SkyLoop

SkyLoop
Sky Wheel at Skyline Park in Germany.
Status In Production
First manufactured 2004
No. of installations 10
Manufacturer Maurer Söhne
Vehicle type X-Car
Vehicles 2
Riders per vehicle 6
Rows 6
Riders per row 2
Restraint Style Lap bar
SkyLoop at RCDB

SkyLoop is a type of steel roller coaster manufactured by Maurer Söhne. There are currently 10 SkyLoops operating worldwide; 9 of which are identical XT 150 models with only one being the extended, XT 450 model. The first SkyLoop to open was Sky Wheel in 2004 (XT 150) while the first and only XT 450, Abismo opened in 2006. There are also 3 other models available; XT 900, Custom, and Launch, those have not been built yet.

History

The world's first SkyLoop, Sky Wheel, opened in 2004 and is currently located at Skyline Park in Germany. Sky Wheel is a XT 150 model. This would continue to be the only model of the SkyLoop to be built until 2006 when Abismo at Parque de Atracciones de Madrid in Spain was built. Abismo is a SkyLoop XT 450 (an extension to the XT 150) and continues to be the only XT 450 built until nowadays. Since then, only XT 150's have been built around the world. Maurer Söhne also have 3 additional models of the SkyLoop; XT 900 (extension to XT 150), Custom, and Launch (uses the XT 150 layout where the train gets launched up the lift hill), although until nowadays none have been built.[1][2][3]

Models

The trains used on SkyLoops are the same for all models. The train on Abismo is pictured.

Currently, the SkyLoop consists of 5 models; XT 150, XT 450, XT 900, Custom, and Launch.

XT 150

SkyLoop XT 150 is a short, 492-foot-long (150 m) roller coaster that reaches a maximum height of 171 feet (52 m) (the actual track reaches 164 feet (50 m)) and a top speed of 65 miles per hour (105 km/h). This model also has two inversions and uses a single train featuring 2 X-Cars that seat 6 people each.[4]

After the train departs from the station, it immediately begins to climb the vertical (90 degree) lift hill. Upon reaching the top of the lift, the train turns 45 degrees backwards putting the train and its riders in an upside down position. Then, as the train exits the lift, it goes through a heartline roll before going down the only drop in the layout of the roller coaster. The train speeds through the station going back up the lift. Once it loses momentum the train then returns down passing through the station again. It then proceeds back up the drop and partially into the heartline roll before once again losing momentum and returning to the ground. After passing the station for the third time, the train is stopped near the top of the lift hill. It is then lowered back down to the station where the next riders board the train.[4][5][6][7] The XT 150 has the option of sending riders around a second cycle at the operator's discretion. When the train stops on the lift hill at the end of the ride, instead of lowering slowly back to the station, the chain will raise the car up and send it through the ride again.

XT 450

Abismo is the only installation of an XT 450

SkyLoop XT 450 is a 1,476-foot-long (450 m) roller coaster that reaches a maximum height of 160.7 feet (49.0 m) (the actual track reaches 151.6 feet (46.2 m)) and a top speed of 65 miles per hour (105 km/h). This model is an extension of the XT 150; the beginning is the same. The XT 450 has 4 inversions and also uses a train made up of 2 X-Cars that seat 6 people each.[8]

The roller coaster begins the same way that the XT 150 model does. After the train departs from the station, it immediately begins to climb the vertical (90 degree) lift hill. Upon reaching the top of the lift, the train turns 45 degrees backwards putting the train and its riders in an upside down position. After, as the train exits the lift, it goes through an heartline roll. The train enters the first drop where it reaches its maximum speed of 65 miles per hour (105 km/h) before traversing a tight left overbanked turn. After the turn, the train goes over the only camelback hill followed by another left overbanked turn. The train then follows a flat section of track before going down a small drop leading into the station and back up the lift where the train stops. The train is then lowered back down to the station where the next riders board the ride.[8][9]

XT 900

SkyLoop XT 900 is a concept that has yet to be built. The design of model begins the same way as the XT 150 does as the lift, first inversion, and first drop are all present in both models. Along with the elements from the XT 150 model, the XT 900 includes a series of turns, overbanked turns, a loop, and a cobra roll.[2]

