Sky Rocket II

Last updated
Sky Rocket II
Superman Ultimate Flight at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (14156245159) (2).jpg
The Sky Rocket II prototype, Superman: Ultimate Flight
StatusIn Production
First manufactured2012
No. of installations10
Manufacturer Premier Rides
Height150 ft (46 m)
Length863 ft (263 m)
Speed62 mph (100 km/h)
Capacity500 riders per hour
Riders per vehicle12-18
Restraint StyleLapbar, occasionally Comfort Collar
Inversions 1
Sky Rocket II at RCDB

Sky Rocket II is a steel roller coaster model made by American manufacturer Premier Rides. The first Sky Rocket II was Superman: Ultimate Flight at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, which opened on June 30, 2012, and the latest is Sky Loop at Riyadh Winter Wonderland in 2022. The ride model features a height of 150 feet (46 m), a length of 863 feet (263 m), a maximum speed of 62 miles per hour (100 km/h), and includes one inversion. The ride has been noted for its low-cost and small foot-print. [1]

Contents

History

The production for the Sky Rocket II model began in with its announcement in 2011 with the introduction of Superman: Ultimate Flight for Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. [2] Originally for the prototype model, there would be two cars with two riders per row with three rows in total, though expandable for other consumers. [3] [4] The model for Six Flags opened on June 30, 2012. [5] [6] Tempesto at Busch Gardens Williamsburg introduced the model using three cars in 2015. [7]

Design

The 863-foot (263 m) track reaches a height of 150 feet (46 m), the trains are accelerated forward by linear synchronous motor (LSM) launch, but do not reach the maximum altitude and thus travel backwards through the station, continuing to accelerate, almost reaching the apex of the non-inverting loop. In the subsequent forward passage of the station, the trains are accelerated again and thereby reach the maximum height and speed of 62 miles per hour (100 km/h). It is followed by an inline twist, the exit of which leads to a downward dive, which initiates the passage of the non-inverting loop. In the station, the trains are then brought to a halt. [3] [4] [8]

Zombie Ride at Bosque Mágico is the currently the only Sky Rocket II coaster with a sliding loading platform allowing two train operations. One train is slid into the circuit while the other train is loading at the platform. It is also the only Sky Rocket II to complete two full laps of the circuit. Zombie Ride uses 12 passenger trains like Superman: Ultimate Flight.

Installations

Premier Rides has built ten Sky Rocket II coasters. These are listed by order of opening.

Roller coasterParkCountryOpenedStatus
Superman: Ultimate Flight Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Flag of the United States.svg  United States 2012Operating [6]
Sky Scream Holiday Park Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 2014Operating [9]
Tempesto Busch Gardens Williamsburg Flag of the United States.svg  United States 2015Operating [7]
Zombie Ride Bosque Mágico Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 2015Relocated (See "Drakko: The Flying Beast") [10]
Phobia Phear Coaster Lake Compounce Flag of the United States.svg  United States 2016Operating [11]
Hype Särkänniemi Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 2017Operating [12]
Sky Rocket Chimelong Paradise Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 2017Operating [13]
Electric Eel SeaWorld San Diego Flag of the United States.svg  United States 2018Operating [14]
Tigris Busch Gardens Tampa Flag of the United States.svg  United States 2019Operating [15]
Sky Loop Riyadh Winter Wonderland Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Saudi Arabia 2022Relocated (Traveling) [16]
Drakko: The Flying Beast Salitre Mágico Flag of Colombia.svg Colombia 2023Operating [17]
unknown Steel Pier Flag of the United States.svg  United States Under construction [18] [19]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steel roller coaster</span> Roller coaster that is defined by having a track made of steel

A steel roller coaster is a roller coaster that is defined by having a track made of steel. Steel coasters have earned immense popularity in the past 50 years throughout the world. Incorporating tubular steel track and polyurethane-coated wheels, the steel roller coasters can provide a taller, smoother, and faster ride with more inversions than a traditional wooden roller coaster.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flying roller coaster</span> Type of roller coaster

A flying roller coaster is a type of roller coaster meant to simulate the sensations of flight by harnessing riders in a prone position during the duration of the ride. The roller coaster cars are suspended below the track, with riders secured such that their backs are parallel to the track.

