What's Your Impression of Arrow Loopers?

I have a sudden interest in Arrow loopers, so I'm trying to find some interesting information about what people think about them. :)

What do you think about all loopers overall from Arrow along with comfort, intensity, reliability issues, and fun factor?

With comfort, do you think there's a problem with the mega loopers that aren't so obvious on the corkscrew/double loop/triple inverting coasters?

Are there any major comparisons with the Vekoma loopers? They both seem to be make fairly similarly. Any ideas why they didn't follow the designs of Schwartzkopf who seems to make fairly smoothe loopers?

For those that have been on more than one of the mega loopers(Vortex, Shockwave, Viper, GASM, etc.), do you think they all give similar rides and are all of them as enjoyable as the next? What is/was the main problem people associated with Ninja at SFOG and Drachen Fire?

Are the Arrow corkscrews/double loops/shuttle loops becoming too outdated or do you still enjoy these classics? Thoughts on Demon/ Carolina Cyclone?

Are the transitions the main problem associated with roughness or pain from Arrow loopers or does park upkeep have anything to do with it?

For those who have been on the "new and improved" Arrow "loopers" Tennessee Tornado and X, do you think with these progressions that they have finally come a real innovation that they can take off with when Arrow is able to restart if they do? Do you think we'll see Arrow again?

Thanks everyone!

I find the Arrow loopers to be very fun. I haven't been on any of their mega loopers yet, but the old corkscrew and double loop/double corkscrew models are fun. Personally, if they built a longer Tennssee Tornado with more inversions, I would be in heaven. It is already one of my favs. Arrow really did a good job with it, and I hope they recover and build some more.

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|| Jonathan Hawkins ||
http://www.starcoasters.com
Top Gun: TJC flights - Approx. 240 (54 in 2002)

I would not call X an arrow looper. It would be a kin to calling S:UE a B and M Invert.

Beyond that I love Megaloopers, but I think out of all enthusiasts I have talked to they are either loved or loathed, there does not seem to be much middle ground. Sure they are rough but they have character.

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The Beast and Night, They go together like Peanut Butter and Jelly

I find them to be the best night rides, you just have to know when the right time is to ride them. And that is at night!

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Ok, just for the heck of it, I'll "rate" each Arrow looper I've been on and give my opinion.

Demon (PGA): 3/5. I absolutely loved it. The drop with trees over it provided some great visuals, along with the tunnels/caves. A little theming does wonders with this ride. A true classic, IMO.

Sidewinder (SFEG): 3/5. Not as good as the Anton shuttles, but I enjoy this smooth, unique looper. I hope it stays for a long time to come.

Python (BGT):2/5. Why, oh why, does BGT even hang on to this ride? The first drop provided some interesting air, but the rest was pretty rough. I enjoyed the scenery more than the ride. Doesn’t seem up to Busch’s standards.

Corkscrew (CP):3/5. I enjoyed it, especially the bunny hill.

Canyon Blaster (AD:CC):3/5. Like, Demon this nice little looper uses theming to it’s advantage.

Anaconda (PKD):4/5. Smooth, exciting ride, if PKD was my homepark, I would definitely ride this at least once every time.

(edit) Loch Ness Monster (BGW):I can't believe I forgot this one. The tunnel really makes the ride. :)

Overall, I think Arrows are some pretty doesn't rides, yet I enjoy B&Ms and Antons more. Vekoma’s Corkscrew at Alton Towers is pretty similar, yet I enjoyed it less than most of the Arrows. Hopkin’s Desert Storm is definitely unique to any of these coasters, but I’m not sure I would say it’s that much better than any of them.

Arrow suspended coasters, on the other hand, down right rock!
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SFEG awaits The Flying Coaster-coming in 2002!

*** This post was edited by PT300 on 5/13/2002. ***

Viper at SFMM is rough on the firs drop coming up to the first loop and the trim brake is a little much before the corkscrews, but otherwise, GREAT RIDE

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Veck
http://pumpingrct.topcities.com/

(Before anyone else does it...)
My Impression of an Arrow Looper
LOUD NOISY Chain lift.
Dip, turn-drop.
BANG (bottoms out hard)
UGHHHH (powerful positive Gs on the vertical loop)
UGHHHH (see above)
OUCH (rough turn)
UGHHHH (see above)
OUCH-SCREEEECH-BANG (turn into and hard stop on midcourse)
WHEEE (drop into boomerang)
ERRRK (squealing wheels)
aah-UMPH-aah-UMPH (falling into restraints while upside down in the corkscrews)

Well, it's actually much funnier in person ;)

If you hadn't noticed I was describing Shockwave/GASM-II. Seriously, I really like the Arrow loopers. They actually *feel* like thrill rides not marshmallow cream puffs. I just hate the fact that the rides stop on the midcourse (damn the eyes of the parks!)
lata,
jeremy
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"Nobody writes about the planes that land." Steve Salerno Washington Times 7-10-01

I have to say ath I have not ridden a B&M looper obviously because there are so few but I truly LOVE Shockwave, it truly demonstrates what Arrow is capable of.

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The below statement is true.
The above statement is false.

Constant Looping is a lack of creativity.

Like PT300 did I will rate the Arrow Loops that I have been on:

Viper @ sfdl 4/5 because it is smooth + an interesting layout

Loch Ness @ BGW 3/5 A very smooth ride but a bit boring with a tunnel and 2 lifts

Python @ BGT 1/5 This ride is boring + rough

Corkscrew @ CP 2/5 This ride is rough but it is still fun because you are over the midway

Drachen Fire @ BGW - 5/5 I love this ride! I can't believe they tore it down it was awesome!