Custom

SkyLoop Custom is a concept that also has yet to be built. The design of this model is based on the SkyLoop XT 150 with an extension of what the particular amusement park wants. Roller coasters of this model can vary from one another.[2]

Launch

SkyLoop Launch is a concept that has also yet to be built. This design can be incorporated with the XT 150, 450, 900, and Custom models as the "launch" takes place where the normal lift would be. The top speed of the launch would be 27 miles per hour (43 km/h) and is driven by linear synchronous motors (LSM). If this concept were to be built, not only would it have the world's highest inversion, but also the world's highest vertical launch.[3]

Installations

Maurer Söhne has built ten SkyLoops as of 2012. Nine are SkyLoop XT 150's while one is a SkyLoop XT 450. The roller coasters are listed in order of opening dates.

NameParkCountryModelOpenedStatus
Sky WheelSkyline ParkGermany GermanyXT 1502004Operating[10]
X-CoasterMagic Springs and Crystal FallsUnited States United StatesXT 150May 27, 2006Operating[nb 1][11][12]
AbismoParque de Atracciones de MadridSpain SpainXT 450June 27, 2006Operating[13]
UkkoLinnanmäkiFinland FinlandXT 150May 27, 2011Operating[14]
Clouds of FairylandWorld JoylandChina ChinaXT 150August 5, 2011Operating[15]
BuzzSawDreamworldAustralia AustraliaXT 150September 17, 2011Operating[16]
Hidden AnacondaHappy Valley (Wuhan)China ChinaXT 150April 29, 2012Operating[17]
Terror TwisterFantawild Adventure (Zhengzhou)China ChinaXT 150October 1, 2012Operating[18]
Terror TwisterFantawild Dream ParkChina ChinaXT 150March 28, 2013Operating[19]
Terror TwisterNantong Adventure LandChina ChinaXT 150March 29, 2013Operating[20]

Similar Rides

Premier Rides have made the Sky Rocket II model like Superman: Ultimate Flight, which is similar to the SkyLoop. In addition, several Chinese SkyLoops have been made.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ The park had considered closing the ride on October 28, 2012, for the expansion of the Crystal Falls water park; however, this has been delayed.

References

  1. ↑ "SkyLoop". Roller Coaster Database. Retrieved November 22, 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 "SkyLoop Custom". Maurer Söhne. Retrieved September 1, 2012.
  3. 1 2 "MAURER SkyLoop Launch" (PDF). Maurer Söhne. Retrieved September 1, 2012.
  4. 1 2 "SkyLoop XT 150 SkyWheel, Allgäu Skyline Park/Germany" (PDF). Maurer Söhne. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  5. ↑ "Sky Wheel Front Seat on-ride HD POV Skyline Park, Germany". wwwCOASTERFORCEcom (YouTube). October 10, 2010. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  6. ↑ "linnanmäki ukko onride POV". behun8 (YouTube). July 6, 2012. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  7. ↑ Siegmeier, Melinda (September 16, 2011). "New Dreamworld ride a real Buzz". Gold Coast Bulletin. Retrieved September 1, 2012.
  8. 1 2 "SkyLoop XT 450 Abismo, Parque de Atracciones/Spain" (PDF). Maurer Söhne. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  9. ↑ "PDAM: ABISMO (POV) Onride official video". parksmania (YouTube). October 10, 2008. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  10. ↑ Marden, Duane. "SkyWheel  (Skyline Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
  11. ↑ Marden, Duane. "X-Coaster  (Magic Springs and Crystal Falls)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
  12. ↑ "Magic Springs Planning New $2 Million Attraction". KARK 4 News. October 8, 2012. Archived from the original on January 17, 2013. Retrieved November 22, 2012.
  13. ↑ Marden, Duane. "X-Coaster  (Parque de Atracciones de Madrid)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
  14. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Ukko  (Linnanmäki)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
  15. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Clouds of Fairyland  (World Joyland)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
  16. ↑ Marden, Duane. "BuzzSaw  (Dreamworld)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
  17. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Hidden Anaconda  (Happy Valley (Wuhan))". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved August 29, 2012.
  18. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Terror Twister  (Fantawild Adventure)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
  19. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Terror Twister  (Fantawild Adventure)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved March 23, 2013.
  20. ↑ Marden, Duane. "Terror Twister  (Nantong Adventure Land)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved March 23, 2013.

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