Thunderbird (Holiday World) Explained

Thunderbird
Location:Holiday World & Splashin' Safari
Section:Thanksgiving
Year:2015
Cost:$22 million
Type:Steel
Type2:Wing Coaster
Type3:Launched
Status:Operating
Manufacturer:Bolliger & Mabillard
Model:Wing Coaster
Lift:LSM
Height Ft:140
Length Ft:3035
Speed Mph:60
Inversions:4
Duration:1:18
Capacity:1140
Acceleration From:0
Acceleration Mph:60
Acceleration In:3.5
Restriction In:52-78
Trains:2
Carspertrain:5
Rowspercar:1
Ridersperrow:4
Rcdb Number:12260

Thunderbird is a steel roller coaster located in the Thanksgiving section of Holiday World & Splashin' Safari amusement park in Santa Claus, Indiana. Designed by Bolliger & Mabillard, the ride opened to the public on April 25, 2015, as the eighth Wing Coaster in the world and the fourth in the United States. Thunderbird reaches a maximum speed of 60mph in 3.5 seconds and features a 125adj=midNaNadj=mid vertical loop.

History

On July 24, 2014, Holiday World unveiled that a new steel roller coaster would be added to the park's ride lineup for the 2015 season. The Wing Coaster model, to be called Thunderbird, would become the park's first major steel coaster, as well as the first launched coaster with a wing design in the United States.[1] It was described as having four inversions including a 140adj=midNaNadj=mid Immelmann loop, 125adj=midNaNadj=mid vertical loop, a zero-g roll, and an in-line twist. Another notable aspect mentioned during the unveiling was the pre-show that happens prior to launch, which consists of fog, lighting, and sound effects to simulate a thunderstorm.[2]

The track and supports began arriving at the park the following week.[3] By October, the first two inversions were topped off.[4] The new trains were on display during the 2014 IAAPA Expo.[5] The track layout construction was completed by early December 2014.[6]

Thunderbird officially opened to the public on April 25, 2015. It has been marketed by the park has having the tallest vertical loop of any wing coaster in the world, and the first launched wing coaster in the United States.[7] Prairie Farms Dairy released an ice cream flavor called "Thunderbird" to advertise the new ride, consisting of vanilla ice cream with caramel and roasted pecans.[8]

Ride experience

After loading in the station, the train moves forward and stops. Mist blows in front of the train and thunder sounds as the train launches from 0 to 60mph in 3.5 seconds by linear synchronous motors. The train immediately goes into a 140feet Immelmann loop. After the first element, the train then goes down its first drop into a 125feet vertical loop. After the vertical loop, the train crosses over the valley between The Voyage's second and third hills, goes through an overbanked turn, and then an overbanked elevated spiral in the mirrored direction. The train then goes through a zero-g-roll parallel to The Voyage. After several curves next to The Voyage's triple-down drop and spaghetti bowl, the train dips down into a barn (which is the keyhole) where it then curves left back into the barn by doing an inline twist, crossing over The Voyage's underground tunnels. Once the inline twist ends the train enters the brake run. From the brake run, the track makes a right turn to another set of brakes before entering the station. One cycle of the ride lasts about 1 minute and 18 seconds.

Characteristics

Location

Thunderbird is located in the Thanksgiving theme section of the park along with The Voyage and it runs parallel and crosses over The Voyage twice: after the vertical loop and during the inline twist.[9]

PGAV Destinations is the theming designer for Thunderbird. The designers took the Thunderbird name and coaster design and created a visual theme of the legendary bird’s powerful flight through farms and forests of southern Indiana.[10]

Manufacturer

Thunderbird is a Wing Coaster model manufactured by Swiss roller coaster firm Bolliger & Mabillard. It is Holiday World & Splashin' Safaris first major steel roller coaster. Thunderbird is the eighth Wing Coaster to be built and the fourth in the United States, the others being X-Flight at Six Flags Great America, Wild Eagle at Dollywood and GateKeeper at Cedar Point.[11] [12] Thunderbird is the first Bolliger & Mabillard coaster to utilize an LSM launch. An earlier launched coaster, The Incredible Hulk roller coaster at Islands of Adventure, Universal Orlando, utilizes a pinch-wheel drive system that was designed exclusively for Universal Studios by Universal Creative.[13]

