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Suspended Looping Coaster

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Suspended Looping Coaster (SLC)
Blue Tornado in Gardaland, Italy, a 765m extended SLC with a helix
StatusIn production
First manufactured1994
No. of installations41
ManufacturerVekoma
Vehicle typeRoller coaster train
Height restriction130 cm (4 ft 3 in)
TypeSteel - Inverted
Lift systemSingle chain lift hill
Succeeded bySuspended Thrill Coaster
Suspended Looping Coaster (SLC) at RCDB

The Suspended Looping Coaster (or SLC, as referred to by coaster enthusiasts) is a model of steel inverted roller coaster built by Dutch manufacturer Vekoma. There are at least 39 different installations across the world. The minimum rider height requirement is 130 centimetres (4 ft 3 in). 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.

History

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The first Suspended Looping Coaster installation was El Condor at Walibi Holland in the Netherlands.[1] It was initially designed to run with ten cars in each train. Trouble with this configuration led to the trains being shortened to eight cars to a train.[2] T2 at Kentucky Kingdom was the second prototype model Suspended Looping Coaster and the first in the United States.[3] Like El Condor, it was designed to run with ten cars in a train, though T3's trains were shortened to seven cars for similar reasons.[2]

The roller coaster is considered to still be in production[citation needed]. The latest new installation (i.e. not relocated) was Queen Cobra at Sun World Danang Wonders in Đà Nẵng, Vietnam which opened in 2017.[4]

Ride

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Layouts

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There are several different layouts of Suspended Looping Coasters although most feature a similar pattern.[2] The ride starts by taking riders up a 33.3-metre (109 ft) chain lift hill.[5] Once at the top, the train drops down a steep, banked right turn where it enters the first inversion element - a right rollover. A rollover is an Immelmann loop followed by a Dive Loop[6] After exiting this element, the train traverses a tall, banked left turn and approaches the ride's next inversion - a left sidewinder.[5] A sidewinder is similar to an Immelmann loop; however, it features a half-loop followed by a half-corkscrew (rather than an inline twist).[7] After exiting the sidewinder, the train navigates a 270o right upwards helix before entering the ride's final two inversions - a double inline twist. A banked 90o turn to the right then turns the train back around to face towards the station. At this point, some models feature an additional helix to the left, while others simply continue straight into the brake run.[5] The standard model also has a relatively compact layout, providing numerous "footchoppers".

Vekoma have also manufactured three custom Suspended Looping Coasters: The Great Nor'easter at Morey's Piers (which is nearly identical to standard SLC, but with a custom station and supports), Kumali at Flamingo Land, and Jubilee Odyssey at Fantasy Island.[8]

  • The 765m Extended w/Helix layout
    The 765m Extended w/Helix layout
  • The 689m Standard, the layout of most Suspended Looping Coasters
    The 689m Standard, the layout of most Suspended Looping Coasters
  • Mind Eraser directly before the rollover
    Mind Eraser directly before the rollover
  • Mind Eraser's signature rollover
    Mind Eraser's signature rollover
  • Mind Eraser directly before the sidewinder
    Mind Eraser directly before the sidewinder
  • Mind Eraser preparing to enter its brake run
    Mind Eraser preparing to enter its brake run
  • Darien Lake's Mind Eraser
    Darien Lake's Mind Eraser
Name Number of installations First installation Last installation
662m Prototype 2 1994 1995
689m Standard 27 1995 2017
765m Extended w/Helix 5 1995 1999
787m Extended 2 1997 2007
671m Shenlin 2 2002 2006
748m Shenlin w/Helix 2 2006 2009
Custom 2 1995 2002
42 1994 2017

Trains

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Close up of an SLC wheel assembly

