Social liberalism and Kingda Ka: Difference between pages

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{{Infobox roller coaster
{{Liberalism sidebar |expanded=all}}
| name = Kingda Ka
| image = Kingda Ka.jpg
| caption = Looking at Kingda Ka from launch track
| location = Six Flags Great Adventure
| coordinates = {{coord|40|08|23|N|74|26|5|W|region:US-NJ_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| section = The Golden Kingdom
| type = Steel
| type2 = Launched
| opened = {{Start date|2005|05|21}}
| status = Open
| manufacturer = Intamin AG
| model = [[Accelerator Coaster]]
| designer = [[Werner Stengel]]
| lift = [[Launched roller coaster#Hydraulic|Hydraulic launch]]
| colors = Green and Light Blue
| cost = $25,000,000 USD
| capacity = 1400
| length_ft = 3118
| height_ft = 456
| inversions = 0
| drop_ft = 418
| speed_mph = 128
| duration = 50 seconds
| gforce = approx. 4-5
| angles to pay = 90
| acceleration_mph = 128
| acceleration_in = 3.5
| restriction = 54
| rcdb_number = 2832
}}


'''''Kingda Ka''''' is a [[roller coaster]] located at [[Six Flags Great Adventure]] in [[Jackson Township, New Jersey]], [[United States|USA]]. At its opening on [[May 21]], [[2005]], it became the [[List of roller coaster records#Height records|tallest]] and [[List of roller coaster records#Speed records|fastest]] roller coaster in the world, claiming the title from [[Top Thrill Dragster]] at [[Cedar Point]]. The train is launched by a [[Accelerator Coaster#how it works|hydraulic launch mechanism]] to 128 miles per hour (206 km/h) in 3.5 seconds.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.sixflags.com/greatAdventure/rides/Kingdaka.aspx |title= Kingda Ka: Great Adventure |publisher=[[Six Flags]] |accessdate=2007-08-22}}</ref> At the end of the [[launch track]], the train climbs the main [[Roller coaster elements#Top hat|top hat]] tower reaching a height of 456 feet (139.5 m).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rcdb.com/id2832.htm |title=Kingda Ka (Six Flags Great Adventure) |accessdate=2007-08-22}}</ref> Due to [[Aircraft warning lights|aviation safety]] concerns, the tower is equipped with three dual strobes: 2 mid-way up, and one on the top.
'''Social liberalism''', also called '''new liberalism'''<ref name="neoliberalism">Not to be confused with [[neoliberalism]], a very different concept which has a similar name[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_liberalism#Social_liberalism_versus_neoliberalism]</ref><ref name="shaver">{{cite journal |author=Shaver, Sheila |title=Liberalism, Gender and Social Policy |journal=EconPapers |month=July |year=1997 |url=http://www.sprc.unsw.edu.au/dp/dp068.pdf |format=[[PDF]]}}</ref> (as it was originally termed), '''high liberalism'''<ref name="Freeman">Freeman, S. (2001). Illiberal libertarians: Why libertarianism is not a liberal view. ''Philosophy and Public Affairs, 30''(2), 105-151.</ref> '''radical liberalism''',<ref name="gary">{{cite journal |author=Marks, Gary and Wilson, Carole |title=The Past in the Present: A Cleavage Theory of Party Response to European Integration |journal=British Journal of Political Science |volume=30 |pages=433–459 |month=July |year=2000 |url=http://www.utdallas.edu/~cjwilson/prof/BJPS00.pdf |format=[[PDF]] |doi=10.1017/S0007123400000181}}</ref> '''modern liberalism''',<ref name="richardson">{{cite book |last=Richardson |first=James L. |title=Contending Liberalisms in World Politics: Ideology and Power |publisher=Lynne Rienner Publishers |year=2001 |id=155587939X |location=Colorado}}</ref> or in North America and the United Kingdom simply '''liberalism''', is a branch of [[liberalism]] which seeks the power of the state to emphasize modern liberal ideology upon the populace.


==History==
'''Social liberalism''' may also refer, as it usually does in North American media, simply to support for educational reform, [[civil rights]], [[human rights]], and [[civil liberties]]. In this sense, one could be socially liberal and economically conservative (often referred to as [[economic liberalism]]), as is the case with those called variously [[classical liberalism|classical liberals]], [[neoliberalism|neoliberals]], [[libertarians]], and [[conservative liberalism|conservative liberals]]/[[liberal conservatism|liberal conservatives]]. This article deals with the first sense of Social Liberalism as a political ideology that is moderately to the left economically as well as socially, so that it has often been referred to, especially by those on the right, as '''left-liberalism'''.{{Fact|date=September 2008}}
''Kingda Ka'' was officially announced on [[September 29]], [[2004]], at an event held for the media and enthusiasts.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thrillnetwork.com/stories_view.php/662 |title=Kingda Ka: The Media Event |date=[[October 12]],[[2004]] |accessdate=2007-09-01}}</ref> It was revealed that the ride would become "the tallest and fastest roller coaster on earth", reaching {{convert|456|ft|m|0}} high and accelerating up to {{convert|128|mi/h|km/h|0}} in 3.5 seconds.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rcdb.com/document132.htm |title=Six Flags Great Adventure will launch the tallest, fastest roller coaster on earth |date=[[September 29]],[[2004]]}}</ref> it the size of 800 coks formed together
On [[January 13]], [[2005]], Kingda Ka was topped off at its {{convert|456|ft|m|adj=on}} height, finishing construction.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/sixflags/20958/ |title= Six Flags Makes History as it Completes the Tallest, Fastest Roller
Coaster on Earth's 45-story Tower |date=[[January 14]], [[2005]] |accessdate=2008-03-30}}</ref> Over [[May 21, 2005|four months later]], Kingda Ka opened to the public, [[News media|media day]] being two days before, on [[May 19]].


Kingda Ka was originally supposed to open on Saturday, [[April 23]], [[2005]], but on [[April 18]], [[2005]], [[Six Flags]] announced that Kingda Ka's opening would be delayed; media day would have been on [[April 21]]. <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thrillnetwork.com/stories_view.php/975/opening_kingda_ka_delayed.html |title=Opening of Kingda Ka delayed |date=[[April 20]], [[2008]] |accessdate=2008-03-30}}</ref>
Social liberals support a highly taxed mixed economy of mainly private enterprise with some state provided, guaranteed, or regulated public services. For example, some social liberals defend obligatory universal health insurance, with the state providing basic health insurance to the poorest of society, if not all citizens.
Before Kingda Ka was built, Cedar Point's [[Top Thrill Dragster]] was the tallest and fastest roller coaster on the planet.


