Posted | Contributed by Jeff
That sweet S&S lovin' is coming your way in Virginia. Paramount's Kings Dominion has released new photos of their zero-to-80 mph in a hurry masterpiece, Hypersonic XLC. If you haven't been playing at home, the ride is the first production air-launched vertical coaster from S&S Power, famous for their tower rides.
Feel the warm sun from the official Kings Dominion site.
Can anyone say INTENSE!?!?!?!?
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Its his turn to feast when you ride the Son of Beast!!
I agree with the assumption that the red pillars are either for structure support or they are just their for design.
Also the bar extending out from the tower is one of two things a light for height reference at night or it may be a camera to take a pic when you are experiencing the intense negative g's at the top of that thing.
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#1 Steel-Incredible Hulk
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Josh - When this coaster was tested in it's original form in Utah, it was shown on CNN and other news programs. I caught a few glimpses of it then. This past May it was shown on one of the new Discovery specials (was it Extreme RIdes 2000?), and MSNBC's coaster special.
The launch seems to occur on the ground like on Outer Limits, Mr. Freeze, Chiller, S:TE, or any shuttle I can think of. It was like someone laid a space shot down on the ground, and when it exited the launch track, it ascended that wicked hill. What struck me most was this...For years I dreamed about a Superman the escape that would just travel down the other side of the tower, and that was EXACTLY what this looked like. I freaked out.
Anyone else see the MSNBC coaster show? When they showed Stan Checkets standing in front of the thing and it launched without warning, I simply couldn't believe it. 0-80 in slightly under 2 seconds he said? It was the most intense thing I ever had seen. Stan gave a smile to the camera as if to say "Ha! Look at this thing I created!" When I saw that I new I had to go for the opening day.
-Peabody
*** This post was edited by Peabody on 1/10/2001. ***
*** This post was edited by Peabody on 1/10/2001. ***
I saw the video on the Extreme Rides special. It looks really cool. Hypersonic is supposed to have a series of lights to warn the riders when it will launch, but I can't remember if the proto-type did or not. That would be a pretty freaky launch if you can't anticipate it.
Nice job PKD! This ride is really coming along, and looks like its gonna be awesome. Does anyone know if all the track is in place? Im just wondering because from the pics it looks like it all is. The only thing that im worried about is the ride time. But anyways it looks awesome. Just another park im gonna have to visit over the summer.
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CP in 2002, get to the point
Yeah, I also saw the MSNBC Coaster Show of Stan Checkets standing in front of the ride, and I too was absolutely stunned by the quickness of the ride! I agree with pkitex87's remark on the warning lights. Even thought just sitting there motionless in the car, and then careening up and down 2 vertical towers sounds like fun, I would probably ruin a good pair of pants in the long run... Still can't wait for this ride to open.
(SIGH) The downside of being in Colorado, no coasters, and every good place is about 2,000 miles away (give or take).
Well at least SFMM is on my next trip list!
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Oh Good. Do any of you guys know how to get a chick out of the VCR?
Pkitex the prototype had a dragracing style "christmas tree"
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5 cards have dropped....... 1 more to come.......... the end of life as we know it is coming
The prototype was 5 ft. taller, if I understand correctly. The PKD version I belive will have a 360 degree helix after the first drop and turn around.
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Its his turn to feast when you ride the Son of Beast!
And don't forget the air hill!
Hypersonic will be a BLAST!!! (Pun intended) Looks like the G's will be intense, all the more, the better!
I'd say the two red columns are actually giant air cylinders/tanks that are kept topped out during operation. If not, they could be S&S' trademark design feature as with their towers.
I just checked out the animation. Looks like it was worked around TA2K. I didn't realise the car would slow down to almost a stop on the crest. Always thought the car would zoom over at 30mph or so i.e. -1 or more Gs. Let's hope the animation is wrong!
Hands up who wants the next installation to feature a multi-inversion layout??
CP is rumored to get a 300ft TA2K!
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Can you say..wow
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CP is #1!
Well, it looks like I now have a reason to stop thru to another Va. park besides Busch Gardens!!!
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO YEAH!!
Simcoaster you are right. PGA did lose out on not recieving the Hypersonic Xtreme Launch Coaster. I live in the Bay Area, just 30 minutes away from PGA and when I learned that the S&S Launch Coaster would not be installed at PGA, I was really sad. Hopefully, this 15 new rides and attaractions will be great. We know that the first of the two coasters at PGA for 2001 is a Mad Mouse coaster. Now, let's all find out what the 2nd coaster will be. Hopefully, a new B&M coaster will be built. Its been a long time since B&M has built a thrill machine at PGA.
One of the reasons for the early pull-out is the fact that they put the darn ride in the MIDDLE of everything, and they'd have to fence in the ride if it went down to the ground. The supports are in the middle of the path, and the track turn-around is above visitor's heads. I know this because I went there yesterday for sneak preview day.
