X-Flights first test run.

After it was announced I was glad to see the Swarm-esque inversion/drop and not the straight drop that Wild Eagle and X-Raptor have. Since the reviews of Wild Eagle and Swarm began circulating, it seems like the plain first drop is getting great reviews while the inversion/drop isn't getting as much attention.

Is anyone else looking at the Wing Riders as a test or first step for B&M's future 4D coaster? It almost bothers me that the seats don't move, as I don't understand all the effort of making this new breed. The experience seems like it'd just be a floorless or inverted shifted away from the track.

I wouldn't buy one of these for my park, as I'd fear a 4D model coming a couple years later. But, maybe that's too daring for B&M. Not beating on this ride...it looks fun, and I'd be excited for it at any of my home parks. It's just that it screams, "I was going to be a 4D, but B&M didn't feel the technology was reliable enough yet!" when I look at it.

The plus side of having the seats besides the track, is that you get the illusion of "nothing around you, thus not much holding you in". Also, head-chopper and feet-chopper effects (or both) for the riders.

Another plus side for parks (vs getting a 4D model, if it will ever exist) is that once you make seats move, you have maintenance of said moving parts. Given how X/X2 had a lot of issues at that stage, I definitely wouldn't be racing to get the next new 4D model out on the market until it proves itself.

Jeph said:

Is anyone else looking at the Wing Riders as a test or first step for B&M's future 4D coaster? It almost bothers me that the seats don't move, as I don't understand all the effort of making this new breed. The experience seems like it'd just be a floorless or inverted shifted away from the track.

I understand your POV Jeph, but I think people will love it - either way.

Without having ridden any of the new wing rider types, my educated nod would be to Intamin - who has (finally! Yeahyea!) come up with an alternative restraint system. Actually looks a bit intimidating - very cool!

Jeph said:

Is anyone else looking at the Wing Riders as a test or first step for B&M's future 4D coaster?

I have no inside knowledge, but it doesn't look like the wing riders would be an easy transformation to 4D. Honestly I think the wing rider seating is more similar to Sheikra or Griffon than to X2 seats.

Congrats on your 666th post, Fun.

Billy, what'd I miss in regards to a new Intamin restraint? I'm a huge fan of their stuff, but I haven't been liking their restraints / seats lately (Looking at you, Maverick).

Maverick needs Intimidator 305 restaints. The upgrade looks simple enough.

Amen. I wish Ka and really any other intamin with others had those.

I wish Ka had the T Bars from Millennium and Dragster

Yeah, I've always liked the MF/TTD seats and restraints. Sadly, those days are gone. I hope Intamin comes up with something better than slapping OTSR on everything in the future.

Jeph said:

Billy, what'd I miss in regards to a new Intamin restraint? I'm a huge fan of their stuff, but I haven't been liking their restraints / seats lately (Looking at you, Maverick).

I agree with you. They are similar to recent Intamin restraints in that they come down over the head, but are lacking the redundant shoulder bars/straps.

Whoa...those look incredible. Where is that from? A 4-wide Intamin train? Whaaaat?

Edit: Not sure how I missed Hershey's SkyRush. Awesome!

How are the Skyrush restraints different from the millennium force/dragster T bars (other than the bulkiness)? It looks like the OTS portion does not contact the body...

Well, obviously the support for the bar is behind you rather than in front of you, between your legs, so it'd feel more open.

Secondly, the lap bar has some length, so it looks like it'd really lock down your whole lap, making it near impossible to get out of. I'm wondering if they'd use this same restraint and train for a coaster with inversions... Seems like it'd be perfectly safe.

cdude3 said:

Huh? Why would twisting left v. right make a difference on the length of the roll into the drop? If they both end up inverted then the difference you highlight doesn't imply the conclusion you claim.

It was a bad choice of words on my part, as I was not refering to the physical length of the track. I was referring to Swarm's inversion being more of a continuous rolling motion (as it rolls to the left and then dives away to the right of the entry), whereas X-Flight's inversion rolls to the right and then dives away to the right of the entry point. Swarm's inversion would produce more of a fluid rolling sensation to the rider, unlike X-Flight's which will stop at the point of inversion and then dive away.

Jeph said:

Secondly, the lap bar has some length, so it looks like it'd really lock down your whole lap, making it near impossible to get out of. I'm wondering if they'd use this same restraint and train for a coaster with inversions... Seems like it'd be perfectly safe.

Actually, these restraints are just fine for a looping coaster. (I know, the lap bars are hard to see, but most folks know what the old Intamin bars are like).

But I think these may be the future of looping coasters with lap bars. Supposedly a top notch ride, too! Those Mack seats/restraints are very similar to the new ones for Skyrush.

I hereby dub those restraints "Over the Shoulder Lapbars", or OTSLs...

...and I like 'em.....a lot!

Very nice, Gator :)

I tried to dub Timberliners as TLCs a while back, but didn't catch on. Hopefully, OTSL will.

That coaster has ahtsels!

Full POV:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/videogallery/69761990/News/Soar-with-...ng-coaster

For those who thought the station looked cheap (I for the record think it looks fine), just wait until you see the hangar. They only bothered to make one wall.