During a test run with no passengers on [[June 8]], 2005, a bolt failure caused damage to the launch cable resulting in closure of the ride until August 2005, and the reconfiguration of the [[Queue area|line area]].
Like all liberals, social liberals believe in [[individual freedom]] as a central concept. They expect legitimate governments to provide a basic level of health, education, and welfare or workfare. These services are expected to be supported by taxation and intended to secure economic opportunities for all, enable the best use of the talents of the population, prevent revolution, or simply for the perceived public good. Social liberals accept some restrictions in economic affairs, such as minimum-wage laws, regulatory bodies, and [[anti-trust]] laws to combat economic monopolies. Moreover, the accumulation of wealth by a small group is seen as the consolidation of power within a small faction of society and perforce a threat to liberty.<ref name="hobhouse">{{cite book |last=Hobhouse |first=L. T. |title=Liberalism and Other Writings |publisher=Cambridge University Press |id=0521437261 |year=1994 |location=Cambridge}}</ref><ref name="McGowan"/>


===Major malfunctions===
"Social Liberal" has been used as a label by European [[progressivism|progressive]] [[liberal parties]] in order to differentiate themselves from [[conservative liberalism|conservative]] or [[classical liberal]] parties, especially when there are two or more liberal parties in a country. However, like many party labels the label "Social Liberal" does not necessarily mean a party bearing it is progressive.
[[Image:Kingda Ka tower.jpg|thumb|upright|Kingda Ka's tower]]
On [[June 6]], [[2005]], less than a month after its grand opening, a bolt failure caused the liner inside the trough that the launch cable travels through to come loose and create [[friction]] against the cable. The friction caused the train not to [[accelerate]] to the correct speed. The rubbing of the cable against the inside of the metal trough caused sparks and shards of metal to fly out from the bottom of the train. The [[engine]], as it is designed, attempted to compensate by applying more [[force]] to the cable to attain the 128 mph (206 km/h) launch speed.


The [[brake]] fins&mdash;metal fins attached to the underside of some roller coaster cars that slide between brakes mounted to the track<ref>[http://www.geocities.com/RollerCoasterTalk/definitions.html#L Roller Coaster Talk: Definitions of Commonly Used Terms<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>&mdash;rise up into the braking position on a timing pattern, independent of the launching mechanism. The fins are mounted in steel supports that are connected to [[actuators]] that raise and lower the fins into the desired position. There are four braking zones, and each zone has about 24 individual brake fins. The fins actually caught up to the launching train as the timing pattern of the rising fins was faster than the accelerating train. The magnetic brakes began to slow the train in the launch area, and the engine tried to compensate even more, and dragged the train through the brake zones. The catch car released, but the train was still in the brake zone and came to a complete stop at the bottom of the hill.
Cultural aspects of social liberalism is also considered [[cultural liberalism]]. Cultural liberalism is not concerned with society aspects of social liberalism, such as economy and government services.


This malfunction occurred when no passengers were aboard during a test run. No injuries or deaths occurred. Damage occurred to the launch cable (frayed and needed to be replaced), engine (minor routine damage to seals), and brake fins (many needed to be replaced). The brake fins in the launch section are mounted in such a way to keep fast moving trains from moving backwards into the station, but a fast moving train being pulled forwards caused an unexpected stress on a number of fins that bent them forward. Not all of the fins needed to be replaced, but there were more damaged brake fins than Six Flags had replacements, and extra brake fins had to be specially ordered from Intamin. In addition, Kingda Ka had to be re-inspected. Kingda Ka started testing on [[July 21]], [[2005]]. It reopened on [[August 4]], [[2005]], with the [[Queue area|line]] modified so that it no longer ran under the [[launch track]].<ref name="about"/> The dark blue train was being launched when the malfunction occurred. It was used for the rest of the season, but major problems requiring replacement parts were discovered when the train was inspected during the off-season. Consequently, this train remained disassembled throughout the 2006 season.
==The birth of social liberalism==


==Ride experience==
In Britain, in the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century, a group of thinkers known as the New Liberals made a case against laissez-faire [[classical liberalism]] and in favor of state intervention in social, economic, and cultural life. The New Liberals, who included [[John Stuart Mill]] (who combined elements of the old liberalism and the new), [[Thomas Hill Green|T.H. Green]], [[Leonard Trelawny Hobhouse|L.T. Hobhouse]], and [[John A. Hobson]], saw individual liberty as something achievable only under favorable social and economic circumstances.<ref name="adams">{{citation |last=Adams |first=Ian |title=Political Ideology Today (Politics Today) |publisher=Manchester University Press |isbn=0719060206 |date=2001 |location=Manchester}}</ref>
After the [[train (roller coaster)|train]] has been locked and checked, it slowly advances out of the station to the launch area. The train goes through a switch track which allows 4 trains on two tracks to load simultaneously. Once the train is in position, the [[Accelerator Coaster#How it works|hydraulic launch mechanism]] rockets the train from 0 to 128 miles per hour (0 to 206 km/h) in 3.5 seconds,<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.sixflags.com/greatAdventure/rides/Kingdaka.aspx |title= Kingda Ka: Great Adventure |publisher=[[Six Flags]] |accessdate=2007-08-22}}</ref> pulling about 1.67 ''[[g-force|g]]''. At the end of the [[launch track]], the train climbs the main tower, or [[Roller coaster elements#Top hat|top hat]], twisting 90 degrees to the left before reaching a height of {{convert|456|ft|m}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rcdb.com/id2832.htm |title=Kingda Ka (Six Flags Great Adventure) |accessdate=2007-08-22}}</ref> The train then descends {{convert|418|ft|m}} straight down through a 270-degree spiral. Finally, the train climbs the second hill of {{convert|128|ft|m}}, producing a moment of weightlessness before being smoothly brought to a stop by the [[brake run#Magnetic brakes|magnetic brakes]]. The train then makes a U-turn and enters the station. The ride lasts 28 seconds from the start of the launch to the end of the brake run, but has an "official" ride time of 50.6 seconds.


The hydraulic launch motor is capable of producing 20,800 [[horsepower]] (15.5 MW) peak. Due to the high speed and open nature of the trains, this ride will not operate in light rain, as rider contact with rain drops can cause discomfort.<ref name="about">{{cite web |url=http://themeparks.about.com/od/sixflagsarticles/a/KingdaMalfuncti.htm |title=Kingda Ka malfunction- Why Six Flags Great Adventure's roller coaster is not operating |accessdate=2007-08-22 |last=Levine |first=Arthur |publisher=[[About.com]]}}</ref>
The poverty, squalor, and ignorance in which many people lived made it impossible in their view for freedom and individuality to flourish and the New Liberals believed that these conditions could be ameliorated only through collective action coordinated by a strong welfare-oriented interventionist state<ref>The Routledge encyclopaedia of philosophy, p.599</ref>.


===Rollbacks and launch===
It was the [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]] governments of [[Henry Campbell-Bannerman]] and then [[Herbert Henry Asquith|H.H. Asquith]] in the 1900s that laid the foundations of the welfare state in the UK before the First World War (see [[Liberal reforms]]). The comprehensive welfare state built in UK after the Second World War, although work of the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]], was largely designed by two liberals, [[John Maynard Keynes]], who laid the economic foundations, and [[William Beveridge]], who designed the welfare system.<ref name="adams"/>
[[Image:Kingda Ka rollback sign.jpg|thumb|upright|Sign warning riders that a [[Rollback (roller coaster)|rollback]] can occur.]]
Sometimes, it is possible for a [[Train (roller coaster)|train]] to [[rollback (roller coaster)|roll back]]&mdash;to fail to reach the top of the tower and descend. The train instead reaches as high on the tower as it can go (in most cases to the very top), and rolls back. Kingda Ka includes retractable brakes on its [[launch track]] that will bring a train rolling backwards down the tower to a stop. Rollbacks are more common in breezy weather, or just after wet weather. Many riders look forward to a rollback.