Trains

Thunderbird operates with two open-air steel and fiberglass trains, each with five cars of four seats each, with two on each side of the track. Each train holds 20 riders and the ride has a capacity of about 1,140 riders per hour. Because the seats are on the side of the track, a cantilevered steel arm is used to support the wings.[14]

Track

Thunderbird's steel track is 3035feet long and the tallest part of the ride is the first inversion, an Immelmann loop at 140feet.

Launch system

Every launch requires 2.5 megawatts of power, with the energy being stored in electric generators with two massive 24,000-pound flywheel assemblies.[15] The launch system mechanics are located in a separate building known as Will Power. The name came from the park's former president Will Koch, who died in 2010.[16]

Reception

Thunderbird was ranked in the Amusement Todays Golden Ticket Awards for best new ride of 2015 with 9.5% of the vote, to come in fifth place.

Notes and References

  1. News: Holiday World takes flight with $22M Thunderbird wing coaster. Bill . McCleery . Indianapolis Star . July 24, 2014 . July 26, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140802135545/http://www.indystar.com/story/entertainment/2014/07/24/rumors-explode-holiday-world-mystery-ride/13087023/?from=global&sessionKey=&autologin=. August 2, 2014.
  2. Web site: MacDonald . Brady . Holiday World adds a steel beast to its renowned wooden coaster lineup . . August 11, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160205085508/https://www.latimes.com/travel/themeparks/la-trb-thunderbird-holiday-world-20141103-story.html . February 5, 2016 . November 6, 2014 . live.
  3. Web site: "Orange is the New Track!..." - Holiday World Facebook post.
  4. Web site: Two Inversions Now Complete on Holiday World's Thunderbird Launched Coaster.
  5. Web site: Scott And Carol Present - Holiday World Unveils Thunderbird's Train.
  6. Web site: Holiday World Completes Thunderbird's Track - NewsPlusNotes.
  7. Web site: Thunderbird Launched Wing Coaster . Holiday World . August 11, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240811210725/https://holidayworld.com/web/20240811210725/https://holidayworld.com/rides/thunderbird/ . August 11, 2024 . live.
  8. Web site: Holiday World launches new ice cream flavor.
  9. Web site: Adams. Matt. Holiday World announces new $22 million roller coaster 'Thunderbird'. Fox 59. July 30, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140802135155/http://fox59.com/2014/07/25/holiday-world-announces-new-22-million-roller-coaster-thunderbird/. August 2, 2014.
  10. News: Thunderbird: Holiday World Reveals New Launched Wing Coaster. Blooloop . July 25, 2014 . July 26, 2014.
  11. News: Recap of Cedar Point's GateKeeper announcement . . August 14, 2012 . July 26, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140802135742/http://www.sanduskyregister.com/article/cedar-point/2373156. August 2, 2014.
  12. News: Black. Lisa. Six Flags gets in line for more thrill rides. July 26, 2014. Chicago Tribune. September 3, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110903190815/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-new-roller-coaster-strategy-20110904,0,6269766.story. September 3, 2011 .
  13. Seifert . Jeffrey . 2015 . Willpower brings B&M launched coaster to Holiday World . Amusement Today . 19 . 3 . 30.
  14. Web site: Main. Dalton. Holiday World unveils park's first major steel roller coaster. WDRB. July 30, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140804203124/http://www.wdrb.com/story/26109064/holiday-world-unveils-parks-first-major-steel-roller-coaster. August 4, 2014.
  15. News: Weatherwax . Dave . Streetman . Jonathan . Thunderbird: Out To Launch . August 11, 2024 . Dubois County Herald . April 25, 2015 . https://archive.is/6jiik . August 11, 2024 . live.
  16. Web site: Thunderbird: All it takes is Will Power.