Anton Schwarzkopf was a German engineer who founded Schwarzkopf Industries GmbH, a German manufacturer of roller coasters and other amusement rides that were sold to amusement parks and travelling funfairs around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bolliger & Mabillard</span> Swiss roller coaster manufacturer

Bolliger & Mabillard, officially Bolliger & Mabillard Consulting Engineers, Inc. and often abbreviated B&M, is a roller coaster design consultancy based in Monthey, Switzerland. The company was founded in 1988 by engineers Walter Bolliger and Claude Mabillard, both of whom had worked for Giovanola.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Floorless Coaster</span> Type of roller coaster

A Floorless Coaster, commonly known as a Floorless Roller Coaster, is a type of steel roller coaster manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard where riders sit with no floor underneath them, allowing their feet to swing freely just above the track. Development of the Floorless Coaster model began between 1995 and 1996 with Medusa at Six Flags Great Adventure opening on April 2, 1999, making it the world's first Floorless Roller Coaster. Floorless Roller Coasters also tend to have 3 to 7 inversions incorporated in the layout of the coaster.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Coasters International</span> Pennsylvania-based roller coaster manufacturer

Great Coasters International, Inc. is a Sunbury, Pennsylvania-based roller coaster manufacturer which has created several award-winning rides since its formation in 1994. Starting in 2006 with Thunderbird at PowerPark in Finland, the company expanded beyond the United States and began building coasters in Europe and Asia. Günter Engelhardt GmbH handles the company's marketing rights in Europe. In addition to building new roller coasters, GCI also refurbishes and re-tracks existing roller coasters, regardless of manufacturer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hypercoaster</span> Height class for roller coasters

A hypercoaster is a roller coaster with a height or drop measuring at least 200 feet (61 m).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Superman: Ultimate Flight</span> Roller coasters at three Six Flags parks

Superman: Ultimate Flight is the name of three flying roller coasters currently operating at three Six Flags amusement parks in the United States, those being Six Flags Over Georgia, Six Flags Great Adventure and Six Flags Great America. Each of these steel coasters were designed and built by Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard and opened in 2002 and 2003. Since 2003, Six Flags has installed Superman: Ultimate Flight in three of their parks. Themed to the popular comic book character, Superman: Ultimate Flight simulates flying by positioning its passengers parallel to the track, supported by harnesses and facing the ground through most of the ride. In the station, riders board the train sitting down. After the train is locked and checked, the trains are raised into the flying position. After the ride, the seats are lowered back into the sitting position for the next round of riders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suspended Looping Coaster</span> Type of roller coaster

The Suspended Looping Coaster is a model of steel inverted roller coaster built by Vekoma. There are at least 39 different installations across the world. The minimum rider height requirement is 130 centimetres. Vekoma is now marketing a Suspended Thrill Coaster as a successor to the Suspended Looping Coaster. The Odyssey is the largest, fastest and tallest SLC ever built at Fantasy Island in the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Flash: Vertical Velocity (Six Flags Great America)</span> Inverted steel roller coaster

The Flash: Vertical Velocity is an inverted steel roller coaster located at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois. The roller coaster is themed to the DC Comics character, The Flash. Originally named Vertical Velocity, the ride received a re-theme in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Premier Rides</span>

Premier Rides is an amusement ride manufacturer based in the United States. The company was the first to use Linear Induction Motors (LIMs) on their roller coasters. Jim Seay has been the sole owner and company president since 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Griffon (roller coaster)</span> Steel roller coaster in Virginia

Griffon is a steel roller coaster located at Busch Gardens Williamsburg amusement park in James City County, Virginia, United States. Designed by Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M), the Dive Coaster model opened to the public on May 18, 2007. It climbs to a height of 205 feet (62 m) and reaches a maximum speed of 71 mph (114 km/h). The roller coaster features two Immelmann loops, a splashdown, two vertical drops, and was the first B&M Dive Coaster to use floorless trains. Griffon was well-received by media and enthusiasts, and it placed third in 2007 in the category of Best New Ride polled by Amusement Today for their annual Golden Ticket Awards. Since its debut, it has also consistently ranked in the top 50 among steel roller coasters worldwide in the same annual publication, peaking at a rank of 19 in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dive Coaster</span> Roller coaster model

The Dive Coaster is a steel roller coaster model developed and engineered by Bolliger & Mabillard. The design features one or more near-vertical drops that are approximately 90 degrees, which provide a moment of free-falling for passengers. The experience is enhanced by unique trains that seat up to ten riders per row, spanning only two or three rows total. Unlike traditional train design, this distinguishing aspect gives all passengers virtually the same experience throughout the course of the ride. Another defining characteristic of Dive Coasters is the holding brake at the top of the lift hill that holds the train momentarily right as it enters the first drop, suspending some passengers with a view looking straight down and releasing suddenly moments later.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SheiKra</span> Roller coaster at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

