Stealth (roller coaster)
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2013) |
| Stealth | |
|---|---|
 Stealth in 2024 | |
| Thorpe Park | |
| Location | Thorpe Park |
| Park section | Amity Speedway |
| Coordinates | 51°24′18″N 0°30′55″W / 51.405°N 0.515278°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | 15 March 2006 |
| Cost | £12 Million |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Steel – Launched |
| Manufacturer | Intamin |
| Designer | Werner Stengel |
| Model | Accelerator Coaster |
| Lift/launch system | Hydraulic launch track |
| Height | 62.5 m (205 ft) |
| Length | 400.0 m (1,312.3 ft) |
| Speed | 80 mph (129 km/h) |
| Inversions | 0 |
| Max vertical angle | 90° |
| Capacity | 1000 [1] riders per hour |
| G-force | 4.7 |
| Height restriction | 140–196 cm (4 ft 7 in – 6 ft 5 in) |
| Trains | 3 trains with 5 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 20 riders per train. |
| Theme | Speedway |
| Website | Official website |
 Fastrack available | |
 Wheelchair accessible | |
 Must transfer from wheelchair | |
| Stealth at RCDB | |
Stealth is a launched roller coaster in the Amity area of Thorpe Park located in Surrey, England. Built and designed by Intamin of Switzerland for £12 million, the Accelerator Coaster model opened in 2006 as the fastest roller coaster in the UK before being passed by Hyperia in 2024. It is also the third tallest in the UK after Hyperia and the Big One at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.[2] It reaches a height of 62.5 metres (205 ft) and accelerates from 0 to 80 mph (129 km/h).[3] Riders experience a maximum of 4.7 g.[4]
Ride experience
[edit]After the previous train departs, a pre-boarding announcement plays, the train moves from the unload station to the load station and the gates open.
During boarding, the noise of a car engine revving can be heard in the station audio loop.
Once boarding is complete, the train moves slightly forward and backwards to attach to the catch-car.
The brake fins on the launch track retract, the pre-launch countdown plays, and the set of 5 red traffic lights above the train start illuminating one by one. The traffic lights then turn green and the train is launched, rapidly accelerating to 80 mph (130 km/h).
The train goes up the 62.5-metre (205 ft) top hat, turning 90 degrees to the left. After cresting the top hat, it turns 90 degrees back to the right, before reaching the bottom of the top hat and the final airtime hill. After cresting the airtime hill, the train enters the brake run, slowing down before entering the unload station.[5]
The ride's layout is similar to Kingda Ka, although narrower in scope.
During events a different launch announcements are used:
- During Oktoberfest, the countdown is done in German.
- During Fright Nights, a more spooky announcement is used.
Rollbacks
[edit]If the train cannot crest the top hat, it will roll back onto the launch track.
Rollbacks are more common if the train's lubricating oil is cold or during high winds. This can slow the train down and result in it not being able to complete the course.
If this happens, the launch track is equipped with retractable brake fins. They retract before the train launches and re-deploy in stages after it passes over each section of the launch track. When the train rolls back, it will be stopped by the brake fins, reverse back into the station, and try the launch again.[6]
The next train cannot pull into the load station until the train has completely crested the top hat.
2024 revamp
[edit]For the 2024 season, Stealth's station and entrance areas were completely repainted and the theming has been enhanced as part of the Sparkle Project, an ongoing scheme to give the park a facelift.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ https://www.intamin.com/blog/project/stealth/
- ^ "Stealth: Your questions". Stealth.thorpepark.com. August 2005. Archived from the original on 9 July 2006. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
- ^ "Stealth - Thorpe Park (Chertsey, Surrey, England, United Kingdom)". rcdb.com. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
- ^ "The Science of Roller Coasters" (PDF). Thorpe Park. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 January 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
- ^ Stealth at Thorpe Park - POV - Front Row - 4K - 2023, 2 December 2023, retrieved 7 December 2023
- ^ "Stealth rollback (Thorpe park)". YouTube.com. 10 April 2006. Archived from the original on 19 December 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
- ^ "Thorpe Park Shares Project Sparkle Update | Theme Park Guide". themeparkguide.co.uk. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
External links
[edit]
| Amity | |
|---|---|
| Lost City | |
| Old Town | |
| Fearless Valley | |
| Swarm Island | |
| The Jungle | |
| Big Easy Boulevard | |
| The Dock Yard | |
| Former | |
| See also | |
- Operating roller coasters
- Amusement rides introduced in 2006
- Steel roller coasters
- Launched roller coasters
- Roller coasters manufactured by Intamin
- Hypercoasters
- Roller coasters operated by Merlin Entertainments
- Roller coasters in the United Kingdom
- Roller coasters introduced in 2006
- Thorpe Park roller coasters