because they were designed that way, to be all about the drop. Why are Intamin freefalls so short? Same reason.
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And then Jerry said, "Take care of yourselves, and each other".

polokid69 - No Way, you've been on G5 in Taiwan, How Was it, I know its basiclly the same as Oblivion but I was wondering how it compared to Oblivion, Oh and as you have ridden it, Can you confirm if G5 has a Tunnel, I am absolutly certain it does as I am sure I have seen a pic with the Tunnel, but some people are certain it dosnt, Put us out of out Misery.

I think the Reason they are short is for one simple reason, they are Prototypes. B&M admitted this for Oblivion, Hopefully B&M have been working on the Design a little bit more and added Inversions etc ready to be installed in the next few years. I also think what DWeaver said is Right too, I believe they were really designed that way to be all about its Drop Only, I know Oblivion and G5 seem like a One Trick Wonder, But they still give out An Awesome Ride, The Drop is Incredible giving serious airtime if you leave your harness a little loose, and that Tunnel on Oblivion goes a lot deeper than People think too(I have ridden Oblivion BTW)

ok coo man chu. if it's so easy why dont you build a vertical drop coaster in your backyard?

New track, car design, possibly different/multiple restraints, brakes...yes, new technology is definetly involved.

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paladin said:
ok coo man chu. if it's so easy why dont you build a vertical drop coaster in your backyard?
New track, car design, possibly different/multiple restraints, brakes...yes, new technology is definetly involved.

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...Because he doesn't have millions of dollars to build it.

Why would new track need to be made for a Vertical Drop? B&M uses the same track for Oblivion, and G5. While Intamin uses the same track for V2 and S:UE. Why would it need different restraints? B&M and Intamin and Vekoma just use and OTSR. Brakes? Why new brakes? The magnetic ones work just fine. Mabey new computer technology is needed, but not all that!

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Ricochet: Bouncing to you in 2002, Only at King's Dominion!

i guess they think if they give you a verticle drop what else do you need. But i think verticle drop coasters longer .

coo man chu, if you would learn about vertical coasters first, you would know why there arn't many.  It's mainly because of the wheel placement during the drop.  If the wheels aren't completely pressed on the track, the train won't run correctly and could be bumpy (I'm sure there's other more complicated reasons too).  That's also why many vertical coasters have and 88 degree drop, to make sure that the road wheels are touching the track.
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George Dubya: A Master in the art of "Golfery"
http://www.i-mockery.com/visionary/vacationerchief.asp

i think oblivion was so short because making it bigger would just be too expensive, i mean, it was 20 million dollars just for what it is (obviously because of the digging etc).  but i dont know about G5, or hypersonic (if hypersonic is in this category).

Alton Towers also has strict height limitations.  That's why Nemesis was built around the ground so much.
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George Dubya: A Master in the art of "Golfery"
http://www.i-mockery.com/visionary/vacationerchief.asp