It is hard to know exactly when Kingda Ka's launch will occur. When the signal to launch is given, the train rolls back slightly to engage the catch car, then the brakes on the launch track retract. Most times there will be a voice that says "arms down, head back and hold on". The launch will occur five seconds after the "hiss" of the brakes retracting or the warning voice. Previously, Kingda Ka's horn sounded before every launch, but it has been turned off because of noise complaints from nearby residents. The horn now sounds only when Kingda Ka first launches after being idle for a certain period of time. Kingda Ka's launch mechanism is capable of launching a train every 45 seconds resulting in a capacity of 1000 guests per hour.
==Social liberalism versus classical liberalism==


===Camera===
[[Classical liberalism]] believes that the provision of [[Negative and positive rights|negative freedom]] constitutes liberty and is therefore a strictly [[laissez-faire]] philosophy. Social liberalism, however, sees a role for the State in providing [[positive liberty]] for individuals.<ref name="McGowan">McGowan, J. (2007). ''American Liberalism: An Interpretation for Our Time''. Chapel Hill, NC: North Carolina University Press.</ref> They believe that lack of positive rights, such as economic opportunity, education, health-care, and so on can be considered to be threats to liberty.<ref name="shaver"/>
[[Image:Kingda Ka Ride Photo Camera 2.jpg|thumb|right|A ride photo from the 2nd camera]]
Kingda Ka features two [[on-ride camera]]s. One is placed shortly after the beginning of the launch, the other is at the end of the [[brake run]], resulting in "before" and "after" photographs. Since both cameras are located on the right side of the track, riders intending to purchase their on-ride photo are advised to sit in the right-hand seat.


===Station===
[[Classical liberal]]s such as [[Nozick]], [[Mises]], [[Hayek]] and others reject social liberalism as a true liberalism. For these authors, government has no duty to intervene in society to aid the disadvantaged as this means taking wealth from others (as taxes). They also consider that interfering in the market is destroying freedom and doing this to make people free is self-contradictory.<ref name="adams"/>
[[Image:Kingda Ka switch track.jpg|thumb|Kingda Ka's switch track at the station's exit]][[Image:Kingda Ka from parking lot.jpg|thumb|right|Kingda Ka's second hill.]]
Kingda Ka's station has two parallel tracks with switch tracks at the entrance and exit. Each of the station's tracks accommodates two trains, so that each of the four trains has its own station. Each train only loads and unloads at its own station; it does not go to any others. During operation, the trains on one side are loaded while the trains on the other side are launched. This system works extremely efficiently as long as all four trains are running and there are no significant delays in loading and checking the trains. This system was not used at all in 2006 because only two trains were working that year. It also results in a very fast-moving [[line]] before the station, but a long wait inside the station, especially if waiting for the front row. An employee directs riders in line to go to a particular side of the station, but riders will then be able to choose the front or rear of the train. Two operators load, check and dispatch each train, and one launches the trains. Kingda Ka's music is by [[Safri Duo]], their entire [[Episode II (Album)|Episode II]] album is played in the queue and station.


===Trains===
==Social liberalism versus conservative liberalism==
Kingda Ka's four trains are color coded for easy identification: green, dark blue, light blue (commonly called teal) and orange. These four colors are also used on the seats and restraints. Kingda Ka's trains seat 18 people, with two per row. The rear car has one row, while the rest have two. The rear row of each car is positioned higher than its front row for better visibility. The trains do not have official names, only numbers.
Both share the concern with the freedom of the individual, but while social liberalism is appropriate for describing some liberal parties that are left-of-centre on economic issues and support a broad interpretation of democratic rights, [[Conservative liberalism]] emphasizes [[economic freedom]] and tends to be right of center. For example, Conservative liberal parties, such as the Dutch [[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy]] and the German [[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|Free Democratic Party]] adopt an economically conservative agenda, advocating a minimal role for the state in the economy.<ref name="gary"/> Some authors, like Merquior, also claim that conservative liberalism is based on the concept of negative liberty - ("where there is no law there is no transgression"), moral pluralism, progress, individualism, and accountable government, while social liberalism focuses both on the illegitimacy of a tyrannical government that uses prerogative power and on the social conditions that make such tyrannical government possible.<ref name="merquior">{{cite book |last=Merquior |first=J.G. |title=Liberalism Old and New |publisher=Twayne Publishers |id=0805786279 |year=1991 |location=Boston}}</ref>


The dark blue train was being launched when 2005's major malfunction (see above) occurred, and problems stemming from this malfunction were discovered in the train's off-season rehab, putting this train out of service throughout the 2006 season. As a result, Kingda Ka only ran two trains for the whole year. The teal and green trains ran from the start of the season until late July, and the teal and orange trains ran for the rest of the season. Kingda Ka opened for the 2007 season with all four trains running.<ref>[http://gadvupdates.com/forums/index.php?page=55 Off-Season Tour & Wiggles World 3-1-07<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
==Social liberalism versus neo-liberalism==
Social liberalism is very different from the ambiguous term [[neoliberalism]], a name given to various proponents of the [[free market]]s and also to some [[conservatism|conservative]] opponents of free markets, such as mercantilistic conservatives, in the late 20th century's global economy. Neoliberalism has been used to describe the [[economic liberalism|liberal economic ]] policies of [[Ronald Reagan]] and [[Margaret Thatcher]]<ref name="adams"/>. As a body of thought, neoliberalism advocates positions contrary to many of those taken by social liberals, especially with regard to the former's commitments to free trade and dismantling of government "social" program<ref name="Liberalism is the best Cure for Poverty">{{citation |last=Verhofstadt |first=Dirk |title=Liberalism is the best Cure for Poverty |url=http://www.liberales.be/cgi-bin/en/showframe.pl?essay&verhofstadtucos |accessdate=2008-08-17}}</ref>.


Each of Kingda Ka's trains has a [http://amusementpics.com/KK/051705-358.jpg panel] behind the last row of seats that covers an extra row of seat mounts. These panels could be removed for the installation of additional seats at some future time. This modification would increase the capacity of each train to from 18 to 20 guests and the hourly capacity of the coaster from 1400 to 1600 guests per hour. Kingda Ka's station is already set up for this modification; it has the entrance gates for the currently nonexistent row of seats.
==Social liberalism versus social democracy==
The basic ideological difference between social liberalism and [[social democracy]] lies in the role of the State in relation to the individual.


While this modification has not yet been done, the trains were slightly modified for the 2006 season - the nose of each train got a new coat of paint, after which the large "Kingda Ka" logo and the train number decals were not put back on the trains. The non-padded portions of the restraints are now bare metal rather than painted orange.
Social liberals value liberty, rights, freedoms, and private property as fundamental to individual happiness, and regard democracy as an instrument to maintain a society where each individual enjoys the greatest amount of liberty possible (subject to the [[Harm Principle]]). Hence, democracy and parliamentarianism are mere political systems which legitimize themselves only through the amount of liberty they promote, and are not valued ''per se''. While the State does have an important role in ensuring positive liberty, social liberals tend to trust that individuals are usually capable in deciding their own affairs, and generally do not need deliberate steering towards happiness.