Steamin Demon @ GE - 2/5 This ride is just like Python, a bit smoother but it is good because it has a loop

To tell you the truth I like them. I think they are important at every park because they are sorta a "side ride" that keeps the better coasters lines down. Also they give the park a better variety

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Check out CoastNY at www.angelfire.com/ny5/coastny

I have ridden a few of the Arrow Loopers including one mega looper. I found the mega looper I have been on, Shockwave, to be ultra rough with some very uncomfortable laterals. Even though I have been on faster coasters(namely M-Force) I still think that Shockwave felt the fastest of any coaster I have been on. Demon at Great America is my favorite Arrow looper because of the awesome airtime filled first drop. The other three I have ridden, Corkscrew at CP, Double Loop at SFWOA, and Python at BGT I found to be average and not as painful as many claim them to be. In fact Demon is more painful than any of those three and I still enjoy Demon imensly.

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Bob Hansen

A proud CoasterBuzz Member
"We are not responsible for anything the Demon takes or breaks"

Arrow loopers are fun adn intense, but for some reason all people do is complain about them.

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With great power, comes great responsibility-Spiderman

I'll give Valleyfair's corkscrew 5/5 nice intense first loop along with a nice strong final helix turn before coming back to the station.

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Valleyfair Security 2002! 8Years working at Valleyair :)! SRM, Coastermainia CP, Kings Island June 9th, Timbers Fest. May29th-June10th less than 2weeks :)!

Viper at SFMM-5/5 One coaster I fell in love with, the first drop that ever gave me that I'm gonna' die feeling. The wonderful setting on top of the plateau, and those twisted elements including the most intense corkscrew.

Dragon-4/5 (relocated in to Japan in 1996 where it operated for two years at a fesitval and went back to China) What I call an inense Arrow looper, as a co project with Vekoma, I say they did a pretty good job. Very intense and twisted helixes. Though the end of the ride made me flip out. You're pulled into a break run, then make a 180 degree turn and then up a big lift hill to the station. Now, I hate lift hills that lead to nothing, but to put breaks to stop the train and then go slow into the lift hill.

Cedar Point Corkscrew 3/5-has some pretty nice air at a few points and loved the effect of corkscrew over the midway. A bit rough but still an intense and enjoyable ride.

Space Salamander(picture at current location, not Expoland where I rode it.) 3/5-What Expoland could do with a light show, techno tunnels, and an Arrow corkscrew! The ride was short, but the thrill was so amazing from the effects they made to enhance the ride. I believe that it became too much of a hassle to operate and was relocated. Now there is just a regular loopscrew.

Demon at PGA-2//5 Used to be quite the ride, but has since lost all of it's theming including tunnel through loop, cave themeing for tunnels, station. The ride is also heavily trimmed an very unintense. The effects it used to give were amazing with the lighting at night, the drop into caves, scar voices. Now the ride is rusted up, along with is paint job, trains, and dead speaker box at the beginning of the ride.

Revolution at Libertyland-2/5 Traditional Arrow loopscrew that could do with a better location than the dump it is sitting in and does not look too impressive when half of its paint job is grafitti.

Cannobie Corkscrew 1/5-Short, rough, not worth the wait(even if it's a walk on), it's the centenarian of rough riders and should tie the knots with Grizzly at PGA.

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Lake Compounce-So Fresh and So Clean Clean

I got to agree with the Beast, I did 3 laps on Valleyfair's Cork yesterday (5/12) and the thing runs as smooth as a baby's bottom. Maintainence does a great job with that coaster

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Flume & Hydroblaster Crew for 2002!

I don't really like Arrow Loopers, I feel like they are the 'filler' coasters, the older model loopers that add to the overall amount of coasters in a park.

Of course, I haven't been on a megalooper, but the loopers I've been on achieve a mediocre-ride at best

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CANADA ROCKS! GO LEAFS GO!

I love arrow loopers the are great

Arrow was one of the manufactures that made me interested in coasters in the first place. I remember, when I was a kid, drawing an overhead view layout plan of Vortex and other Arrow loopers before I even knew the names of who designed the rides. They where some of my first looping coasters and are partially responsibe for my love of coasters.

Sure they have not-so-perfect transitions, but they are still great rides. I still just absolutely love thier layouts.

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I find most Arrow loopers, small and large models alike, to be quite dull. I give them points for actually having some balls and not being afraid to let you know that you're actually on a coaster instead of just sitting on a sofa watching a POV; but that's about all that I'll give them.

The smaller models don't ride overly rough to me but they also have rather uninspired layouts while the mega rides seem nastier (as a result of the increased speed I'm sure) and just as cookie cutter on the layout end of things.

I think the thing that always has kerflummexed me is the "stock" size of the elements. Arrow never seemed to think that making a larger I-Loop, batwing, etc, etc, etc was necessary so their larger rides look a little bit odd as well with huge ramps approaching the first loops on their mega loopers.

I do have to insert the minor cop out here and say that I was a huge fan of the Steel Phantom though. It's the only Arrow looper that I've ever even vaguely liked but the incredible power of that thing during the big turn in the ravine was such an intense moment; and on a steelie none-the-less! PR is a better ride in many respects but the SP still has a special place in my heart for flat out power...it was something else.
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* The Legend @ HW
* Superman: Ride of Steel @ SFNE
* Mondial Top Scan

I actually like Arrow Loopers. I've only been on two, but I don't have a problem with them. Sure, they're rough but to me, that's part of the experience. The two I've been on are Demon at PGA and Viper at SFMM. Demon was my first looping coaster as a matter of fact. I'd love to see more coasters from Arrow and I'm really, really looking forward to finally riding X.

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my signature is empty

I'm happy to see all the support. Thanks guys. :) I knew I wasn't the only one!
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Brad Sherman
Don't.....look.....back! The Headless Horseman awaits you in 2002!
Model coasters and rides