SheiKra is a steel Dive Coaster roller coaster at the Busch Gardens Tampa Bay amusement park in Tampa, Florida, United States. The roller coaster was proposed by Mark Rose, vice-president of design and engineering for the park, and designed by Bolliger & Mabillard. The ride was planned to be 160 feet (49 m) high, but the park's executives rejected this and the height was changed to 200 feet (61 m). SheiKra reaches a maximum speed of 70 miles per hour (110 km/h) and has a total track length of 3,188 feet (972 m). It first opened on May 21, 2005, and was converted to a floorless roller coaster on June 16, 2007, following the opening of its sister Dive Coaster Griffon at Busch Gardens Williamsburg that year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Superman: Ultimate Flight (Six Flags Discovery Kingdom)</span> Launched roller coaster

Superman: Ultimate Flight is a steel Premier Rides roller coaster located at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, California. It opened to the public on June 30, 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SkyLoop</span> Steel roller coaster

SkyLoop is a type of steel roller coaster manufactured by Maurer Söhne. There are currently 10 SkyLoops operating worldwide, nine of which are identical XT 150 models, and one of which is an extended XT 450 model. The first SkyLoop to open was Sky Wheel in 2004 while the sole XT 450, Abismo, opened in 2006. There are also three other models—XT 900, Custom, and Launch—which have no installations as of 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tempesto</span> Launched roller coaster at Busch Gardens Williamsburg

Tempesto is a steel roller coaster at Busch Gardens Williamsburg amusement park located in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States. Built and manufactured by Premier Rides, Tempesto opened on April 25, 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tigris (roller coaster)</span> Steel roller coaster at Busch Gardens Tampa

Tigris is a steel launched roller coaster at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay theme park in Tampa, Florida, United States. Built on the former Tanganyika Tidal Wave water ride, Tigris officially opened on April 19, 2019 as the park's ninth roller coaster. Tigris is located within the Stanleyville section of the park. The roller coaster and surrounding area re-uses previous infrastructure and landscaping of the former attraction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DC Universe (themed area)</span> DC Comics themed land at Six Flags parks

DC Universe is a DC Comics themed area at several Six Flags amusement parks. First opening at Six Flags Magic Mountain in 2011, the themed area has since expanded into multiple Six Flags amusement parks in North America. Although the layout and attractions are not identical and vary at each park, they all thematically connect with each other.

References

  1. Storey, Ken (June 19, 2018). "It really looks like Busch Gardens Tampa will be getting a new roller coaster next year". Orlando Weekly . Euclid Media Group . Retrieved December 23, 2018.
  2. MacDonald, Brady (April 13, 2016). "Compact vertical coasters take thrills to new heights". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  3. 1 2 Alvey, Robb (November 17, 2011). "IAAPA 2011 Trade Show Part 5 Theme Park Review Premier Rides Lo-Q RGH Ent". Theme Park Review . Retrieved December 23, 2018 via YouTube.
  4. 1 2 "Premier Rides interview at IAAPA". In the Loop. November 18, 2011. Retrieved December 23, 2018 via YouTube.
  5. MacDonald, Brady (7 June 2012). "Bird? Plane? It's Superman coaster at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved December 23, 2018.
  6. 1 2 Marden, Duane. "Superman Ultimate Flight - Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (Vallejo, California, USA)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved December 23, 2018.
  7. 1 2 Marden, Duane. "Tempesto - Busch Gardens Williamsburg (Williamsburg, Virginia, USA)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved December 23, 2018.
  8. Alvey, Robb (July 21, 2013). "Superman Ultimate Flight Roller Coaster POV Six Flags Discovery Kingdom". Theme Park Review . Retrieved December 23, 2018 via YouTube.
  9. Marden, Duane. "Sky Scream - Holiday Park (Hassloch, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved December 23, 2018.
  10. Marden, Duane. "Zombie Ride - Bosque Mágico (Guadalupe, Nuevo León, Mexico)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved December 23, 2018.
  11. Marden, Duane. "Phobia Phear Coaster - Lake Compounce (Bristol, Connecticut, USA)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved December 23, 2018.
  12. Marden, Duane. "Hype - Särkänniemi Amusement Park (Tampere, Pirkanmaa, Finland)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved December 23, 2018.
  13. Marden, Duane. "Sky Rocket - Chimelong Paradise (Panyu, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved December 23, 2018.
  14. Marden, Duane. "Electric Eel - SeaWorld San Diego (San Diego, California, USA)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved December 23, 2018.
  15. Marden, Duane. "Tigris - Busch Gardens Tampa (Tampa, Florida, USA)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved December 23, 2018.
  16. Marden, Duane. "Sky Loop  (Riyadh Winter Wonderland)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  17. Marden, Duane. "drakko: the Flying Beast  (Salitre Mágico)". Roller Coaster DataBase . Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  18. "unknown - Steel Pier (Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  19. Goldman, Jeff (November 18, 2022). "2 new roller coasters announced for Steel Pier on Atlantic City Boardwalk". NJ.com. Retrieved December 1, 2022.