| Shuttle Loop | |
| Imagedimensions: | 250px |
| Status: | Discontinued |
| First Produced: | 1977 |
| Installations: | 12 |
| Manufacturer: | Anton Schwarzkopf |
| Designer: | Werner Stengel & Reinhold Spieldiener |
| Capacity: | 1,300 |
| Vehicle Type: | Roller coaster train |
| Vehicles: | 1 |
| Riders Per Vehicle: | 28 |
| Rows: | 14 |
| Riders Per Row: | 2 |
| Custom Label 1: | Inversions |
| Custom Value 1: | 1 (traversed 2 times, forward and backward) |
| Rcdb Number: | 8192 |
Shuttle Loop is a type of steel launched shuttle roller coaster designed by Reinhold Spieldiener of Intamin and manufactured by Anton Schwarzkopf.[1] A total of 12 installations were produced between 1977 and 1982. These 12 installations have been located in a total of 22 different amusement parks.
The first installation of a Shuttle Loop dates back to 1977 when King Kobra opened at Kings Dominion. Two other rides were also installed that year: White Lightnin' at Carowinds and Tidal Wave at Marriott's Great America (California). Tidal Wave at Marriott's Great America (Illinois) opened in 1978 and was the last to feature the weight drop launch system. Also that year, Knott's Berry Farm opened Montezooma's Revenge and Six Flags AstroWorld opened Greezed Lightnin' as the first installations to feature the flywheel launch system. A number of installations followed across the world.
Twenty-two theme parks have operated Shuttle Loops, with half of the twelve original installations being relocated at some time., only five installations are operating, with another one in storage.[2] The remaining Shuttle Loops were either demolished or used for replacement parts on other installations.
The train is launched out of the station at a speed of between 53mph60mph before passing through a vertical loop and up a 138adj=midNaNadj=mid. Once the momentum of the train runs out on the 70° spike, the train begins to traverse the track backwards, returning through the loop. The train then passes back through the station and goes up another 70° steep spike, which stands at 105feet, until it stalls again and rolls forward back into the brake run and station.[5] [6]
Anton Schwarzkopf designed the Shuttle Loop in the late 1970s. He filed a patent for the concept in 1978 which was approved the following year.[7] The patent describes two launch systems, both of which were implemented in various roller coasters:
Gerstlauer completed an upgrade of Walibi Belgium's installation for the 2013 season. As part of the upgrade Gerstlauer replaced the existing flywheel launch system with a new linear induction motor (LIM) launch system. The company also added a new train. The ride was then completely enclosed and relaunched as Psyké Underground. The flywheel launch system is now displayed in the queue of the ride.[11] [12]
| Name | Park | Opened | Closed | Status | Length | Height | Speed | Launch | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Loop White Lightnin' | Gold Reef City Carowinds | 1989 1977 | 1988 | 863disp=orNaNdisp=or | 138disp=orNaNdisp=or | 57disp=orNaNdisp=or | Weight Drop | [13] [14] | ||
| Greased Lightnin' Tidal Wave | Six Flags Discovery Kingdom California's Great America | 2003 1977 | 2006 2002 | 863disp=orNaNdisp=or | 138disp=orNaNdisp=or | 57disp=orNaNdisp=or | Weight Drop | [15] [16] | ||
| Greezed Lightnin' Viper Tidal Wave | Kentucky Kingdom Six Flags Over Georgia Six Flags Great America | 2003 1995 1978 | 2009[17] 2001 1991 | 863disp=orNaNdisp=or | 138disp=orNaNdisp=or | 57disp=orNaNdisp=or | Weight Drop | [18] [19] [20] | ||
| Katapul Thunder Looper King Kobra King Kobra | Hopi Hari Alton Towers Jolly Roger Amusement Park Kings Dominion | 1999 1990 1987 1977 | 1996 1989 1986 | 722disp=orNaNdisp=or | 138disp=orNaNdisp=or | 53disp=orNaNdisp=or | Weight Drop | [21] [22] [23] [24] | ||
| 1978 | 800disp=orNaNdisp=or | 148disp=orNaNdisp=or | 55disp=orNaNdisp=or | Flywheel | [25] | |||||
| 1980 | 863disp=orNaNdisp=or | 138disp=orNaNdisp=or | 57disp=orNaNdisp=or | Flywheel | [26] | |||||
| Shuttle Loop | 1980 | 2008 | [27] | 863disp=orNaNdisp=or | 138disp=orNaNdisp=or | 57disp=orNaNdisp=or | Flywheel | [28] | ||
| Shuttle Loop | Ōyama Yūenchi | 1980 | 2005 | Flywheel | [29] | |||||
| Shuttle Loop | 1979 | 2002 | 920disp=orNaNdisp=or | 138disp=orNaNdisp=or | 56disp=orNaNdisp=or | Flywheel | [30] [31] | |||
| Psyké Underground Turbine Sirocco | 2013 1999 1982 | 2008 1998 | 722disp=orNaNdisp=or | 138disp=orNaNdisp=or | 53disp=orNaNdisp=or | LIM Flywheel Flywheel | [32] | |||
| [33] [34] [35] Greezed Lightnin' | Joyland Amusement Park Six Flags AstroWorld | 2012 2006 1978 | 2012 2005 | 849disp=orNaNdisp=or | 138disp=orNaNdisp=or | 60mph | Flywheel | [36] [37] [38] | ||
| Indiana Beach Niagara Amusement Park & Splash World La Feria Chapultepec Magico Kennywood | TBA 2022 1994 1980 | 2024 2019 1990 | 876disp=orNaNdisp=or | 139disp=orNaNdisp=or | 54disp=orNaNdisp=or | FlyWheel | [39] [40] [41] [42] |
On August 27, 1997, the Sirocco at Walibi Wavre failed to launch at the correct speed. The train went to the loop very slowly and up the spike, to roll backwards. During the backwards passage of the loop, the train halted at the uppermost point, causing the train to get stuck hanging upside-down. The passengers were hanging heads-down for one hour and twenty minutes, only held in place with lap bar restraints. The train was pulled back further down the track with help of the local fire station brigade.[43]
A 20-year-old woman died on September 1, 2001, one day after riding Montezooma's Revenge, the Shuttle Loop at Knott's Berry Farm. She suffered a ruptured middle cerebral artery, and an autopsy revealed a pre-existing condition. The ride was closed for several days while an investigation was conducted. Though state investigators concluded that the ride did not contribute to her death, a wrongful death lawsuit was later filed by her family in 2002.[44] The lawsuit was dismissed in 2006.[45]