===Seat restraints===
Social democracy, on the other hand, has its roots in [[socialism]], and (especially in democratic socialist forms) typically favours a more community-based view. While social democrats also value individual liberty, they do not believe that real liberty can be achieved for the majority without transforming the nature of the State itself. Having rejected the revolutionary approach of [[Marxism]], and choosing to further their goals through the democratic process instead, social democrats nevertheless retain a strong skepticism for [[capitalism]], which they believe needs to be regulated (or at least "managed") for the greater good. This focus on the greater good may, potentially, make social democrats more ready to step in and steer society in a direction that is deemed to be more equitable.
[[Image:Kingda Ka restraints down.jpg|thumb|Kingda Ka's seats with the restraints down]]
Kingda Ka's over-the-shoulder restraint system consists of a thick, rigid lap bar and two thin, flexible over-the-shoulder restraints. Because the over-the-shoulder portions of the restraint are not rigid, the hand grips are mounted to the lap bar. This type of restraint feels like a lap bar restraint, while still providing the safety of a traditional over-the-shoulder restraint.


These restraints use a [[hydraulic]] locking system (rather than a [[Ratchet (device)|ratchet]]) which allows them to be pulled down to any position; when "locked", they can move down to any position but not up. In contrast, a ratchet-based restraint only locks at each "notch", and will often be too loose or uncomfortably tight. Kingda Ka's restraints are also held down by a [[seatbelt|belt]] in case the main locking system fails. In order to speed up loading, riders are asked to secure their own restraints if they are able to. The minimum height restriction is {{convert|54|in|cm|0}}, the same as most other major coasters. In addition, it is actually possible for a rider to be ''too tall'' to ride Kingda Ka - if you are tall enough that your head is entirely above the seat, you would not be able to ride as the launch could give you [[Whiplash (medicine)|whiplash]].
In practice, however, the differences between the two may be harder to perceive. This is especially the case nowadays as many social democratic parties have shifted towards the center and adopted one version of [[Third Way (centrism)|Third Way]] politics or another.<ref>See, for example, "The overlap between social democracy and social liberalism".[http://www.liberales.be/cgi-bin/en/show.pl?interview&giddensoverlap]</ref>


===Queue area===
== Social Liberalism in Europe ==
While liberalism spread through Britain and America through the nineteenth century, this didn’t happen in mainland Europe for the most part of the century, where ideas, from left and right, dominated most countries and eliminated liberal forms of government in continental Europe.<ref name="adams"/> Liberalism, however, eventually triumphed later in [[Western Europe]], with the rest of the continent following later. Most post-war governments of Western Europe pursued social liberal economic policies. However, the governments implementing these social liberal policies where not constituted by Liberal parties, despite liberal thinkers playing a major role devising them.<ref name="adams"/>


Kingda Ka's line starts well before the actual entrance arch. The line passes by an ice cream stand, then goes under the entrance arch. It then enters a long switchback area, where a [[disc jockey|DJ]] is sometimes present to entertain the guests in the line. After the switchback area, the line passes by the lockers and then into the station. At this point, an employee will direct guests to a particular side of the station. Each train's station has a separate line for the front row.
Through most of the nineteenth century in European democracies like Britain, the main political divide was between two big groups: the [[Conservatism|Conservative]] parties represented the aristocracy and landed interest and Liberal parties represented the commercial middle classes. However, towards the end of the century, working classes gained greater representation and there was a realignment. Politics started to be polarized on those with property and those without property. Liberals tried to appeal to both groups, while Conservatives and Socialists concentrated on a specific group, absorbing liberal ideas and adopting them from time to time. In countries like Britain and Sweden it was [[Social democracy|social democratic]] governments that were responsible for implementing social liberal policies, while in West Germany and Italy it was center-right parties (generally [[Christian democracy|Christian Democrats]]).<ref name="adams"/>


Before 2005's major malfunction, Kingda Ka's line area was much larger. It started at the main entrance arch, went under the launch track, traveled through two large switchback areas, and split into separate lines for each side of the station. Most of the entire line used to be set in the ride's infield. Due to the parts that came flying from the launch track during its first malfunction, the park (Six Flags Great Adventure) or state (New Jersey) perhaps both, felt it would be safer to have guests stay as far away from the track as possible at all times. The current main entrance to the station was previously the "flash pass" entrance.
Today, in Europe, social liberal parties tend to be small to medium size centre parties.<ref name="adams"/><ref name="slom">{{cite book |last=Slom |first=Hans |title=European Politics Into the Twenty-First Century: Integration and Division |publisher=Praeger |id=0275968146 |year=2000 |location=Westport}}</ref> Examples of relatively successful european social liberal parties, which have been through the years part of government coalitions at the national or regional level are the [[Liberal Democrats]] in the U.K., the [[Democratic Party (Luxembourg)|Democratic Party]] in Luxemburg, the [[Democrats 66|D66]] in the Netherlands and the [[Det Radikale Venstre|Danish Social Liberal Party]]. At the European level, social liberal parties generally are integrated in the [[European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party|ELDR Party]], which is the 3rd biggest group at the European Parliament, and aggregates liberal parties (both social liberal parties and [[Conservative liberalism|conservative liberal parties]]) from all over Europe.<ref name="european">{{citation |coauthors=European Liberal Democrats |title=Who are the European Liberal Democrats? |publisher=ELDR Party |date=2007 |url=http://www.eldr.org/images/upload2/en_all.pdf}}</ref>


==Awards and records==
==Social Liberalism in the United States==
<center>
[[Image:Liberal opinions copy.png|thumb|350px|Opinions of liberals in a 2005 Pew Research Center study.<ref name="Pew Research Center, Spreadsheet, 2005 poll">{{cite web|url=http://people-press.org/reports/tables/242.pdf|title=Pew Research Center, Spreadsheet, 2005 poll|accessdate=2007-07-13|format=PDF}}</ref>]]
{{Main|Modern American liberalism|Political ideologies in the United States#Liberalism}}
In the United States, the party system wasn't developed based on strong ideological differences, for example, the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]] of the South have traditionally been right wing, while northern Democrats are traditionally left wing, although particularly since the [[1970s]] the Democrats in general have tended more to the left and [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] to the right. Ideologically, all major US parties are [[Liberalism|Liberal]] and always have been. Essentially they follow [[classic liberalism]], merging [[constitutionalism]] with [[free market]]s and centering the differences on the influences of social liberalism.<ref name="adams"/>


</center>
Presently, the agendas of European social liberals and [[Modern liberalism in the United States|modern American liberals]] tend to be very similar, with both taking a distinctly left-of-center stance on social issues, whilst taking a more centrist stance on economic issues.<ref name="Judis, B. J. (11 July, 2003). The trouble with Howard Dean. ''Salon.com''.">{{cite web|url=http://dir.salon.com/story/news/feature/2003/07/11/dean/index.html|title=Judis, B. J. (11 July, 2003). The trouble with Howard Dean. ''Salon.com''.|accessdate=2007-07-19}}</ref> Since the ideological center of the United States lies further to the right than that of Western Europe, policies considered centrist, or even right-wing, in Europe may be considered left-of-center in the U.S. Universal single-payer health care, for example, is considered a largely centrist policy in Europe but distinctly center-left in the U.S. Social democrats and socialists may also be labeled as "liberal" in the U.S. but constitute only a small minority of the American left. Liberals in the U.S. constitute roughly 19% to 26% of the population and form circa 46% of the [[Democratic Party (United States)#Ideology and voter base|Democratic base]].<ref name="Pew Research Center. (10 May, 2005). Beyond Red vs. Blue.">{{cite web|url=http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?PageID=945|title=Pew Research Center. (10 May, 2005). Beyond Red vs. Blue.|accessdate=2007-07-12}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
!align="center" bgcolor="white" colspan="31"|[[Golden Ticket Awards]]: Best Steel Coaster
|- style="background-color: #white;"
!align="center"|Year
!2005
!2006
!2007
!2008
|-
!align="center" style="background-color: #white;"|Ranking
|<center>31
|<center>28
|<center>31
|<center>25
|-
|}


