Vekoma has their hydraulic launch !

Wonder if this is where the magic ;) happens? http://www.rcdb.com/installationgallery2747.htm?Picture=13

Looks smaller than on Xcellerator but maybe that's because it doesn't requier as much power...

olov, I wouldn't think so. The cable looks as if it passes completely through that box.

True, although I can't see what else it would be for. Seems a bit weird to put a plant room (for example) right where the cable goes. I'm thinking that the cable is in a loop with the motor in that room. It does seem quite snug, but who knows.

Vekoma and Prototypes? Its not the best combination.
-The first Invertigo at Liseberg was a complete failure and had to be partly rebuilt. Instead of a frictionless LIM-lift they had to change it back to a catch-car technique.
-The Hammerhead Stall was not even sold.
-The wild water part of Rhino Ralley still seems to be plagued with many problems.
-The giant SLC in Fantasisland(while not actually a prototype, except for its size) had to be partly dismantled and rebuilt because the train was to slow for the huge inversions.

Didn't even bother to mention the GIB's or flyers? ;)

^ Exactly.

To me it looks like it may be a pretty decent ride. I would like to see one of these in the US. Variety never hurts. As long as it runs well.

OK, was a genuine question. I forgot about most of those, although I must admit I didn't realise that the Flyers had problems (other than the fact they only tilt in the station).

Other prototypes such as their Tilt Coaster and Rock 'N Roller Coaster seem to be reliable, which happened to be the only ones I could think of. I also didn't realise that the Hammerhead hadn't been sold because it didn't work - from the videos I've seen it looked ready to go, so I'm surprised that it never left the factory.

Well, I was a bit in a hurry when I wrote my list yesterday. I left out the most obvious ones. :)

In defense of Vekoma it should be said that most of their products are pretty reliable. Except for occasional closed seats on their SLCs and the stalling Boomerangs, their junior and custom mine-train coasters are solid performing rides.

Do we really have any information about the reliability of the TiltCoaster? Apart from some pictures and one or two videos I have never heard anything about it.

You are right about the Flyers. As with the Invertigo it had to be drastically changed. The seats were planned to tilt on the lift. Maybe this was a bit too ambitious and would have cost a lot extra. Maybe it was as well a security aspect.

The Hammerhead, well I see it as the actual prototype, or test for the GIB. They tried the catchcar on a vertical spike on this one.
We can just guess that the ride had problems and issues which made it a tough sell:
High maintenance, low capacity. Quite unspectacular ride, rendered obsolete by Intamins HalfPipe.

The BoosterBike at Toverland is actually a showroom piece for Vekoma. The park got it practically for free (there were some juristical problems recently which led to a delayed opening).

I think with Vekomas new owners (off-shore sea building) they will have access to reliable hydraulics. Add to this the new track and obviously heartlined transitions, it could be an intersting ride.
The ride is capabale of multiple train use, but it was not needed for a small park such as Toverland.