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 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

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. 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

Layouts

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]

NameNumber of installationsFirst installationLast installation
662m Prototype219941995
689m Standard2719952017
765m Extended w/Helix519951999
787m Extended219972007
671m Shenlin220022006
748m Shenlin w/Helix220062009
Custom219952002
4219942017

Trains

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. 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.

Installations

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

NameParkOpenedStatusModelImage
Arkham Asylum – Shock Therapy
Formerly Lethal Weapon - The Ride
Warner Bros. Movie World1995Removed765m Extended w/ Helix[5]
Batman - The RideSix Flags Mexico2000Operating689m Standard[12]
Blue TornadoGardaland1998Operating765m Extended w/ Helix[13]
Condor
Formerly El Condor
Walibi Holland1994Operating662m Prototype[1]
Death RailAl Zawraa Land2015Operating689m Standard[14]
DesafíoParque de la Costa1999Operating689m Standard[15]
Dragon in CloudsHappy Valley Chengdu2009OperatingShenlin 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 FlightNasu Highland Park1995Operating689m Standard[20]
FireWhip
Formerly Blackout
Beto Carrero World
Suzuka Circuit
2008
1995
Operating689m Standard[21][22]
Flight Deck
Formerly Top Gun
Canada's Wonderland1995Operating689m Standard[23]
The GauntletMagic Springs and Crystal Falls2004Operating689m Standard[24]
Golden Wings over the Snowfield
Formerly Golden Wings in Snowfield
Happy Valley Beijing2006OperatingShenlin w/ Helix[25]
The Great Nor'Easter
Formerly Fly the Great Nor'Easter
Morey's Piers1995OperatingCustom[26]
HurricaneRusutsu Resort1996Operating689m 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 Germany2001Operating689m Standard[30]
JaguarIsla Magica1997Operating765m Extended w/ Helix[31]
Kong
Formerly Hangman
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
Opryland USA
1998
1995
Operating
Closed 1997
689m Standard[32][33]
KumaliFlamingo Land2006OperatingShenlin[34]
KumbaSuperland2001Operating689m Standard [35]
Maya Adventure
Formerly Mayan Adventure
Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village1997Operating689m Standard[36]
Mind EraserSix Flags Darien Lake1997Operating689m Standard[37]
Mind EraserElitch Gardens1997Operating689m Standard[38]
Mind EraserSix Flags America1995Closed689m Standard[39]
NioGreenland1997Operating689m Standard[40]
Nopuko Air Coaster
Formerly Cobra
Formerly Cape Cobras
Lost Island Theme Park
Ratanga Junction
2022
1998
Operating765m Extended w/ Helix[41] [42]
The Odyssey
Formerly Jubilee Odyssey
Fantasy Island2002OperatingCustom[43]
Queen CobraAsia Park2017Operating689m Standard[44]
Raptor
Formerly Dream Thunder
Fantasilandia
International Dream Exchange Fair
2008
1997
Operating689m Standard[45] [46]
Roller CoasterDream Park1999Operating765m Extended w/ Helix[47]
Roller Coaster MayanEnergylandia2015Operating689m Standard[48]
Snow Mountain Flying DragonHappy Valley Shenzhen2002ClosedShenlin[49]
Suspended Looping CoasterSuzhou Amusement Land2003Removed787m Extended[50]
T3
Formerly T2
Kentucky Kingdom1995Removed
Closed 2010; Reopened as T3 in 2015
662m Prototype[3]
The Riddler Revenge
Formerly Mind Eraser
Six Flags New England1997Operating
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 Mitica2003Operating689m Standard[54]
Toxic Garden
Formerly Limit
Heide Park1999Operating689m Standard[55]
Twisted Typhoon
Formerly Hangman
Wild Adventures1999Operating689m Standard[56]
VampireWalibi Belgium1999Operating689m Standard[57]
Vortex
Formerly Pusing Lagi
Siam Amazing Park
Jerudong Park Playground
2007
1997
Operating
Closed 2006
787m Extended[58][59]

Similar roller coasters

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

  1. 1 2 Marden, Duane. "Condor  (Walibi Holland)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 Marden, Duane. "SLC  (662m Prototype)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
  3. 1 2 Marden, Duane. "T3  (Kentucky Kingdom)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
  4. "Roller Coaster Search Results". rcdb.com. Retrieved 2019-09-25.
  5. 1 2 3 4 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.
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  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.
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