==References==
Like European social liberals, most modern American liberals advocate [[cultural pluralism]], diplomacy over military action, [[stem-cell research]], the legalization of [[same-sex marriage]], secular government, environmental protection laws and the preservation of [[Abortion in the United States|abortion rights]].
{{reflist}}


==External links==
However, there are also some relevant differences. For example, American liberals tend to be rather divided on [[List of free trade agreements|free trade agreements]] and organizations such as the [[North American Free Trade Agreement]] (NAFTA)<ref name="Pew Research Center. (10 May, 2005). Beyond Red vs. Blue.">{{cite web|url=http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?PageID=945|title=Pew Research Center. (10 May, 2005). Beyond Red vs. Blue.|accessdate=2007-07-12}}</ref>, while the international social liberals are very strong supporters of [[free trade]].<ref name="The Liberal Agenda for the 21st Century">{{cite web |title=The Liberal Agenda for the 21st Century |url=http://www.liberal-international.org/editorial.asp?ia_id=537 |author=Liberal International}}</ref> Also, while most liberals oppose increased military standing and the display of the Ten Commandments in public buildings, the Democratic party still has references to religion and God on its party documents,<ref name="platform">{{citation |coauthors=2004 Democratic National Convention [[July 27]], [[2004]] |title=Strong at Home, Respected in the World |publisher=Democratic Party |date=2004 |url=http://www.democrats.org/pdfs/2004platform.pdf}}</ref><ref name="charter">{{citation |coauthors=The Democratic Party of the United States of America |title=The Charter & The Bylaws of the Democratic Party of the United States of America |publisher=Democratic Party |date=2005 |url=http://a9.g.akamai.net/7/9/8082/v001/democratic1.download.akamai.com/8082/pdfs/20060119_charter.pdf}}</ref> something that goes against the clearly anti-clerical stance of social liberal parties worldwide. We can also find differences regarding immigration and cultural diversity, which while deemed positive by social liberals worldwide, is handled in a different way by the American liberals with the so called positive discrimination, which would be considered anti-liberal by social-liberal parties, as they would consider it to be an effective form of discrimination.
*[http://www.sixflags.com/greatadventure/rides/KingdaKa.aspx Kingda Ka: SixFlags.com]
*[http://amusementpics.com/Kingda%20Ka.htm Kingda Ka Page on AmusementPics.com]
*[http://www.ultimaterollercoaster.com/themeparks/new05/kingdaka/ Kingda Ka Preview Article]
*[http://www.amusementvideo.com/view_video.php?viewkey=1b6b7a7d29490fe5ec9f&page=1&viewtype=&category=mr kingda ka Point-of-view video]
*[http://eastcoastcoasters.com/videogk.htm East Coast Coasters]


{{SFGA Coasters}}
[[Modern liberalism in the United States]] is most commonly embraced by college-educated professionals who have shifted the focus of the Democratic Party.<ref name="Judis & Teixeira">{{web cite
|url=http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:bueazvJ1K7IJ:www.prospect.org/cs/articles%3Farticle%3Dback_to_the_future061807+liberals+demographic&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=14&gl=us
|title=Judis, J. B. & Teixeira, R. ([[June 19]] [[2007]]). Back to the Future. ''The American Prospect''.|accessdate=2007-08-19}}</ref>. American liberals are the most highly educated and among the most affluent ideological demographics. They differ greatly from the traditional working class wing of party<ref name="Pew Research Center. (10 May, 2005). Beyond Red vs. Blue."/>

In terms of [[semantics]] European social liberalism in the U.S. is simply referred to as liberalism. [[Social Democracy]] and [[Socialism]], however, may also be referred to as liberalism since Americans commonly label all ideologies of the center-left and beyond as "liberal".<ref name="adams"/> The term "social liberalism" is also used in the US as a synonym for [[social progressivism]].

==Social liberal parties==
Some parties which are arguably social liberal may include:

*Argentina: [[Radical Civic Union]]
*Australia: [[Australian Democrats]], [[Australian Greens]]
*Austria: [[The Social Liberals (Austria)|Social Liberals]], [[Liberal Forum]]
*Belgium: [[FlemishProgressives]]
*Brazil: [[Social Liberal Party (Brazil)|Social Liberal Party]]
*Canada: [[Liberal Party of Canada]]
*Chile: [[Social Democrat Radical Party]]
*Colombia: [[Colombian Liberal Party]]
*Croatia: [[Croatian People's Party]]
*Denmark: [[Det Radikale Venstre|Danish Social Liberal Party]]<ref name="gary"/><ref name="kirchner">{{cite book |last=J. Kirchner |first=Emil |title=Liberal parties in Western Europe |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=1988 |location=Avon |id=0-521-32394-0 }}</ref>
*Estonia: [[Estonian Centre Party]]
*Finland: [[Swedish People's Party (Finland)|Swedish People's Party]], [[Green League (Finland)|Green League]]
*France: [[Left Radical Party]], [[MoDem]]
*Germany: [[Alliance '90/The Greens]]
*Italy: [[Action Party]], [[Radicals of the Left]], [[New Italian Socialist Party]]
*Japan: [[Democratic Party of Japan]]
*Lithuania: [[New Union (Social Liberals)]]
*Luxembourg: [[Democratic Party (Luxembourg)| Democratic Party]]<ref name="kirchner"/>
*Moldova: [[Social Liberal Party (Moldova)|Social Liberal Party]]
*Mozambique: [[Social Liberal and Democratic Party]]
*Netherlands: [[Democrats 66]]<ref name="gary"/><ref name="kirchner"/>, [[GroenLinks]]
*Norway: [[Venstre (Norway)|Venstre]]
*Poland: [[Partia Demokratyczna - demokraci.pl|Democratic Party]]
*Portugal: [[Social Liberal Movement|Movimento Liberal Social]]
*Russia: [[Yabloko|Russian Democratic Party "Yabloko"]]
*Serbia: [[Liberal Democratic Party (Serbia 2005)|Liberal Democratic Party]]
*Slovenia: [[Liberal Democracy of Slovenia]]
*South Korea: [[United Democratic Party (Republic of Korea)|United Democratic Party]], [[Renewal of Korea Party]]
*Spain: [[Union, Progress and Democracy]], [[Citizens-Party of the Citizenry]]
*Sudan: [[Sudan Liberal Party]]
*Sweden: [[Centre Party (Sweden)|Centre Party]], [[Liberal People's Party (Sweden)|Liberal People's Party]]
*Tunisia: [[Social Liberal Party (Tunisia)|Social Liberal Party]]
*United Kingdom: [[Liberal Democrats]]<ref name="gary"/><ref name="kirchner"/>
*United States: [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] (especially the [[Factions in the Democratic Party (United States)#Liberals|Liberal factions]])

