I was looking through my book "White Knuckle Ride"
and I noticed NYNY's Manhattan Express was 203 ft. tall. Is this a hyper coaster? The first drop is 100 ft and the second is about 185ft.
If anybody knows let me know.
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MedusaSeduca
The Future Is Riding On It!!!
That is the subject of much debate. I wouldn't call it a hypercoaster even though it does feature hyper-like elements. I features a vertical loop, and a heartline dive loop so it kinda falls in the same category as SOB, kind of a hyperlooper.
Technically, any full circuit coaster over 200ft is considered a hyper. I would classify ME as a looping hyper, and SOB as a wooden hyper.
ME's drops are actually 75ft and 144ft, can't for the life of me understand why TOGO just didn't do a hyper drop all the way to the ground with all that room they had. But they're lame anyway.
I rode ME last fall and latter found out is was 200 feet tall. With all of those big hotels right next to the ride, it looks pretty small. I wouldn’t call ME a hyper because the drop isn’t 200+ feet. If you just used the height above ground, then the worlds tallest coaster would be the coaster on top of the Stratosphere hotel (700+ feet I think).
What makes a hypercoaster a hypercoaster? The 200 foot tall mark doesn't work really because as RPMGuitar stated High Roller has such a high elevation, but none of us would consider it a hypercoaster. The 200 foot drop requirement doesn't work because even Magnum, the quintessential hypercoaster doesn't meet that mark. As with most amusement publicity, "Hypercoaster" is a creation of the marketing department, so maybe they would know. Maybe the coaster has to have a 200 foot elevation change (whether up or down) to be a hyper, which would qualify Manhattan Express as one. I have never considered it a hypercoaster though. Anyone think they know for sure?
I *think* the 'true' definition of a hypercoaster is a steel coaster with a hill and/or drop +200, made in a style to mimic (older) wooden coasters. This originally had a "out&back" style connotation. Since that was the general feeling, that it had to be a steel out&back, several other related terms were spawned, such as hyperlooper (Steel Phantom), hypertwister (Raging Bull) and hyperwoodie (SOB). ME best falls into the hyperlooper catagory, because it does have a 200+ hill (though the drop is much less) and it has inversions. High Roller (AFAIK) has NO hills and NO 200+ drop and therefore is not a hyper-anything.
Is that as clear as mud to everyone? Good! =]
(note all measurements given in the english foot)
Plus I consider that High Roller is the worlds "highest" coaster not the "tallest" coaster.
Not to mention it's speed is a measly 30mph.
