White Lightning

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White Lightning
White Lightning
Data
Location Fun Spot America
( Orlando , Florida , USA )
Type Wood - sitting
category Wooden roller coaster ,
hybrid wooden roller coaster
Drive type Chain lift
Routing Out & Back
Manufacturer Great Coasters International
costs 3.5 million US dollars
opening June 8, 2013
length 619.4 m
height 21.2 m
Departure 20.5 m
Max. gradient 58 °
Max. Bank 90 °
Max. speed 71 km / h
Travel time 1:15 min
Trains 2 trains, 6 cars / train, 1 row of seats / car, 2 seats / row of seats
Inversions 0

White Lightning ( English for "white lightning") is a wooden roller coaster in the amusement park Fun Spot America in Orlando , Florida by the manufacturer Great Coasters International , which opened on June 8, 2013. On the 619 meter long and 21 meter high route, the trains are accelerated to a maximum speed of 71 km / h. The approximately 3.5 million  US dollar complex is the first wooden roller coaster in Orlando.

history

On December 31, 2010, Fun Spot America announced that the park had purchased four acres of adjoining property that would triple the area of ​​the park and provide space for some new rides. In April 2011, a survey was carried out among visitors to find out what type of amusement ride they missed in the park. It turned out that most of the visitors wanted a new water ride or roller coaster. In August, the Orlando Sentinel published a report that Fun Spot America had consulted at least three roller coaster manufacturers. In November 2011 it was confirmed that the park would receive a new wooden roller coaster in addition to a new steel roller coaster. It was later announced that the wooden roller coaster would be family-friendly and would be manufactured by Great Coasters International.

In May 2013, Fun Spot Robb Alvey from the Theme Park Review website announced that the new wooden roller coaster called “White Lightning” would open on the new site in 2013 as part of the new marketing concept. With additional funds, the attraction could be more intense than previously planned.

After a construction period of around a year, a soft opening was carried out on May 20, 2013 in order to test the work processes under real conditions. On June 8, 2013, White Lightning was officially opened as the first wooden roller coaster in Orlando.

journey

After the train has been released by the park staff, it drives down a small slope and reaches the chain lift hill , which transports it to an initial height of 21.2 meters. Once at the top, the train drives down the 20.5 meter high and 58 degrees inclined First Drop in a left curve. The train drives over a small airtime hill at a relatively high speed, followed by another, higher hill with one saddle point each on the ascent and descent. This is followed by a 180 ° turn with a cross slope of 90 degrees. The train drives back over several small hills, largely parallel to the previous route, which it crosses once, before it is decelerated by friction brakes and returns to the station.

technology

Rail and supports

The 619 meter long track of White Lightning reaches a height of 21 meters at its highest point, the apex of the lift hill. For the first time on a Great Coasters International roller coaster, the wooden rail is supported by a steel structure. Only the last 90 centimeters under the rail and the rail itself are made of wood. This decision was made in order to maintain the feel of a wooden roller coaster. The metal supports were requested by Fun Spot because they require less maintenance and can also be painted in a striking way.

Trains

Two “Millennium Flyer” trains are used on White Lightning . Each train consists of six cars, each with space for two passengers, so that one train can hold twelve visitors. The trains are thus significantly shorter than on other Great Coasters International systems. The passengers held in their seats by lap bars must be at least 1.20 meters tall to be allowed to ride.

reception

White Lightning was received mostly positively. Orlando Sentinel's Dewayne Bevil said the track had "several 'wow, that's fun' moments." Compared to other wooden roller coasters, he described the course as "smooth sailing" and praised the course for its many changes of direction and airtime hills. Robb Alvey of the Theme Park Review website described the ride as "fast and fun" and cautioned not to underestimate White Lightning because of its small size. David Martin from the local broadcaster WOFL said he loved the train and that the system was “a direct hit”. Fun Spot owner John Arie praised Great Coasters International for exceeding expectations, giving it eleven points on a ten-point scale.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d Scott Rutherford: Orlando's first wooden roller coaster strikes at Fun Spot. (pdf) Amusement Today July 2013, accessed on July 17, 2014 .
  2. ↑ a b c Duane Marden: White Lightning. rcdb.com, accessed July 18, 2014 .
  3. ↑ Fun Spot Action Park Becomes "Huge-Er". Fun Spot, December 31, 2010, accessed July 18, 2014 .
  4. ↑ Surveys, Surveys, Surveys. Fun Spot, April 26, 2011, accessed July 18, 2014 .
  5. ^ Steven Cole Smith: For your amusement: Fun Spot executive embraces the inner child. Orlando Sentinel, August 14, 2011, accessed July 18, 2014 .
  6. ↑ New attractions planned for Orlando park. Click Orlando, November 22, 2011, accessed July 18, 2014 .
  7. ↑ Season 3 Episode 42. (No longer available online.) Coaster Crew, December 5, 2011, archived from the original on December 18, 2014 ; accessed on July 18, 2014 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / coastercrew.net
  8. ↑ Fun Spot Action Park White Lightning Wooden Roller Coaster. Theme Park Review, May 28, 2012, accessed July 18, 2014 .
  9. ^ A b David Does It: Fun Spot Orlando's new wooden coaster. (No longer available online.) My Fox Orlando, May 20, 2013, archived from the original on July 18, 2013 ; accessed on July 18, 2014 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.myfoxorlando.com
  10. ↑ Theme Park Review: White Lightning Roller Coaster POV Test Runs Fun Spot Orlando GCI Woodie. Video on YouTube, May 17, 2013, accessed July 18, 2014 .
  11. ↑ White Lightning. Great Coasters International, accessed July 18, 2014 .
  12. ^ Dewayne Bevil: Fun Spot brings two new roller coasters to Orlando. Orlando Sentinel, May 30, 2013, accessed July 18, 2014 .
  13. ↑ Theme Park Review: White Lightning Wooden Roller Coaster POV Front Seat Back Seat Off-Ride Fun Spot Orlando. Video on YouTube, June 3, 2013, accessed July 19, 2014 .
  14. ↑ Fun Spot launches Orlando's first wooden coaster. (No longer available online.) Parkworld Online, June 17, 2013, archived from the original on June 28, 2013 ; accessed on July 18, 2014 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / parkworld-online.com

Coordinates: 28 ° 27 '58.2 "  N , 81 ° 27' 23"  W.