== Social liberal thinkers ==
Some notable social liberal thinkers are:

*[[Jeremy Bentham]]<ref name="adams"/> (1748–1832) and [[John Stuart Mill]]<ref name="adams"/><ref name="richardson"/><ref name="cardosorosas">{{cite web |last=Cardoso Rosas |first=João |year=2008 | url=http://diarioeconomico.sapo.pt/edicion/diarioeconomico/opinion/columnistas/pt/desarrollo/1123500.html |title=Socialismo ou liberalismo social? |work=DiarioEconomico.com |accessdate=2008-05-21}}</ref> (1806–1873) offered a seed of social liberalism.
*[[Emile Durkheim]]<ref name="Seidman">Seidman, S. (2004). ''Contested Knowledge: Social Theory Today''. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing.</ref> (1858–1917)
*[[Thomas Hill Green]]<ref name="adams"/><ref name="richardson"/><ref name="liberalinternational">{{cite web |url=http://www.liberal-international.org/editorial.asp?ia_id=682 |title=James Hobson |accessdate=2008-05-19}}</ref> (1836–1882)
*[[Lujo Brentano]]<ref name="richardson"/> (1844–1931)
*[[Bernard Bosanquet (philosopher)|Bernard Bosanquet]] (1848–1923)
*[[Pieter Cort van der Linden]] (1846–1935)
*[[John Atkinson Hobson]]<ref name="adams"/><ref name="liberalinternational"/> (1858–1940)
*[[John Dewey]]<ref name="adams"/> (1859–1952)
*[[Friedrich Naumann]] (1860–1919)
*[[Leonard Trelawny Hobhouse]]<ref name="adams"/><ref name="richardson"/><ref name="liberalinternational"/> (1864–1929)
*[[Gerhart von Schulze-Gavernitz]]<ref name="richardson"/> (1864–1943)
*[[William Beveridge]]<ref name="adams"/> (1879–1963)
*[[Hans Kelsen]]<ref name="modern">{{cite book |coauthors=Ortiz, Cansino; Gellner, Ernest; Geliner, E.; Merquior, José Guilherme; Emil, César Cansino |title=Liberalism in Modern Times: Essays in Honour of Jose G. Merquior |publisher=Central European University Press |year=1996 |location=Budapest |id=185866053X}}</ref> (1881–1973)
*[[John Maynard Keynes]]<ref name="adams"/><ref name="modern"/> (1883–1946)
*[[Carlo Rosselli]] (1899-1937)
*[[Bertil Ohlin]] (1899–1979)
*[[John Hicks]] (1904–1989)
*[[Isaiah Berlin]] (1909–1997)
*[[Norberto Bobbio]]<ref name="modern"/> (1909–2004)
*[[Miguel Reale]] (1910–2005)
*[[Barack Obama]] (1961-*)
*[[Pierre Elliot Trudeau]] (1919–2000)
*[[John Rawls]]<ref name="adams"/><ref name="cardosorosas"/> (1921–2002)
*[[Don Chipp]] (1925–2006)
*[[Karl-Hermann Flach]] (1929–1973)
*[[Richard Rorty]] (1931–2007)
*[[Conrad Russell]] (1937–2004)
*[[Ronald Dworkin]]<ref name="cardosorosas"/> (* 1931)
*[[Amartya Sen]]<ref name="Liberalism is the best Cure for Poverty"/><ref name="inclusivedemocracy">{{cite journal |last=Fotopoulos |first=Takis |authorlink=Takis Fotopoulos | year = 2004 |month=10 |title=Why an Inclusive Democracy? The multidimensional crisis, globalisation and inclusive democracy |journal=The International Journal of INCLUSIVE DEMOCRACY |volume=1 |issue=1 |url=http://www.inclusivedemocracy.org/journal/vol1/vol1_no1_why.htm |accessdate=2008-05-21}}</ref><ref name="cardosorosas"/> (* 1933)
*[[José G. Merquior]]<ref name="modern"/> (1941–1991)
*[[Hernando de Soto (economist)]]<ref name="Liberalism is the best Cure for Poverty"/> (* 1947)
*[[Bruce Ackerman]]<ref name="cardosorosas"/> (* 1943)
*[[Martha Nussbaum]]<ref name="Liberalism is the best Cure for Poverty"/> (* 1947)
*[[Fernando Savater]]<ref name="Liberalism is the best Cure for Poverty"/> (* 1947)
*[[Dirk Verhofstadt]] (* 1955)

==Views of social liberals today==
'''In general, contemporary social liberals support:'''
* An economy consisting mainly of private enterprise, but with government owned or subsidized programs of [[education]], [[healthcare]], [[child care]] etc for all citizens.
* Regulatory bodies over [[private enterprise]] in the interests of workers, [[consumers]] and fair competition.
* [[Free trade]].<ref name="The Liberal Agenda for the 21st Century"/> (not supporting a laissez-faire free market)
* A basic system of [[social security]].
* A moderate level of [[taxation]].
* [[Environmental protection]] laws (although not always to the extent advocated by [[Green movement|Greens]]).
* Fairly open stances toward [[immigration]] and [[multiculturalism]] stemming from social liberal tendency to be [[civic nationalism|civic nationalists]] (as opposed to [[ethnic nationalism|ethnic nationalists]]).
* A [[secularism|secular]] and progressive [[social policy]], including support for comprehensive [[sex education]], [[gay rights|gay and lesbian rights]], [[universal health care]], [[reproductive rights]], [[abortion]], [[stem cell research]], abolition of [[capital punishment]] and (sometimes) [[euthanasia]].
* A belief in the existence of [[victimless crime (political philosophy)|victimless crime]]s (e.g. drug use and [[prostitution]]) and many social liberals call for the [[decriminalization]] or outright legalization of these practices.
* Decentralized [[decision-making]].<ref name="gary"/>
* [[Internationalism (politics)|Internationalism]].<ref name="gary"/> (Oppose extreme and aggressive [[nationalism]])
* (In Europe) A [[Federal Europe|federal]] [[European Union]].<ref name="gary"/>
* A [[foreign policy]] supporting the promotion of [[democracy]], the protection of [[human rights]] and where possible, effective [[multilateralism]].
* As well as human rights, social liberals also support [[social rights]], [[civil rights]] and [[civil liberties]].

