Busch Gardens Tampa announces Falcon's Fury drop tower

They stole my idea. I've often wondered why drop towers didn't feature rotating seats to send riders face first or even head first for an OMG thrill.
Busch doesn't seem to be having much luck with the tower these days. Any concerns out there that this is an Intamin product?

"When you get to the top, you rotate into a forward position, so you're facedown for your free fall," Dean said.

OK, I admit that would scare the crap out of me. Falling from that height, at that speed, face forward seems intense. All I can think of is my old man's scrot doing a bungy jump.

It reminds me of the exact reason I dislike the Vekoma Flyers so much. All your weight is on the restraints, and I have extreme fear of what would happen if the restraint somehow malfunctioned. It wouldn't be the drop that would terrify me, but the sudden stop at the bottom of the tower. I bet the ride will start to stop midway so that the stop is not so sudden.

Looks like fun though!

I think what will happen is the seat will right itself when the brake section is reached. You want that positive g energy of a fast stop to travel through your butt, not your eyeballs.

Truly one of the most terrifying rides I have seen in a while. And I generally consider myself desensitized to these things.

LostKause said:

All your weight is on the restraints, and I have extreme fear of what would happen if the restraint somehow malfunctioned. It wouldn't be the drop that would terrify me, but the sudden stop at the bottom of the tower.

I know what you meant, but reading the second sentence in context with the first is quite hilarious. Yep, that sudden stop at the bottom would really suck.

RCMAC said:

I've often wondered why drop towers didn't feature rotating seats to send riders face first or even head first...

I've always thought to myself that laying flat on your back facing up (think Vekoma Dutchman reclining in the station) would make for a particularly interesting Drop Tower. Maybe one day...

I'm thrilled that they went with Intamin rather than Moser (or S&S). Bonus points that it isn't a Gyro-Drop. Very excited about this addition. This will soften the blow for me if those rumors about Gwazi's future (or lack thereof) prove true.

To me, Gwazi had deteriorated SO badly that it was either RMC or a "taer it down" situation. For me to say that about a wooden coaster...that's saying something. I'll miss Gwazi, but clearly it wasn't getting better even after multiple rehabs, new trains, etc.

All your weight is on the restraints, and I have extreme fear of what would happen if the restraint somehow malfunctioned.

Isn't that kind of the point of the ride?

Are there rumors Gwazi will go away? I don't usually pay attention to such things.

Yeah, it appears Gwazi does not have much time left honestly.

As far as this ride... Looks scary as hell. Although, it IS Intamin and a similiar ride, Acrophobia, does not have the best reliability so I am concerned how much downtime this one will have as well. Maybe they figured it out, though...

Normally if I hear "a report" of something like Gwazi going away, I gnerally dismiss it. This is now multiple independent sources, some with significant credibility based on past experience....

In some ways, I wish I felt worse about it....losing a wooden coaster typically bothers me more - but this is closer to a Hercules or Psyclone situation.

I too have heard the rumor from people who aren't normally known for spreading rumors. I wonder if GCI will buy the Millennium Flyers back.

It's a shame though, Gwazi is a really good coaster. Even when we rode it a few weeks ago it had potential... But it just NEEDS some trackwork. Sad to see such a relatively young ride get scrapped because a lack of care.

The problem is at this point, much like Son of Beast, even if they were to get it running like it should the damage to its reputation has been done. How do you bring people back to this ride? Advertise that it *does not* suck anymore?

Maybe the problem is there's no off season in Florida. When it comes time for track work at seasonal parks it can be done in the winter, but at Busch they'd wind up pissing guests off for months if they bring the ride down for proper re-hab. Which they've done, but not successfully. One might say Gwazi is ideal because there's two sides, but I can't help but think there's something off-putting for guests to see half the ride with the track torn up. Besides, the idea of the ride to begin with was to offer a dueling experience, so...

I liked Gwazi, and don't have nearly the complaints about it I hear going around. (except for really strange station procedures) Maybe I just caught it on the good years.

Falcon's Fury looks awesome! I am surprised the tilting seats haven't been introduced sooner on a drop tower. Hopefully it will simulate a sky diving experience.

As for Gwazi, I wish for the best for these coasters. I rode them new and they were awesome! Is it a matter of justifying maintenance for two woodies? Fixing/ replacing tracks is always an ongoing. Also, the track is typically walked in order to inspect it. thus, I understand if the ride's popularity/ demand is low, it would be hard to justify maintaining both sides. Any thoughts?

I know it was mentioned briefly earlier, but it looks like it didn't sink in with everyone: Acrophobia has had tilting seats (granted, only 15 degrees) for over a decade.

15 degrees was determined to be the optimal angle for CRUSHING one's junk between the seats, restraints, and rapidly decelerating body-mass...