B&M Launched Coasters...

I know this topic has been discussed before but why wont they do one? With every major steel coaster manufactor having this type of coaster as an option (at one time or another) B&M just wont do it. I want to know if there is a real reason as to why they wont build one or are they just that cocky (heh heh). Now i know your like ughhhh.......Incredible Hulk, but the launch wasnt done by B&M they just did the coaster. And from what i heard they werent too thrilled to do that. I also heard that Thorpe Park actually wanted Nemsis Inferno to be a launched coaster, however B&M got upset and in end result they have the drop out of the station into the tunnel.

Could it be that lauch mechanisms could be too faulty for B&M to deal with (being that most of their coasters are flawless and experience little to no down time)?

Or could it be that their coasters are already very expensive and if they offered a launch option it would add a few million to the price tag, resulting to no buyer willing to pay the price?

Besides, how much was hulk anyway??

I wanted to know if you guys had any speculations on why they insist on not building a launched coaster.

My guess is that they just don't need to build launched coasters. They have a pretty solid variety of rides availiable, and many would say that those are among the best on the market.

Therefore, they are able to succeed with the tried and true favorites rather than push to create the "next big thing" or design some new novelty.

There are many other designers willing to do such things, but its not the B&M style, nor does it need to be IMO.

B&M's are sorta like the Bentley of coasters. They're safe, comfy, and reliable. Why would Bentley put out a big ol' truck if their customers are happy with what they've got? Same thing with B&M. Why put in the time, effort, and money into developing a launch system when their customers are happy with what they've already got?

I don't see B&M as risk takers. They stick to what's proven, and it's worked great for them so far. *** Edited 1/4/2004 10:36:05 PM UTC by rOLLocOASt***

Don't see B&M as risk takers? I like to think of their Inverted coaster design as the most technologically advanced design at the time of its debut and set a very important mark in the industry. Though a variant of the Inverted coaster, their Floorless coaster concept is also extremely ingenious. Who knew it would be possible to have riders ride on top of the coaster track with no floor and sides?

B&M doesn't make launched coasters because they do just fine without them. If there's ever an actual need for them to make launched coasters, they will.

I think that they would do good designing something launched. There were times in the past where I thought about how Top Gun at PC would've been different had they used a launch instead of the lift. The name would've definitely suited it better. You hear the spiel "clear for take off" and hear the sounds of the engine before you leave the station. The floor drops and you actually take off. The lift and drop could've been replaced with a diving loop or maybe a horseshoe element. Then again it probably would've been cool if they had the track go straight upwards after a straight launch ala Volcano. I remember back when the rumors were still going around about the new 2004 attraction. One of the rumors that I heard (from only one source) said that we would get a launched flyer, which I had assumed would more likely be from B&M.

B&M love to have total control over the train at all times. Getting approval from B&M to launch one of their trains must have been difficult for Universal as I know they are not into the launching thing, at this time.

While the launch system on Hulk isn't the most efficient method out there, my guess is it was probably the most reliable way to make the train get the speed it needed when going through the first inversion. Speed has a lot of say in B&M design and if you take a inversion or curve too quick or two slow, it will feel much different and B&M probably don't want to risk that.

If they wanted to launch coasters, they would probably unveil some sort of new launching concept or an exsisting design on will work reliable with little to no downtime.

-Sean (who would love to see a B&M shuttle coaster someday)

I don't see B&M as risk takers. The invert was the only risk that B&M has ever really taken IMO. The floorless design, while unique and definitely fun, isn't all that diffrent from a standard B&M looper or an invert. They've constantly stuck with what works and done slight improvements to their designs, Like the floorless.

Compare that to Intamin, Arrow, or Vekoma and you'll understand.

Just to be clear, I'm not saying it's a bad thing... But I'm pretty sure that most of us would rather see a B&M launched 4d than an S&S/Arrow ;) *** Edited 1/5/2004 12:39:31 AM UTC by rOLLocOASt***

The reason B&M doesn't do launched coasters is because don't have electrical engineers. Consign builds their control systems for them. Hulk is the only B&M that is launched, and the only launced coaster that consign was involved with. Apparently IOA has a in-house engineering staff.

Sounds reasonable... but wouldn't you need electrical engineers for lifts and brakes, as well?

I remember several monthes ago hearing a rumor about the possibility of B&M building a launched 4d coaster in Madrid,Spain at Warner Bros. movie world. Has anyone else heard about this?

I've heard of the B&M 4d going in to WBM, but not launched.

First, the rumored B&M 4-D is at Port Aventura near Barcelona, not WBMW in Madrid. Second, the rumored 4-D was *not* a launched ride.

-Nate

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SteelMonsters said:
The reason B&M doesn't do launched coasters is because don't have electrical engineers. Consign builds their control systems for them. Hulk is the only B&M that is launched, and the only launced coaster that consign was involved with. Apparently IOA has a in-house engineering staff.

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IOA has engineers, no doubt, but the park and rides were not designed by them. Rather, the design work was done by Universal Creative, the company's analogue to Walt Disney Imagineering.

Honestly launches are cool, but I would still take a coaster with a lift over a launch. I have yet to ride a B&M that doesn't satisfy. Even on such a simple ride as Apollo, I rode that baby just over 20 times straight and wanted more but it was time for the park to close.

Maybe it's not even B&M. I understand that they didn't want the launch on Hulk, but I think B&M is already too well known as the multi looping super smooth reliable chain lift coaster company.

Until that time comes when B&M builds one, just enjoy the other launches. There sure are plenty of them (and fast ones at that) that should be able to satisfy your taste.

Funny, I remember everyone saying they'd never do a flying coaster ever.

The truth is that none of us know anything about why they would or wouldn't do one, but perhaps you could explore the possibility that no one has asked them to.

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Adix said:
Sounds reasonable... but wouldn't you need electrical engineers for lifts and brakes, as well?

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Umm...That's what Consign steps in and does.;)

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OU will beat LSU!!!

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Jeff said:
Funny, I remember everyone saying they'd never do a flying coaster ever.

The truth is that none of us know anything about why they would or wouldn't do one, but perhaps you could explore the possibility that no one has asked them to.

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So what your saying is that Universal wanted 2 seperate companies to work on Hulk.............instead of having B&M doing the whole thing. And like i said, i dont know how accurate this is, Thorpe wanted Nemisis Inferno to be a launched coaster but B&M declined to do it.........

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thepinkdoomofmonkeys said:

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Adix said:
Sounds reasonable... but wouldn't you need electrical engineers for lifts and brakes, as well?

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Umm...That's what Consign steps in and does.;)

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OU will beat LSU!!!

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If they take care of initial propulsion, then why would B&M have a problem with a launch, anyway? It wouldn't even be a real concern of theirs, I'd think...

^because then they have to engineer the ride, train, and track around the launch so speed and forces are legit *** Edited 1/5/2004 5:49:34 AM UTC by Intaminfan628***