Swat...

...opens to the public tomorrow morning. World's first and most orange S&S sky swatter at Six Flags Astroworld.

I am surprised this thing has not gotten more attention from the enthusiast community. It looks insane! Anybody have a vid of it? I don't really understand how it works.

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"Jessica, you're turning me into a criminal, when all I want to be is a petty thug." -Bart Simpson

This thing seems to have gone under the radar. It looks amazing.

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All who think Mean Streak needs a match taken to it say I.

Can we see a picture of it?

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Millenium Force- 1
Wicked Twister- 7
Magnum- 7
TTD- 0

http://www.sixflags.com/parks/astroworld/rides/swat.asp?id=rides&rideid=thrills

you can download a video of swat there!

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Millenium Force- 1
Wicked Twister- 7
Magnum- 7
TTD- 0

I know that there is nice video at www.rideworld.com ... but you do have to be a member to view it. from What I could see in the video, the ride looks nuts, you'll have hangtime on this ride like non-other

[sigh]

I just found out it may not open this weekend after all. Delays, delays...

We have some pictures of it at sixflagshouston.com, but no good video yet of it in action here in Houston.

Swat looks great! Hopefuly Six Flags likes it so they can build one to replace Power Dive at SFGAm. I can only hope...
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May the G-Forces be with you!

....under the radar....really?

Granted, it hasn't gotten the press it should have IMO, but it looks like a LOT of fun....I think if this ride were at one of SF's *top tier parks*, there would be a lot more hype...but it's NOT unheard of by ANY means....basically I think of it as a high-capacity version of a Skyscraper, only with fixed seats...it WILL be intense!

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Guaranteed humorous or your money back...
Raising the level of discourse one fart joke at a time...

Swat has received mixed reactions. I for one loved it and think it is unlike anything I have rode.

I thought it was pretty fun, myself. It spins much faster than I was expecting it to spin. I have a video of it, but It's not really that great of a video. See http://www.houstonthrills.com/swat.php for the video.

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Swat at the sun alongside El Diablo in 2003!
Only at Six Flags AstroWorld!
http://www.houstonthrills.com

How does the loading and unloading of this ride work? Anyone know?

Jim 'jimvid' McDonnell

Swat was open to a select few two weeks ago on Friday. I didn't get to ride it, but reviews of it were positive.

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Love,
The Mole

The seat platform is lowered to the ground.

The riders then load and it is lifted in the air. After it is lifted into place the platform is locked into place with 4 very large pins. Then the entire arm swing 3 times in one direction, stops then rotates 3 times in the other direction.

It goes a lot faster that I thought it would have too. You can feel the G forces holding you back in the seat when it is going at full speed and the restraints are very comfortable.

Some people have complained about it being to short but after 6 rotations I was ready for the break. I think the cycle is perfect.
*** This post was edited by Markieb 4/24/2003 10:40:52 AM ***

I was fortunate to be one of those select few that got to ride it on the 11th. The park was open for the team party for the FIRST Robotics championship event. I wasn't expecting it to be open, but I saw it test, and while on Viper, I saw very few people in line. So I convinced some friends to head over there, and low and behold, after three test cycles, we got on what I believe to be the very first public ride!

My initial impression of the ride was "WOW!" I saw the animations on the website, but those couldn't do the ride justice when viewed in person. It does spin A LOT faster than I expected. The seats were very deep, and for a larger person like me, not the most comfortable, but not enough to detract from the ride. Some padding was sticking me in the back though, and the grips are in wierd locations if your arms are too big to move around (no, I couldn't do this one without holding onto something).

I've been on a lot of coasters, but my flat ride days are just beginning. This is definitely a great ride that should be in more parks soon. Small, decent capacity, and fairly cheap I would think.

Kev

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334 Lifetime circuits and counting...
FIRST Robotics 2x National Champion

Houston Thrills has the best video I have seen of the ride in operation. It shows the raising and lowereing of the platform. For all those wondering check it out.

" Houston thrills said...I have a video of it. http://www.houstonthrills.com/swat.php

Swat seems to be received well by the general park population.

I think this will be a very cool ride.

TOP THRILL DRAGSTER I await your coming see you on may 4