Many Suspended Looping Coasters operate with two trains consisting of ten cars, though some operate with as few as seven cars. Poor maintenance, poor track layout or most likely non-exact track manufacturing can cause SLCs riders to experience notoriously painful "head banging", whereby the head hits the Over the Shoulder Restraints. They also use very small plastic seats with little or no room for a person to move. Contrary to popular belief, the wheel spacing on the trains (the 'gaps' between the side friction wheels, up-stop wheels, and the track) adds little to the roughness of these rides. Vekoma is currently manufacturing new trains with convenient hip harnesses. Unlike the first generation of trains, this modification will make the overall ride experience more comfortable. Vekoma also makes vest-like harnesses that allow to rider to sit more comfortably while riding. The only four known places to have these trains are Morey's Piers,[9] Isla Magica in Spain, Six Flags New England in Agawam, MA and Beto Carrero World in Santa Catarina, Brazil, along with Nopuko Air Coaster at Lost Island in Waterloo, Iowa. In 2012, Lethal Weapon - The Ride at Warner Bros. Movie World reopened as Arkham Asylum - Shock Therapy. The newly opened ride runs with trains manufactured by Kumbak and uses less restrictive harnesses which are similar, but not identical to, the vest-like restraints found on the SLCs at Morey's Piers and Isla Magica.[10]

The Suspended Looping Coaster is similar in design to other inverted roller coasters, however unlike the four-across seating found on Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M) inverted roller coasters, Vekoma SLC's use two-across seating.

  • A Vekoma Suspended Looping Coaster train seats riders 2 across.
    A Vekoma Suspended Looping Coaster train seats riders 2 across.
  • A Bolliger & Mabillard Inverted Roller Coaster train seats riders 4 across.
    A Bolliger & Mabillard Inverted Roller Coaster train seats riders 4 across.

Installations

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There are at least 42 different installations across the world which have been located at 48 different theme parks.[11]

Name Park Opened Status Model Image
Arkham Asylum – Shock Therapy
Formerly Lethal Weapon - The Ride		 Warner Bros. Movie World 1995 Removed 765m Extended w/ Helix [5]
Batman - The Ride Six Flags Mexico 2000 Operating 689m Standard [12]
Blue Tornado Gardaland 1998 Operating 765m Extended w/ Helix [13]
Condor
Formerly El Condor		 Walibi Holland 1994 Operating 662m Prototype [1]
Death Rail Al Zawraa Land 2015 Operating 689m Standard [14]
Desafío Parque de la Costa 1999 Operating 689m Standard [15]
Dragon in Clouds Happy Valley Chengdu 2009 Operating Shenlin w/ Helix [16]
Ednör – L'Attaque
In Storage
Formerly Serial Thriller		 La Ronde
Great Escape
Six Flags AstroWorld		 2010
2005
1999		 Operating
2009
Closed 2005		 689m Standard [17][18][19]
F2 Fright Flight Nasu Highland Park 1995 Operating 689m Standard [20]