==Further reading on social liberalism==

* {{citation |last=Green |first=Thomas Hill |authorlink=Leonard Trelawny Hobhouse |title=Lectures on the Principles of Political Obligation |publisher=The Lawbook Exchange |isbn=1584776145 |date=2006 |location=New Jersey}}
* {{citation |last=John |first=Rawls |authorlink=John Rawls |title=Political Liberalism |publisher=Columbia University Press |isbn=0231130899 |date=2005 |location=New York}}
* {{citation |last=John |first=Rawls |authorlink=John Rawls |title=A Theory of Justice|publisher=Harvard University Press |isbn=0674017722 |date=2005 |location=Harvard }}
* {{citation | last1 = Simhony | first1 = Avital | authorlink1 = Avital Simhony | last2 = Weinstein | first2 = David | authorlink2 = David Weinstein (political science) |title=The New Liberalism: Reconciling Liberty and Community |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=0521794048 |date=2001 |location=Cambridge}}
* {{citation |last=Hobson |first=John Atkinson |authorlink=John Atkinson Hobson |title=The Crisis of Liberalism: New Issues of Democracy |publisher=Adamant Media Corporation |isbn=1421227819 |date=2000 |location=Delaware}}
* {{citation |last=Hobhouse |first=L. T. |authorlink=Leonard Trelawny Hobhouse |title=Liberalism and Other Writings |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=0521437261 |date=1994 |location=Cambridge}}
* {{citation |last=Merquior |first=J.G. |authorlink=José Guilherme Merquior |title=Liberalism Old and New |publisher=Twayne Publishers |isbn=0805786279 |date=1991 |location=Cambridge}}
* {{citation |last=Mill |first=John Stuart |authorlink=John Stuart Mill |title='On Liberty' and Other Writings |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=0521379172 |date=1989 |location=Cambridge}}

==References==
{{reflist}}


{{s-start}}
==See also==
{{s-bef|before=''[[Top Thrill Dragster]]''}}
* [[Social liberalism (United States)]]
{{s-ttl|title=[[Notable roller coasters#Tallest steel roller coasters|World's Tallest Complete Circuit Roller Coaster]]|years=May 2005 – Present}}
* [[Classical liberalism]]
{{s-aft|after=Incumbent}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=''[[Top Thrill Dragster]]''}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Notable roller coasters#Fastest roller coasters|World's Fastest Roller Coaster]]|years=May 2005 – Present}}
{{s-aft|after=''[[Ring°Racer]]'' (opens 2009)}}
{{end}}


[[Category:Liberalism]]
[[Category:Six Flags roller coasters]]
[[Category:Political ideologies]]


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Revision as of 14:22, 11 October 2008

Kingda Ka
Looking at Kingda Ka from launch track
Six Flags Great Adventure
LocationSix Flags Great Adventure
Park sectionThe Golden Kingdom
Coordinates40°08′23″N 74°26′5″W / 40.13972°N 74.43472°W / 40.13972; -74.43472
StatusOperating
Opening dateMay 21, 2005 (2005-05-21)
Cost$25,000,000 USD
General statistics
TypeSteel – Launched
ManufacturerIntamin AG
DesignerWerner Stengel
ModelAccelerator Coaster
Lift/launch systemHydraulic launch
Height456 ft (139 m)
Drop418 ft (127 m)
Length3,118 ft (950 m)
Speed128 mph (206 km/h)
Inversions0
Duration50 seconds
Capacity1400 riders per hour
Acceleration0 to 128 mph (0 to 206 km/h) in 3.5 seconds
G-forceapprox. 4-5
Kingda Ka at RCDB

Kingda Ka is a roller coaster located at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson Township, New Jersey, USA. At its opening on May 21, 2005, it became the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world, claiming the title from Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point. The train is launched by a hydraulic launch mechanism to 128 miles per hour (206 km/h) in 3.5 seconds.[1] At the end of the launch track, the train climbs the main top hat tower reaching a height of 456 feet (139.5 m).[2] Due to aviation safety concerns, the tower is equipped with three dual strobes: 2 mid-way up, and one on the top.

History

Kingda Ka was officially announced on September 29, 2004, at an event held for the media and enthusiasts.[3] It was revealed that the ride would become "the tallest and fastest roller coaster on earth", reaching 456 feet (139 m) high and accelerating up to 128 miles per hour (206 km/h) in 3.5 seconds.[4] it the size of 800 coks formed together On January 13, 2005, Kingda Ka was topped off at its 456-foot (139 m) height, finishing construction.[5] Over four months later, Kingda Ka opened to the public, media day being two days before, on May 19.

Kingda Ka was originally supposed to open on Saturday, April 23, 2005, but on April 18, 2005, Six Flags announced that Kingda Ka's opening would be delayed; media day would have been on April 21. [6] Before Kingda Ka was built, Cedar Point's Top Thrill Dragster was the tallest and fastest roller coaster on the planet.

During a test run with no passengers on June 8, 2005, a bolt failure caused damage to the launch cable resulting in closure of the ride until August 2005, and the reconfiguration of the line area.

Major malfunctions

Kingda Ka's tower

On June 6, 2005, less than a month after its grand opening, a bolt failure caused the liner inside the trough that the launch cable travels through to come loose and create friction against the cable. The friction caused the train not to accelerate to the correct speed. The rubbing of the cable against the inside of the metal trough caused sparks and shards of metal to fly out from the bottom of the train. The engine, as it is designed, attempted to compensate by applying more force to the cable to attain the 128 mph (206 km/h) launch speed.

The brake fins—metal fins attached to the underside of some roller coaster cars that slide between brakes mounted to the track[7]—rise up into the braking position on a timing pattern, independent of the launching mechanism. The fins are mounted in steel supports that are connected to actuators that raise and lower the fins into the desired position. There are four braking zones, and each zone has about 24 individual brake fins. The fins actually caught up to the launching train as the timing pattern of the rising fins was faster than the accelerating train. The magnetic brakes began to slow the train in the launch area, and the engine tried to compensate even more, and dragged the train through the brake zones. The catch car released, but the train was still in the brake zone and came to a complete stop at the bottom of the hill.

This malfunction occurred when no passengers were aboard during a test run. No injuries or deaths occurred. Damage occurred to the launch cable (frayed and needed to be replaced), engine (minor routine damage to seals), and brake fins (many needed to be replaced). The brake fins in the launch section are mounted in such a way to keep fast moving trains from moving backwards into the station, but a fast moving train being pulled forwards caused an unexpected stress on a number of fins that bent them forward. Not all of the fins needed to be replaced, but there were more damaged brake fins than Six Flags had replacements, and extra brake fins had to be specially ordered from Intamin. In addition, Kingda Ka had to be re-inspected. Kingda Ka started testing on July 21, 2005. It reopened on August 4, 2005, with the line modified so that it no longer ran under the launch track.[8] The dark blue train was being launched when the malfunction occurred. It was used for the rest of the season, but major problems requiring replacement parts were discovered when the train was inspected during the off-season. Consequently, this train remained disassembled throughout the 2006 season.

Ride experience

After the train has been locked and checked, it slowly advances out of the station to the launch area. The train goes through a switch track which allows 4 trains on two tracks to load simultaneously. Once the train is in position, the hydraulic launch mechanism rockets the train from 0 to 128 miles per hour (0 to 206 km/h) in 3.5 seconds,[9] pulling about 1.67 g. At the end of the launch track, the train climbs the main tower, or top hat, twisting 90 degrees to the left before reaching a height of 456 feet (139 m).[10] The train then descends 418 feet (127 m) straight down through a 270-degree spiral. Finally, the train climbs the second hill of 128 feet (39 m), producing a moment of weightlessness before being smoothly brought to a stop by the magnetic brakes. The train then makes a U-turn and enters the station. The ride lasts 28 seconds from the start of the launch to the end of the brake run, but has an "official" ride time of 50.6 seconds.

