List of roller coaster elements
[1] As coaster design evolved with the aid of computer-simulated models, newer innovations produced more intense thrills while improving overall quality and durability.
Older wooden coasters are also more likely to rely on skid brakes,[3] which may still depend on manual engagement at a nearby control panel or by moving large levers in the station.
The term can be misleading as the buzzing sound only occurs on Philadelphia Toboggan Company (PTC) trains when the solenoid that releases the bar is out of alignment.
The Incredible Hulk Coaster at Universal's Islands of Adventure is notable for using drive tires to launch the train up an incline.
When oriented horizontally, drive tires are often put in pairs so as to "squeeze" a portion of the train as it crosses that section of track.
A headchopper is an element where the support structure of the ride or a portion of the track appears to come very close to making contact with passengers, particularly with their heads.
[citation needed] Both headchoppers and foot choppers can appear on Wing Coaster models from Bolliger & Mabillard when the train passes through keyhole elements.
Upon reaching the top, the train is then disengaged from the lift hill and allowed to coast through the rest of the roller coaster's circuit.
Rather than using a standard enclosed spinning rotor and drive wheels, there is a long flat magnetic pole plate with closely spaced electric coils.
[11][12] The term has been used to describe a series of smaller hills typically found near the end of a track's layout, which is a common finale on older wooden coasters.
Examples of these coasters are Nitro at Six Flags Great Adventure, Behemoth at Canada's Wonderland, Diamondback at Kings Island and Mako at SeaWorld Orlando.
Some roller coasters with this element include Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit at Universal Studios Florida, Shock at Rainbow MagicLand, Superman: Ultimate Flight at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, Flying Aces at Ferrari World, Soaring with Dragon at Hefei Wanda Theme Park, DC Rivals Hypercoaster at Warner Bros. Movie World and Tempesto at Busch Gardens Williamsburg.
The element is common on large steel roller coasters, particularly those built by Intamin and Rocky Mountain Construction.
Two examples include the first turn-around on Superman the Ride at Six Flags New England and the overbanked turn that follows the barrel roll on Iron Gwazi at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.
Examples of roller coasters that feature this element include Goliath at Walibi Holland and Thunderbolt at Luna Park.
Leviathan at Canada's Wonderland[18] and Outlaw Run at Silver Dollar City are two roller coasters that feature this element.
Top hats are commonly found on launched coasters, and in a standard configuration, the track twists so that the train does not invert during the ride.
[32] Designed by Maurer Rides GmbH, the element only appears on two X-Car roller coaster models from the company, including G Force that was at Drayton Manor Theme Park.
Examples that feature this element include The Swarm at Thorpe Park, X-Flight at Six Flags Great America, and GateKeeper at Cedar Point.
The focus of the element is keeping the train moving in a straight line, which is accomplished by having the track change in elevation – rising and falling – throughout the inversion.
In an Immelmann loop, riders enter a half-loop followed by a half twist, and then exit the element traveling in the opposite direction making a 180-degree turn.
Examples include: Rougarou at Cedar Point; Riddler's Revenge at Six Flags Magic Mountain; and The Swarm at Thorpe Park.
The in-line twist is often found on flying coasters and wing coasters, such as Galactica at Alton Towers, Batwing at Six Flags America, Superman: Ultimate Flight at Six Flags Over Georgia, Firehawk at Kings Island, Manta at SeaWorld Orlando, Raptor at Gardaland and The Swarm at Thorpe Park.
X² at Six Flags Magic Mountain, Eejanaika at Fuji-Q Highland, and Dinoconda at China Dinosaurs Park are examples of raven turns.
The sea serpent is a roller coaster element with two inversions similar to a cobra roll, but the train enters and exit in the same direction.
[45] Examples featuring this element include Vekoma's Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith located at Disney's Hollywood Studios and The Smiler at Alton Towers.
[48] Two roller coasters that feature this element are Maverick at Cedar Point (United States) and Blue Fire at Europa-Park (Germany).
Early roller coaster designs attempted to incorporate circular vertical loops, resulting in massive g-force that had dangerous effects on riders.
Arrow Dynamics designed several roller coasters with interlocking loops, including Loch Ness Monster at Busch Gardens Williamsburg (1978) and Orient Express at Worlds of Fun (1980).
The stall element is commonly found on Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) installations including Goliath and Wildfire.
