So I'm stuck at work for another 3 hours, and I was surfing around YouTube when a video was recommended for me. I decided to check it out, and here's what I saw:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSj9P-xJJ70
One of those Funtime rockets had its front cable snap in July 2010. This ride can't be very old. These are recent developments in the industry, aren't they?
You'll have to look past the sensationalism and overall "OMG EVERYONE WAS ALOMST DEAD" vibe, but I think I remember all of us having a discussion about the fear of something like this happening at some point or another. You couldn't pay me enough to get on one of those for the vomit factor alone, now I think it's solidified in my mind. I'm in no way saying that I think these rides are unsafe, but that's a bit much for me to handle.
edit: added date.
I rode the freefall at SFKK 90 minutes (2 times) before the foot amputation in 2007. It was chilling seeing blood being mop/broomed up, on the way out of the park.
Thing is, I was having my own ERT on another cable propelled ride - Greezed Lightnin'/Tidal Wave (was in my own perfect world/pink cloud on that ride for an hour!) when the accident happened.
Even though I still wanna ride every ride, I can't help but think about the cable snap on the freefall, and even more so, on the recent Intamin cable launch coasters. Just hope it doesn't happen when I'm on it!
That sure is a strange failure in this case. Those cables are redundant, which means there had to be a double failure.
Jeff - Editor - CoasterBuzz.com - My Blog
AV: Ever see a Chance Aviator? It's a great lesson in how to badly screw up a Flying Scooter, but it's high capacity and it goes up a 120 foot tower...
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
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I rode on a Funtime Rocket at Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany.
I think th eone oin the YouTube video is a single rocket model, the one at the Wiezen has something like 6 rockets in a circle. All the same glad I saw the video AFTER the ride.
Ride itself, looks worse than it is, felt a lot like KI's old Flight Commander except you didn't control the rolls.
And only 5 Euros a ride on value days
David Bowers
Mayor, Coasterville
My Blog -> http://coasterville.blogspot.com
My (scary) idea is to combine a vertical tower swing ride with a Gyro Drop - give the riders a nice ride to the top, give 'em a few turns in the air then free-fall drop 'em back to earth while it's still turning. The rigid arms and sturdy seats of Windseeker would be best for this concept- the chain chairs on a Starflyer would be all over the place. I would also turn the seats inward, like Stratosphere's Insanity, for a thrilling view of the pavement below. It would also be more comfortable (and probably safer) for the riders during the braking section at the bottom.
I'm not sure I would climb on such a ride, but I sure would like to invent it.
Didn't I read that Starflyers drop somewhat quickly, providing a slight freefall sensation? I've never seen or rode a Starflyer, so I don't know firsthand.
-Travis
www.youtube.com/TSVisits
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