Sky Rocket topped off at Kennywood
Posted
[Ed. note: The following is an unedited press release from Premier Rides. -J]
Premier Rides’ newest multi-million dollar installation, the Sky Rocket at Kennywood Park, was successfully topped off by ironworkers this week. The final 70 foot track section weighing over 8 tons was carefully installed ten stories up in the air at the highest point of the ride.
Jim Seay, President of Premier Rides commented, “We are extremely proud to reach this milestone and extra proud that we are providing an attraction that has generated hundreds of manufacturing and ironworker jobs right here in the United States.”
Sky Rocket’s magnetic launch technology makes this coaster one of Kennywood’s most exciting attractions in the park. Kennywood’s new launch coaster will feature many exciting and unique elements including three inversions and a 0-80km/hr (50mph) launch in two seconds. After the high-speed launch, riders will experience a vertical ascent to 95 feet before a brief cliffhanger pause at the top and a 90-degree drop into a maximum G-force pullout. The riders will then enjoy extended airtime as the train races into an inverted top hat element, passes into a barrel roll, and goes vertical again through a twist up leading to another pause. Riders experience a second vertical free fall followed by another maximum G-force pullout on the way into a highly banked fan curve. After a twisted corkscrew, a curve to a zero gravity hill, and a series of wave turns, riders finally return to the station.
See also: Sky Rocket at Kennywood in the CoasterBuzz database.
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All together now... Oooo Ahhh Ohhh :)
I can't wait to see it in person.
884 Coasters, 34 States, 7 Countries
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I wonder what the odds are of it being open in the middle of next week....
I develop Superior Solitaire when not riding coasters.
I was at the park yesterday. Not much activity in that area. I didn't look real hard, but I didn't even see a queue any where. Does look like a fun ride.
Looks like fun. I already have our tickets. Just waiting for it to open up.
Before you can be older and wiser you first have to be young and stupid.
kpjb said:
Waaay short of slim and a bit less than none.
Yeah, I think that constitutes optimism to the point of foolishness. Oh well, just another reason to go back I guess!
I develop Superior Solitaire when not riding coasters.
Indeed it does. I was standing in the station today looking back on the layout and it was pretty impressive.
Hi
Why do I feel "Meh" about this?
It might have something to do with a launch into a brake, and the small number of trains, and the silly marketing during the announcement (Espresso: The Ride). I'll probably get there to ride it soon, and I'll probably really enjoy it.
Edited to add - WOW! Look at the photos on a CoasterBuzz page! COOL!
-Travis
www.youtube.com/TSVisits
I hope it's done in time for my Visit to Pittsburgh in Late June (My visit there is a few days right after Coaster Con ACE Members Invade)
Chris Knight
I was impressed by it's size last night. The station looks slick too. Up high, simple, clean. It's going to be one heck of a way to walk into the park.
LostKause said:
Why do I feel "Meh" about this?It might have something to do with a launch into a brake...
Not sure why Premier (and Kennywood at times) keeps throwing the line out there about the two "cliffhanger pause" elements. There are no pauses in this ride. There are no active brakes on either drop... no air, no power. There are some magnets up there to give some hang time on the two vertical drops, but there are not any holding brakes or block brakes anywhere between the station and the end of the course.
Hi
This press release also says 0-50 in two seconds, but everything else has said it will take three seconds. And isn't the train going into the launch with a little speed from the turnaround out of the station?
Hmmm... It's starting to sound a little better now. Rolling into the launch? Wow. Slowing before the drop? Cool, I guess.
They will never be able to take back the silly announcement, but I can easily forgive them for subjecting me to such stupidity. A lot of announcements in the amusement park industry are stupid.
And although I believe that the lines for this thing will be unbearable, I can't be so sure yet, so I'll hold out on my decision to hate this thing until trip reports start coming in. :p
-Travis
www.youtube.com/TSVisits
LostKause said:
Why do I feel "Meh" about this?
To answer your question, I'll quote the greatest TV series ever...
Bart: Nothing you say can upset us, we're the MTV generation.
Lisa: We feel neither highs nor lows.
Homer: Really, what's it like?
Lisa (shrugs): Meh...
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