FireWhip
Formerly Blackout		 Beto Carrero World
Suzuka Circuit		 2008
1995		 Operating 689m Standard [21][22]
Flight Deck
Formerly Top Gun		 Canada's Wonderland 1995 Operating 689m Standard [23]
The Gauntlet Magic Springs and Crystal Falls 2004 Operating 689m Standard [24]
Golden Wings over the Snowfield
Formerly Golden Wings in Snowfield		 Happy Valley Beijing 2006 Operating Shenlin w/ Helix [25]
The Great Nor'Easter
Formerly Fly the Great Nor'Easter		 Morey's Piers 1995 Operating Custom [26]
Hurricane Rusutsu Resort 1996 Operating 689m Standard [27]
Infusion
Formerly TraumaTizer		 Blackpool Pleasure Beach
Pleasureland Southport		 2007
1999		 Operating
Closed 2006		 689m Standard [28][29]
Iron Claw
Formerly MP-Xpress
Formerly FX
Formerly Eraser		 Movie Park Germany 2001 Operating 689m Standard [30]
Jaguar Isla Magica 1997 Operating 765m Extended w/ Helix [31]
Kong
Formerly Hangman		 Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
Opryland USA		 1998
1995		 Operating
Closed 1997		 689m Standard [32][33]
Kumali Flamingo Land 2006 Operating Shenlin [34]
Kumba Superland 2001 Operating 689m Standard [35]
Maya Adventure
Formerly Mayan Adventure		 Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village 1997 Operating 689m Standard [36]
Mind Eraser Six Flags Darien Lake 1997 Operating 689m Standard [37]
Mind Eraser Elitch Gardens 1997 Operating 689m Standard [38]
Professor Screamore's SkyWinder
Formerly Mind Eraser 		Six Flags America 1995 Operating 689m Standard [39]
Nio Greenland 1997 Operating 689m Standard [40]
Nopuko Air Coaster
Formerly Cobra
Formerly Cape Cobras		 Lost Island Theme Park
Ratanga Junction		 2022
1998		 Operating 765m Extended w/ Helix [41] [42]
The Odyssey
Formerly Jubilee Odyssey		 Fantasy Island 2002 Operating Custom [43]
Queen Cobra Asia Park 2017 Operating 689m Standard [44]
Raptor
Formerly Dream Thunder		 Fantasilandia
International Dream Exchange Fair		 2008
1997		 Operating 689m Standard [45] [46]
Roller Coaster Dream Park 1999 Operating 765m Extended w/ Helix [47]
Roller Coaster Mayan Energylandia 2015 Operating 689m Standard [48]
Snow Mountain Flying Dragon Happy Valley Shenzhen 2002 Closed Shenlin [49]
Suspended Looping Coaster Suzhou Amusement Land 2003 Removed 787m Extended [50]
T3
Formerly T2		 Kentucky Kingdom 1995 Removed
Closed 2022		 662m Prototype [3]
The Riddler Revenge
Formerly Mind Eraser		 Six Flags New England 1997 Operating
Renamed 2018		 689m Standard [51]
Thunderhawk
Formerly Serial Thriller		 Michigan's Adventure
Geauga Lake		 2008
1998		 Operating
Closed 2007		 689m Standard [52][53]
Titánide
Formerly Tizona		 Terra Mitica 2003 Operating 689m Standard [54]
Toxic Garden
Formerly Limit		 Heide Park 1999 Operating 689m Standard [55]
Twisted Typhoon
Formerly Hangman		 Wild Adventures 1999 Operating 689m Standard [56]
Vampire Walibi Belgium 1999 Operating 689m Standard [57]
Vortex
Formerly Pusing Lagi		 Siam Amazing Park
Jerudong Park Playground		 2007
1997		 Operating
Closed 2006		 787m Extended [58][59]

