Half Barrel after drop

Okay, I know this is way lame, but I was flipping through youtube No-Limit creations and ran into this great floorless. While much of the coaster is somewhat pedestrian, the first 'inversion' element intrigued me. Following the drop, the creator built a ground hugging half barrel and inverts and reorients itself in positive and negative 180 degree directions. The creator executed their idea beautifully.

Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwnWF3qlwOE
Scroll to 2:07 for the POV.

It seems that the folks at Intamin believe that such ground hugging elements are possible, especially given Maverick's original design. So, do you think it's possible? Might we see such an element any time soon, even if it completes the roll? I guess I should go through the obligatory, 'I know none of you have crystal balls' speech, but I feel that hanging around these things long enough has given us a moderate sense of the future.

I LOVE this element.

[Wow, that uncapitalized 'i' was really embarassing.]

[Just kidding: embarrassing*] *** Edited 8/6/2008 9:55:00 PM UTC by coasterMNguy...***

Is it possible? Sure. It's all in the engineering.

Will we see one built? Here's my best guess: possibly.

Mamoosh, while I sincerely appreciate your tactfulness in responding, I had hoped for something a bit more concrete.

Here's a better question - what do you think of the element? I think it's awesome; what are your thoughts?

Oh, and by the way, your linked Paris Hilton video is hilarious. *** Edited 8/6/2008 6:51:46 AM UTC by coasterMNguy...***

I see it happening, but I also see people complaining of discomfort. The amount of hangtime in the harnesses would likely be very uncomfortable. Do you remember the barrel roll on Viper at Great Adventure? It took forever to get through that thing, and hanging there was so darn painful and scary.

It would be cool solution for a drop in a tight space, say, coming close to another building or coaster.

what do you think of the element?

I think it looks cool.

I dig it.

I can't image there being a lot of hang time since it's right after the drop, which I also like.

BTW...to me it looks more like an overbank turn than a half-barrel.

It looks like fun, but I wonder if the back and forth motion of an incomplete barrel roll could be uncomfortable, if not painful. Now, a complete barrel roll sounds very possible, and less painful if completed quickly enough. If placed right after the first drop, speed shouldn't be a problem.

Wonder what the G-forces would be like?

CatPurrson

I think that would probably be the craziest barrel roll we've seen on a coaster in a long time. Or half barrel. I too think that the back and forth motion at what would probably be a huge discomfort, but if they could get it right, it would be pretty kicka$$.

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Mamoosh said:BTW...to me it looks more like an overbank turn than a half-barrel.

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I agree....although the "degree of overbanking" looks higher than any other overbanks I've been on....thus far. ;)

If there were a decently sized 'hump' motion in the half barrel, the forces normally producing weightlessness could push riders into the seat to reduce any hangtime riders might experience.

"It would be cool solution for a drop in a tight space, say, coming close to another building or coaster."

Do you mean kind of like Maverick's little:http://rcdb.com/ig3570.htm?picture=58 ? *** Edited 8/6/2008 6:10:39 PM UTC by coasterMNguy...***

Most likely Intamin would tackle something like this. Maverick has been quoted here a lot, and I think they really pushed the limits in terms of fast side-to-side transitions on that one.
There are two elements that resemble the "half barrel" in that example, one is the hop over the launch tunnel at the end, and the other is the quasi-stengel dive.
Especially the latter is a pretty snappy element!

Just as a half heartline spin it would probably feel pretty unpleasant - it would either have to have more "hill" in it or be more like a corkscrew, and/or like an overbank (meaning the track would curve in the element, see "Stengel Dive").

*** Edited 8/6/2008 7:52:02 PM UTC by superman***

Yeah, sort of. Just different solution to the same problem.

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superman said:
Just as a half heartline spin it would probably feel pretty unpleasant - it would either have to have more "hill" in it or be more like a corkscrew, and/or like an overbank (meaning the track would curve in the element, see "Stengel Dive").

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So the element's 'current state' would have to be modified? While I understand ensuring no hangtime would be important in such an element, I don't understand the criticism regarding the quick change of direction. Other than being inverted, how is it any different than Maverick's quick direction changes after the initial drop? Or does the criticism speak more to the combination of potential hang time on top of these sharp direction changes?

If you're sitting in one of the outside seats, the change in direction while upside down will throw you directly into the restraints right on your collar bone... Ouch!

That's wad padding is for. They could just use a 5 point belt system.