Eejanaika (roller coaster)

Eejanaika
Fuji-Q Highland
Coordinates 35°29′18″N 138°46′51″E / 35.48842°N 138.780842°E / 35.48842; 138.780842Coordinates: 35°29′18″N 138°46′51″E / 35.48842°N 138.780842°E / 35.48842; 138.780842
Status Operating
Opening date July 19, 2006
Cost 3,500,000,000 Yen ($31,601,283 USD)
General statistics
Type Steel – 4th Dimension
Manufacturer S&S Arrow
Model 4th Dimension Coaster
Lift/launch system Chain lift hill
Height 249.33 ft (76.00 m)
Length 3,782.83 ft (1,153.01 m)
Speed 78.3 mph (126.0 km/h)
Inversions 3 track inversions (14 including seat inversions)
Max vertical angle 90°
Capacity 1000 riders per hour
Height restriction 130 cm (4 ft 3 in)
Eejanaika at RCDB
Pictures of Eejanaika at RCDB

Eejanaika (ええじゃないか) is a steel 4th Dimension Hypercoaster at Fuji-Q Highland in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, Japan. The ride was the world's second 4th Dimension coaster. Eejanaika is taller, faster, and longer than its predecessor, X2 at Six Flags Magic Mountain.[1]

The roller coaster, designed by S&S Arrow, is a "4th Dimension" coaster, a design in which the seats can rotate forward or backward 360 degrees in a controlled spin. This is achieved by having four rails on the track: two of these are running rails while the other two are for spin control. The two rails that control the spin of the seats move up and down relative to the track and spin the seats using a rack and pinion gear mechanism.

Eejanaika has the second "え" turned upside down for the roller coaster's official spelling. Eejanaika has several meanings, but means "Ain't it great!" According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Eejanaika is the roller coaster with the most inversions in the world, although The Smiler at Alton Towers has 14 inversions also. Throughout the ride, the riders go through 14 inversions. However, most of these inversions are accomplished by spinning the seats rather than actually inverting the track.

The track itself only inverts three times -

  • Inside raven turn (½)
  • full-full/zero-g roll (1)
  • fly to lie (½)
  • outside raven turn (½)
  • half camelback twist (½)

This has led to some controversy in the roller coaster enthusiast community concerning the legitimacy of Eejanaika's claim. The Roller Coaster DataBase does not acknowledge these seat inversions for the purpose of record-holding.[2]

See also

  • Alan Schilke, the inventor of the 4th Dimension roller coaster concept

Notes

  1. ↑ Kikuchi, Sally, "Year-round playground Yamanashi", Japan Times, 4 September 2011, p. 10.
  2. ↑
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