Similar roller coasters

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In China, several alternate versions of this ride have been built. One of them is Shenzhou Coaster, an inverted roller coaster at Beijing Shijingshan Amusement Park in Beijing, China. The train and track are similar to the Suspended Looping Coaster design by Vekoma, but the ride was instead designed and manufactured by Beijing Shibaolai Amusement Equipment. There have been several problems with other models with the same layout, most notably bad pacing in parts of the ride. For example, the "Hanging Roller Coaster" at Crab Island stalled before its sidewinder element, stranding 12 people for over 3 hours. Other SLC's in China are sometimes manufactured by Hebei Zhongye Metallurgical Equipment Manufacturing Co. Ltd., which are known for being poorer than the Beijing Shibaolai models. HZM has tried to smooth out the transitions but the rides experience has not improved. None of these models can operate during winds in excess of 15 mph.[60]

References

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  1. ^ a b Marden, Duane. "Condor  (Walibi Holland)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  2. ^ a b c Marden, Duane. "SLC  (662m Prototype)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
  3. ^ a b Marden, Duane. "T3  (Kentucky Kingdom)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
  4. ^ "Roller Coaster Search Results". rcdb.com. Retrieved 2019-09-25.
  5. ^ a b c d Marden, Duane. "Arkham Asylum – Shock Therapy  (Warner Bros. Movie World)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
  6. ^ Marden, Duane. "Roll Over". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
  7. ^ Marden, Duane. "Sidewinder". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
  8. ^ Marden, Duane. "Roller Coaster Search Results - Model = SLC (Custom)". Database Entry. Roller Coaster Database. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
  9. ^ "Parkworld_Magazine_July08". viewer.zmags.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2008-07-18.
  10. ^ "Arkham Asylum - Shock Therapy - Warner Bros. Movie World (Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia)".
  11. ^ Marden, Duane. "SLC". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  12. ^ Marden, Duane. "Batman: The Ride  (Six Flags Mexico)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 13 December 2010.
  13. ^ Marden, Duane. "Blue Tornado  (Gardaland)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 13 December 2010.
  14. ^ Marden, Duane. "Death Rail  (Al Zawraa Land)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  15. ^ Marden, Duane. "Desafío  (Parque de la Costa)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  16. ^ Marden, Duane. "Dragon in Clouds  (Happy Valley)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  17. ^ Marden, Duane. "Ednör - L'Attaque  (La Ronde)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
  18. ^ Marden, Duane. "unknown  (Great Escape)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  19. ^ Marden, Duane. "Serial Thriller  (Six Flags Astroworld)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  20. ^ Marden, Duane. "F2 Fright Flight  (Nasu Highland Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  21. ^ Marden, Duane. "FireWhip  (Beto Carrero World)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
  22. ^ Marden, Duane. "Blackout  (Suzuka Circuit)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  23. ^ Marden, Duane. "Flight Deck  (Canada's Wonderland)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
  24. ^ Marden, Duane. "Gauntlet  (Magic Springs & Crystal Falls)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  25. ^ Marden, Duane. "Golden Wings over the Snowfield  (Happy Valley)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  26. ^ Marden, Duane. "The Great Nor'Easter  (Morey's Piers)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
  27. ^ Marden, Duane. "Hurricane  (Rusutsu Resort)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  28. ^ Marden, Duane. "Infusion  (Blackpool Pleasure Beach)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
  29. ^ Marden, Duane. "Traumatizer  (Southport Pleasureland)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  30. ^ Marden, Duane. "Iron Claw  (Movie Park Germany)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
  31. ^ Marden, Duane. "Jaguar  (Isla Magica)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 6 October 2013.
  32. ^ Marden, Duane. "Kong  (Six Flags Discovery Kingdom)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
  33. ^ Marden, Duane. "Hangman  (Opryland USA)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
  34. ^ Marden, Duane. "Kumali  (Flamingo Land)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  35. ^ Marden, Duane. "Kumba  (Superland)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
  36. ^ Marden, Duane. "Maya Adventure  (Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  37. ^ Marden, Duane. "Mind Eraser  (Darien Lake)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
  38. ^ Marden, Duane. "Mind Eraser  (Elitch Gardens)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
  39. ^ Marden, Duane. "Mind Eraser  (Six Flags America)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
  40. ^ Marden, Duane. "Nio  (Greenland)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  41. ^ Marden, Duane. "Nopuko Air Coaster  (Lost Island Theme Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  42. ^ Marden, Duane. "Cobra  (Ratanga Junction)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  43. ^ Marden, Duane. "Odyssey  (Fantasy Island)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
  44. ^ Marden, Duane. "Queen Cobra  (Asia Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  45. ^ Marden, Duane. "Raptor  (Fantasilandia)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  46. ^ Marden, Duane. "Dream Thunder  (International Dream Exchange Fair)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  47. ^ Marden, Duane. "Roller Coaster  (Dream Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  48. ^ Marden, Duane. "Roller Coaster Mayan  (Energylandia)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  49. ^ Marden, Duane. "Snow Mountain Flying Dragon  (Happy Valley)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  50. ^ Marden, Duane. "Suspended Looping Coaster  (Suzhou Amusement Land)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  51. ^ Marden, Duane. "The Riddler Revenge  (Six Flags New England)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
  52. ^ Marden, Duane. "Thunderhawk  (Michigan's Adventure)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
  53. ^ Marden, Duane. "Thunderhawk  (Geauga Lake)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
  54. ^ Marden, Duane. "Titanide  (Terra Mitica Spain)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
  55. ^ Marden, Duane. "Toxic Garden  (Heide Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  56. ^ Marden, Duane. "Twisted Typhoon  (Wild Adventures)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
  57. ^ Marden, Duane. "Vampire  (Walibi Belgium)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
  58. ^ Marden, Duane. "Vortex  (Siam Amazing Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  59. ^ Marden, Duane. "Pusing Lagi  (Jerudong Park Playground)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  60. ^ Marden, Duane. "Shenzhou Coaster  (Beijing Shijingshan Amusement Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
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