Holiday World Adds a Launched WingRider - Pics and Video!

[Coasterkidmwm]

coasterdave wrote:

Magnum is only bad when it sets up (hard stops)

Yeah I almost hit my forehead on the row in front of me and then some ratchets were in hysterics behind me because they thought they were gonna die when we were sitting on the brakes for 5 minutes while they cleared the error.

This video was absolutely moving. Will Koch was such an inspiring person, and he always seemed to have the biggest smile on his face regardless of what was going on. Such a bright spirit, and while I do have my opinions on how some of the management has been handled since his unfortunate passing, It's amazing to know my home park is in the best hands possible. The video also includes the original plans for the B&M Invert. The newest Holiblog was such a good one, I have to post the whole thing that the coolest park PR person on the planet Paula Werne wrote:

When we announced Thunderbird nearly nine months ago (I??????ll refrain from any ??????giving birth?????? jokes, for now anyway), it was the start of an incredible journey.

At the same time, it was the last high-banked turn in a much longer journey ?????? the realization of a decade-long dream to add a remarkable steel roller coaster to Holiday World??????s line-up.

Will??????s dream.

At our announcement in July, the crowd of a thousand or more made their approval known quite enthusiastically when Will??????s daughters, Lauren and Leah, announced we would name Thunderbird??????s ??????flywheel building?????? the Will Power building in honor of their dad, who passed away unexpectedly in 2010.

The time has come to put up the sign.


Leah, Lauren and the Will Power sign

That??????s Leah on the left and Lauren on the right in the photo above. They want to share a bit more of their dad??????s legacy, including a look at the designs he??????d worked on for a steel roller coaster back in 2008. We??????ll also travel back a decade for Will??????s unscripted response when asked during a CoasterBuzz podcast what he would want his legacy to be.

Will always got a big kick out of replacing our test dummies for the first live test rides of any new roller coaster, water coaster ?????? or, really, any ride at all.

??????It??????s tradition!?????? he??????d proclaim.

And so, when son and namesake William was available to dash home from his university studies on a recent day, the family took their first ride on Thunderbird.


Koch Family's First Thunderbird Ride

It was a glorious day, as the sun was setting and Thunderbird launched into the sky over and over. In the picture above, we see William, Lauren, mom Lori, and Leah as they complete their first flight together.

Will??????s true legacy.

[Paradox]

That a great video.

Good thing they didn't go with the invert. It did look a bit boring with only 2 inversions it looked like.

They still stay strong!

Really hope the snap is strong on the ends. As for that invert, it seems like it would be the shortest ever built but could be pretty fun.

[Paradox]

Family-owned parks are always the best IMO. They have a vibe you just can't get at your average Six Flags park.

Awesome video, I love the story behind Thunderbird coming to be. I really think the invert layout that was shown was probably the park going to B&M with a low budget figure and them being like 'well this is how much coaster it'll buy you.'

[mkingy]

Great video! I love how they've documented this whole thing - really gives a good insight (and has probably drawn a lot more people into the world of us enthusiasts!)

Paradox wrote:

Family-owned parks are always the best IMO. They have a vibe you just can't get at your average Six Flags park.

Yeah, true in all walks of life I think. Smaller outfit = less layers of management = management actually knows the people they're working for/with = much more personal experience!

Honestly the B&M Invert looked like a dud.

[Paradox]

Rickrollercoaster wrote:

Honestly the B&M Invert looked like a dud.

Curved drop
Dive loop into a trench
Zero-g roll
Helix
Camelback
Helix
Brakes

Good thing they went with Thunderbird instead.

[TTD03]

Great video and post Rick!

Thunderbird's testing right now and it's got some cool lights going on the trains

^Thanks for the heads up. Thunderbird's pacing really does look better than its predecessors.

CoasterGuy2000 wrote:

Thunderbird's testing right now and it's got some cool lights going on the trains

http://www.holidayworld.com/webcams/thunderbirdcam/

[Paradox]

That airtime hill looks pretty decent.

Forward POV please!

[Paradox]

You gotta admit this ride hauls.

[TTD03]

Looks a bit shaky though in the car behind the camera. Hope its not rattly.

^Wing rider POVs always seem this way. I think that the camera is not mounted to the center of the train contributes. Look at Gatekeeper's official POV lol.

Paradox wrote:

You gotta admit this ride hauls.

not really....
the only time I thought that was in the zero g roll

TTD03 wrote:

Looks a bit shaky though in the car behind the camera. Hope its not rattly.

I noticed that too, hope its just the POV's and not the actual ride.
From what I remember from Gatekeeper, it was pretty smooth, but I was sitting in the front, so I don't know if row position has an effect.

In my experience Gatekeeper is smooth in the front and back, but notably at the base of the first drop you can catch some slight vibration (also surprisingly forceful here). Back left is by far and away the superior place to ride Gatekeeper IMO and hopefully I'll be able to determine if I feel the same about Thunderbird before too long.

[Paradox]

Today is early rider preview day! The official opening date is this Saturday, but some guests were able to ride it. Here is a complete POV from before the area was complete. I can't wait for the trees to grow in!

From what I've been hearing, the reception to Thunderbird had been mostly positive (which is great news ), but I've also heard that The Voyage will be coming to a complete stop on the mid-course brakes all season long. That's unfortunate.

VF15 wrote:

From what I've been hearing, the reception to Thunderbird had been mostly positive (which is great news ),

No reason not to buy a ticket now.

VF15 wrote:

but I've also heard that The Voyage will be coming to a complete stop on the mid-course brakes all season long. That's unfortunate.