Specific Type: Accelerator Coaster
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In 2005 Six Flags Great Adventure had a plan for their newest coaster, go big or go home. They introduced what was then the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world, two serious records. The ride was called Kingda Ka, a launched coaster by Intamin, and it was themed to a mythical tiger. The station and signage has a Nepalese style to it and the queue is flanked by bamboo and has a jungle feel. This ride dominates the skyline of the park at 456 feet tall, and the 20,800 horsepower motor is capable of launching the train at 128 MPH in a mear 3.5 seconds. Kingda Ka has another secondary use; the tower is used as the structure to the park’s massive drop tower, Zumangaro: Drop of Doom. The drop tower was added for the 2014 season as the fastest drop tower with the largest drop.
The ride experience begins in the quad load station. There is a load and unload area for each of the rides four trains. Depending on how busy the park is they can increase capacity by opening extra load stations, and the trains can be dispatched two at a time. The first train lines up for the launch and the second on a holding break following just behind. When a train is in launch position a catch car attaches to the train, a series of break fins drop, and a voice comes over a PA and says, “Arms down, head back, hold on!” The train launches and the world becomes a blur as the hydraulically powered launch sends the train towards the tower. The tower, once in the far distance now is growing taller and taller in front of the train. The train transitions from horizontal to vertical and all the rider can see is sky as they ascend up to the top of the massive top hat. Right before the train reaches the top the track twists 90 degrees to the right so riders will be right side up as they reach the pinnacle of this massive structure. Riders get a brief glimpse of the horizon, the skyline of Philadelphia is visible even though it is about 50 miles away. What goes up must come down and the train dives into a 270 degree twisting spiral to the right as the track becomes perpendicular to the ground. The train is going about 100 MPH at the bottom of this dive and then climbs an airtime hill 129 feet tall that also serves as the break run. Once this speeding train is brought under control it makes a U-turn and returns to the station. Even though the ride lasts a mear 28 seconds, the experience lasts a lifetime. |
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