Twisted Cyclone Explained

Twisted Cyclone
Location:Six Flags Over Georgia
Coordinates:33.7703°N -84.5522°W
Status:Operating
Year:2018
Previousattraction:Georgia Cyclone
Type:Steel
Manufacturer:Rocky Mountain Construction
Designer:Alan Schilke
Model:I-Box
Lift:Chain
Height Ft:100
Length Ft:2400
Speed Mph:50
Inversions:3
Angle:75
Restriction In:48
Trains:2
Carspertrain:6
Rowspercar:2
Ridersperrow:2
Virtual Queue Name:Flash Pass
Virtual Queue Image:Fastpass availability icon.svg
Virtual Queue Status:Available
Rcdb Number:15457

Twisted Cyclone, formerly known as Georgia Cyclone, is a steel roller coaster located at Six Flags Over Georgia in Austell, Georgia. Manufactured by Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC), the ride opened to the public on May 25, 2018. It features RMC's patented I-Box Track technology and utilizes a significant portion of Georgia Cyclone's former support structure. Originally constructed by the Dinn Corporation, Georgia Cyclone first opened on March 3, 1990.

History

Georgia Cyclone opened as a mirror image of the Coney Island Cyclone on March 3, 1990. It stood ten feet higher than the Coney Island Cyclone at 95feet, had a track length of 2970feet, and reached a top speed of . For the 2012 season, approximately 30 percent of the coaster's track was replaced with Topper Track by Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC), intended to provide an improved ride experience. On July 17, 2017, park officials announced that the attraction would close permanently two weeks later on July 30.[1]

On August 31, 2017, Six Flags Over Georgia announced plans to convert Georgia Cyclone into a steel-hybrid design called Twisted Cyclone, featuring RMC's patented I-Box Track technology. The drop height was raised to, the angle was steepened to 75 degrees, and a total of ten airtime hills and three inversions were added along the ride's course. The trains' theme was modified to represent a 1960s-era sports convertible, and the maximum speed remained unchanged at 50mph.[2] [3] The track was shortened to approximately, and the roller coaster held its grand opening on May 25, 2018.[4]

Ride layout

Georgia Cyclone (1990–2017)

Upon leaving the station, riders made a left hand turnaround into the lift hill, which took the train up to a peak height of 95feet. Riders were immediately sent down a 78.5feet drop at a 53° angle; at the bottom of the drop, riders came close to the track above for a headchopper effect. The train then rose up into the first high-speed U-turn to the right, descended again beneath the lift hill and rising into a camelback airtime hill. The train entered a left-hand turnaround, which was then followed by another airtime hill and third left turnaround. Riders navigated another pair of turns under the structure with a series of smaller hills under the main structure before making a final flat turn over the bottom of the first drop, leading into the brake run. From there, the train passed through the transfer track and made its way into the station. A ride on the Georgia Cyclone lasted approximately 1 minute and 48 seconds.[5]

Twisted Cyclone (2018–present)

Upon leaving the station, the train proceeds through several twisted bunny hills while making a left-hand turnaround into the 100feet lift hill. At the top, riders are released into a drop at 75° and rise into the first of three inversions; a so-called step-up-under-flip. The train sweeps to the right through the turnaround and exit through a barrel roll down drop inversion, which is identical to the first inversion minus the train's direction. The train passes through a wall stall facing away from the lift hill and a hasty turnaround wave turn. Another airtime hill leads to the layout's third and final inversion - a zero-g roll - and a pair of low-ground airtime hills before entering the final left-hand turnaround. Another small airtime hill follows, and riders dip up into the final brake run, which leads back to the station. From dispatch to brake run, one ride on Twisted Cyclone lasts approximately 1 minute and 20 seconds.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Six Flags Over Georgia retiring iconic roller coaster. Helen Oliviero. ajc.com. Cox Newspapers. July 17, 2017 . July 17, 2017.
  2. News: 'Twisted Cyclone,' a wood-steel hybrid coaster, will speed into Six Flags next spring. Williams. Ross. August 31, 2017. Marietta Daily Journal. August 31, 2017.
  3. Web site: Twisted Cyclone Roller Coaster: When Wood Meets Steel. Six Flags Over Georgia. August 31, 2017.
  4. Twisted Cyclone. Six Flags Over Georgia. 15457. May 25, 2018.
  5. Web site: Marden . Duane . Georgia Cyclone - Six Flags Over Georgia (Austell, Georgia, United States) . June 10, 2022 . Roller Coaster DataBase.