I have been playing Loopy Landscapes, and the S&S Thrust Air on there you can run in a shuttle mode. Shoot out up over a the signature hill down, and up another hill where you stall and do the course in reverse. That's what got me thinking about what possible variations we will see of these coasters in the future? I would like to hear others opinions.
I have heard alot of different websites talking about record breaking loops after the vertical hill.
Westcoaster.net had three alternative layouts, one very similar to Dodonpa, one with a vertical hill & a loop and another with two vertical hills & a loop.
The possibilities are endless, I'm hoping Stan will build a TA2K Megalooper with 7 inversions or more.
I wouldn't count on Stan doing loops. He said in some article recently (I can't remember which one, sorry!) that he isn't interested in building coasters with traditional elements or layouts. Speed, and huge ascents and descents are his thing.
I'm sure he and his team will get more creative, as they are already getting more creative with Dodonpa. After being shocked at how amazing the launch and hill were on Hypersonic, I'm REALLY looking forward to riding version 2. (Oh God, PLEASE let it be open when I'm there!!!)
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- Peabody
That would be cool if they still kept the trains with just lapbars(and more cars per train) in future looping variations of the TA2k.
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Artificial Intelligence is no match for Natural Stupidity.
PGASFMW, I agree with you! I think ANY maneuver, could be done 100% safely with that new restraint system. The back seat of Hypersonic exerts (possibly) the most extreme negative Gs that exist, and there's also no way one can move to the side. I fail to see how anyone properly restrained by that device could get out.
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- Peabody
Plus if they were for some un-godly reason to add more secure restraints to the trains for future Thrust Air 2k's... it wouldn't make sense for the whole point of the ride, which is basically the first large vertical hill, of which a lap bar is almost a necessity!!
Why? Because of that feeling you get. The air-time that you can experience, and the fact that it can really put a strain on the shoulders if you go over a bump like that (For similar pain, see Corkscrew's first camel hump at Cedar Point). It can and probably will be done.
However, Taipan... I checked out those alternative layouts awhile ago, and those are TOTALLY LAME. Those are worse than ones I created on Rollercoaster Tycoon. I see future designs having loops (only loops, not corkscrews) with lapbars and more vertical hills with twists & turns (sometimes to save on park space).
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The Great Escape... Soon to become Six Flags Adirondack Escape!!!
I know, they were just to give some idea of other layouts, i.e. not to be taken seriously.
The two things I would like to see on a Thrust Air would have to be instead of climbing, dropping upon a launch, and instead of ascending a vertical hill, be blasted up a more traditional type lifthill, the speed would be incredible. Or even a Superman: The Escape type Thrust Air, except no reverse blasts! The shuttle concept seems painful, launching backwards seems like a bad idea:).
I agree about a 2nd launch backwards. They can get enough speed just off the first launch for gravity to bring it back to the station. I am sure that we will see record breaking loops on these, but I don't know what other inversions would be possible so that it isn't too uncomfortable for the riders.
To get a reverse shuttle launch, you would need a head restraint that is like those haloes worn by people with broken necks. Too time consuming, and too many possible lawsuits waiting in the wings...
I would like to see a nice long layout, perhaps twice the size of Dodonpa (Peabody, you lucky guy, you) with a second, in transit, launch for a series of hills and perhaps a tunnel. I would love to see a vertical drop into a very deep tunnel, ala Oblivion! Scary...:)
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;)Rollercoasters are like parrots...if you take care of them, they should outlive you;)
Nasai, the only problem with that is the vehicle has to be attached to a catapult to be launched. Unless you wanted to brake the train to a halt, then launch again, I don't think they can do that. However, why would a 2nd launch be necessary? Going 90 degrees straight down for 300 feet will certainly give you some insane momentum to do whatever you want as far as elements.
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Joshua Wilcox
The following statement is true.
The preceding statement is false.
Does anyone know of anything that would keep them from doing vertical twisting hills, similar to V2? I think that would be pretty cool but I'm not a physics major...
Let me clear something up. Those alternative layout were given to ME and I kindy let Westcoaster use them. I got them from Stan officially. I got these even way before Thrust Air even debuted at PKD. I got this when they were still testing the prototype.
So, they may suck now, but back tehn these rocked. I even had the official Dondonpa layout about 1-2 years before anyone knew about this ride. So, please, before you say the layouts suck, think about when they were MADE. Thanks that I finally got to clear that up. TOGO_Fan
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If Every Coaster Was Rough, I'd Be In Heaven...