The hydraulic launch motor is capable of producing 20,800 horsepower (15.5 MW) peak. Due to the high speed and open nature of the trains, this ride will not operate in light rain, as rider contact with rain drops can cause discomfort.[8]

Rollbacks and launch

Sign warning riders that a rollback can occur.

Sometimes, it is possible for a train to roll back—to fail to reach the top of the tower and descend. The train instead reaches as high on the tower as it can go (in most cases to the very top), and rolls back. Kingda Ka includes retractable brakes on its launch track that will bring a train rolling backwards down the tower to a stop. Rollbacks are more common in breezy weather, or just after wet weather. Many riders look forward to a rollback.

It is hard to know exactly when Kingda Ka's launch will occur. When the signal to launch is given, the train rolls back slightly to engage the catch car, then the brakes on the launch track retract. Most times there will be a voice that says "arms down, head back and hold on". The launch will occur five seconds after the "hiss" of the brakes retracting or the warning voice. Previously, Kingda Ka's horn sounded before every launch, but it has been turned off because of noise complaints from nearby residents. The horn now sounds only when Kingda Ka first launches after being idle for a certain period of time. Kingda Ka's launch mechanism is capable of launching a train every 45 seconds resulting in a capacity of 1000 guests per hour.

Camera

A ride photo from the 2nd camera

Kingda Ka features two on-ride cameras. One is placed shortly after the beginning of the launch, the other is at the end of the brake run, resulting in "before" and "after" photographs. Since both cameras are located on the right side of the track, riders intending to purchase their on-ride photo are advised to sit in the right-hand seat.

Station

Kingda Ka's switch track at the station's exit
Kingda Ka's second hill.

Kingda Ka's station has two parallel tracks with switch tracks at the entrance and exit. Each of the station's tracks accommodates two trains, so that each of the four trains has its own station. Each train only loads and unloads at its own station; it does not go to any others. During operation, the trains on one side are loaded while the trains on the other side are launched. This system works extremely efficiently as long as all four trains are running and there are no significant delays in loading and checking the trains. This system was not used at all in 2006 because only two trains were working that year. It also results in a very fast-moving line before the station, but a long wait inside the station, especially if waiting for the front row. An employee directs riders in line to go to a particular side of the station, but riders will then be able to choose the front or rear of the train. Two operators load, check and dispatch each train, and one launches the trains. Kingda Ka's music is by Safri Duo, their entire Episode II album is played in the queue and station.

Trains

Kingda Ka's four trains are color coded for easy identification: green, dark blue, light blue (commonly called teal) and orange. These four colors are also used on the seats and restraints. Kingda Ka's trains seat 18 people, with two per row. The rear car has one row, while the rest have two. The rear row of each car is positioned higher than its front row for better visibility. The trains do not have official names, only numbers.

The dark blue train was being launched when 2005's major malfunction (see above) occurred, and problems stemming from this malfunction were discovered in the train's off-season rehab, putting this train out of service throughout the 2006 season. As a result, Kingda Ka only ran two trains for the whole year. The teal and green trains ran from the start of the season until late July, and the teal and orange trains ran for the rest of the season. Kingda Ka opened for the 2007 season with all four trains running.[11]

Each of Kingda Ka's trains has a panel behind the last row of seats that covers an extra row of seat mounts. These panels could be removed for the installation of additional seats at some future time. This modification would increase the capacity of each train to from 18 to 20 guests and the hourly capacity of the coaster from 1400 to 1600 guests per hour. Kingda Ka's station is already set up for this modification; it has the entrance gates for the currently nonexistent row of seats.

While this modification has not yet been done, the trains were slightly modified for the 2006 season - the nose of each train got a new coat of paint, after which the large "Kingda Ka" logo and the train number decals were not put back on the trains. The non-padded portions of the restraints are now bare metal rather than painted orange.

Seat restraints

Kingda Ka's seats with the restraints down

Kingda Ka's over-the-shoulder restraint system consists of a thick, rigid lap bar and two thin, flexible over-the-shoulder restraints. Because the over-the-shoulder portions of the restraint are not rigid, the hand grips are mounted to the lap bar. This type of restraint feels like a lap bar restraint, while still providing the safety of a traditional over-the-shoulder restraint.

These restraints use a hydraulic locking system (rather than a ratchet) which allows them to be pulled down to any position; when "locked", they can move down to any position but not up. In contrast, a ratchet-based restraint only locks at each "notch", and will often be too loose or uncomfortably tight. Kingda Ka's restraints are also held down by a belt in case the main locking system fails. In order to speed up loading, riders are asked to secure their own restraints if they are able to. The minimum height restriction is 54 inches (137 cm), the same as most other major coasters. In addition, it is actually possible for a rider to be too tall to ride Kingda Ka - if you are tall enough that your head is entirely above the seat, you would not be able to ride as the launch could give you whiplash.

Queue area

Kingda Ka's line starts well before the actual entrance arch. The line passes by an ice cream stand, then goes under the entrance arch. It then enters a long switchback area, where a DJ is sometimes present to entertain the guests in the line. After the switchback area, the line passes by the lockers and then into the station. At this point, an employee will direct guests to a particular side of the station. Each train's station has a separate line for the front row.

Before 2005's major malfunction, Kingda Ka's line area was much larger. It started at the main entrance arch, went under the launch track, traveled through two large switchback areas, and split into separate lines for each side of the station. Most of the entire line used to be set in the ride's infield. Due to the parts that came flying from the launch track during its first malfunction, the park (Six Flags Great Adventure) or state (New Jersey) perhaps both, felt it would be safer to have guests stay as far away from the track as possible at all times. The current main entrance to the station was previously the "flash pass" entrance.

Awards and records

Golden Ticket Awards: Best Steel Coaster
Year 2005 2006 2007 2008
Ranking
31
28
31
25

References

  1. ^ "Kingda Ka: Great Adventure". Six Flags. Retrieved 2007-08-22.
  2. ^ "Kingda Ka (Six Flags Great Adventure)". Retrieved 2007-08-22.
  3. ^ "Kingda Ka: The Media Event". October 12,2004. Retrieved 2007-09-01. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ "Six Flags Great Adventure will launch the tallest, fastest roller coaster on earth". September 29,2004. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ "Six Flags Makes History as it Completes the Tallest, Fastest Roller Coaster on Earth's 45-story Tower". January 14, 2005. Retrieved 2008-03-30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); line feed character in |title= at position 69 (help)
  6. ^ "Opening of Kingda Ka delayed". April 20, 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ Roller Coaster Talk: Definitions of Commonly Used Terms
  8. ^ a b Levine, Arthur. "Kingda Ka malfunction- Why Six Flags Great Adventure's roller coaster is not operating". About.com. Retrieved 2007-08-22.
  9. ^ "Kingda Ka: Great Adventure". Six Flags. Retrieved 2007-08-22.
  10. ^ "Kingda Ka (Six Flags Great Adventure)". Retrieved 2007-08-22.
  11. ^ Off-Season Tour & Wiggles World 3-1-07

External links

Preceded by World's Tallest Complete Circuit Roller Coaster
May 2005 – Present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by World's Fastest Roller Coaster
May 2005 – Present 		Succeeded by
Ring°Racer (opens 2009)
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