Originally posted by Freddie
SFMMs deja overhung a hill and I believe was on higher footings (area prone to flood maybe?), so technically it was taller.
Before I ramble I'm not trying to prove you wrong, I've just heard this repeatedly and my inner BS meter has always been majorly tripped by this.
I looked up the topographic map for the SFMM area (Newhall, California if anyone cares. Contour interval is 20ft. You can find the map on hiking trail websites and then preview the map for purchase from the USGS and see the scaling and stuff on the USGS site). It's in a really flat area (for a non-glaciated/lacustrine place) with a contour going right under where the ride is. I did some remedial rise over run on the flat spot and it's.....flat lol. I don't remember the slope of the area it's in but it's pretty minimal. Granted I'm aware you can do a fair amount in a 20ft contour interval topography wise, it just doesn't make sense.
The anti-flooding flash flooding channel thing is right next to the ride for a reason (it's in a low flat spot).
I honestly think they did one of two things with that:
1.) Counted the spinning mechanical assembly at the top when others didn't (doesn't look 15-20ish ft tall but scale can be a buttface so IDK)
2.) Outright lied (SFDK's Vertical Velocity did this too and got busted for it remember)
http://rcdb.com/748.htm?p=1627
Pretty sure it was the second. Supports would be different if it was on a hill like people claim even though it's the opposite of on a hill. Doesn't matter now though because that ride is gone.