SFWoA: X-Flight tour - CoasterBuzz

Hi all,

I just returned from a tour of the X-Flight site and I thought I'd give a brief update. The tour was led by SFWoA head of maintenance Tom Jones.

- Track is done, station frame is up.
- Station will load from outside. Both trains will empty towards the center.
- Queue and midway extension will be themed as an airport and runway

And now the biggies:

- X-Flight will be using a voluntary virtual queuing system
- One train is on site.
- Lift and turn after brakes have bus bars along side for seat elevation control
- Each coach is fitted with it's own hydraulic pump and motor
- Each coach is fitted with it's own PLC for seat control and restraint monitoring
- First run will probably happen last week of April.

I'll have 50 pics from today's tour, plus PKI opening weekend on the site tonight.

Thanks to SFWoA for this great opportunity!

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Scott W. Short
scott@midwestcoastercentral.com
http://www.midwestcoastercentral.com

What is a "voluntary virtual queueing system?"

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I know a little German. He's sitting right over there.

Like Fast Pass at Disney. If you want to grab a ticket and wait for your time, you can. Much different than Cedar Point and TTR last year where you didn't have a choice; you had to take a ticket.

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Scott W. Short
scott@midwestcoastercentral.com
http://www.midwestcoastercentral.com

Do you know if SFWoA will use the virtual que on any other rides this year?

I hope not...

When are people going to realize that virtual queueing systems, on a systems level, at least, simply do not work? Ah, well...

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Since they are loading from the outside, I'm thinking they will have one side for the regular queue, and the other for the virtual.

Otherwise from what I've ridden, in the way of flumes and racers, loading has always occurred on the inside.

I can't belive that they are actually themeing the midway as a runway. It makes sense though since it leads right to X-Flight. I'm still a little disapointed that they aren't opening on the 4th but I'm getting over it. I can't wait to ride this thing!!

Did they mention if it would be ready for Opening Weekend?

Hey Tim, I don't think you emphasized the fact that tour members were allowed to see the trains up-close and personal. The trains are, in my opinion, the coolest roller coaster trains to ever grace the face of the earth. These things make floorless coaster trains look simple. If you aren't psyched for X-Flight already, do so now!

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Jes
Webmaster, Jes's Roller Coasters
http://www.jesms.cjb.net

Yes, Mong, According to Tom, they are on schedule for a May 5th opening.

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Jes
Webmaster, Jes's Roller Coasters
http://www.jesms.cjb.net

I cant wait to see this thin run.

This is the way I understood the fast track system would operate; ticket holders return during their designated time slot and ride in the "Last Three Rows"; as described by Tom at the tour. He said if you wanted to ride in the front, you would have to wait with everyone else. Guess will have to wait and see.

We were also told the scrambler, casino and a viking ship will be installed on the Sea World side by June 1.

The path connecting the 2 sides behind the Bobs is starting to take shape as well.

It was great of the park to invite us up again this year to climb around the new toy!

So this Virtual Queueing system, Will it be like Disney's where you can make a choice of queueing normally or taking a ticket to come back later???? I like this option much better, It reduces Customer complaints and make everyone happier, at the end of the day, people are far happier to queue up for a ride however long the queue is.
And this is where the other kind of virtual queueing does not work, It was done at Alton Towers when Oblivion was first built, and it was done on Nemesis. to Ride you had to take a ticket which had a time to come back and you couldnt queue up normally, unfortunutly all the tickets went real fast most days and this meant a lot of people could not come to the ride and queue up normally until later in the day(about 5PM sometimes) This generated HUGE Complaints, so Alton immediatly stopped it. I believe this same silimar system operates on Millennium Force, Well why dont you do what everyone done at Alton Towers, Complain like mad, and they will soon stop it guaranteed. If we Done it at Alton, I am sure that you could at CP.

Anyway, Nice Report on X-Flight, I cant wait to ride this coster in June. The Queue and Midway sounds interesting, cant wait to check that out. Oh Please HURRY UP JUNE;);)

Where and when will you be posting the pictures?

Zero-G said:
"Hey Tim, I don't think you emphasized the fact that tour members were allowed to see the trains up-close and personal. The trains are, in my opinion, the coolest roller coaster trains to ever grace the face of the earth. These things make floorless coaster trains look simple. If you aren't psyched for X-Flight already, do so now!

Ssssh! I'm keeping that a secret for my website :)

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Scott W. Short
scott@midwestcoastercentral.com
http://www.midwestcoastercentral.com

Oh man, I can't wait! Any idea of when those pics will be up?
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I'd Rather Be Riding Rollercoasters

OK Tim, I got ya. Did I say they we got to see the trains? Oh, I meant we got to see pictures of them. Can't wait to see them in person! ;)

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Jes
Webmaster, Jes's Roller Coasters
http://www.jesms.cjb.net

Hi all, I just found some pictures of x flights trains and other pics of the hard had tour. Enjoy

http://www.refreshinglook.com/2001Construction/Construction2001/DozerNotes.htm

That's the top news item as of right now in the news section.

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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com

Did anyone ask about the status of the old Rocket Ships, Flyings Skooters, or the Rotor? Thanks!

-rob