After 66 days of teasing, hints and speculation, Holiday World has finally revealed the 2015 project years in the making: Thunderbird, a launched Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M) wing coaster.
Thunderbird features a 0-60mph launch in 3.5 seconds — very rare for a B&M coaster — plus four inversions and several “near-miss” elements.
Continuing Holiday World’s tradition of sending roller coasters through its thickly wooded and hilly terrain, Thunderbird will first soar and loop high in the air and then hug the ground, surprising riders with rapid-fire “near misses” such as keyholes, themed elements, other rides, trees and even the ground.
Thunderbird Facts:
Length: 3,035 feet
Height: 140 feet at Immelmann loop’s peak
Speed: 60 mph
Duration: 1 minute and 18 seconds
Elements:
- Launch, using LSM technology
- Immelmann loop
- Loop
- Horseshoe
- Elevated Spiral
- Zero-G roll
- S curve
- 2 “headchopper” keyholes
- Carousel
- 360 in-line twist (barrel roll)
- 2 Crossovers with The Voyage
Trains: Two trains, each with five four-person coaches
Capacity: 1,140 Guests per hour
Height Requirement: Riders must be at least 52 inches tall
Investment: $22 million
Designer: Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M), Switzerland
The “66 Days at Sea” teaser campaign introduced the legend behind Thunderbird:
In 1620, as the Mayflower neared the end of its 66 days at sea, a mighty storm nearly capsized the ship, taking it hundreds of miles off course. As passengers and crew feared all was lost, an immense bird appeared in the sky. The thunderbird, whose wings created the thunder and eyes flashed the lightning of the powerful storm, rescued the ship by launching it through the sky to the New World.
The coaster will appropriately be located in the Thanksgiving section of the park.
“A wing coaster creates a feeling of incredible freedom – you ride beside the coaster track with nothing above or below you,” says Holiday World’s president, Matt Eckert. “Thunderbird is the first launched wing coaster in the nation – we can’t wait to ride it!”
Thunderbird Layout:
Thunderbird’s $22 million price tag is more than twice the amount of any other single-ride investment at Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari in the park’s 68-year history.
Eckert calls Thunderbird’s manufacturer, Bolliger & Mabillard, the “Cadillac of roller coasters, known for their safety, quality and reliability. We’ve dreamed of adding a B&M steel coaster for many years and are excited that Thunderbird will be B&M’s first launched coaster.”
Thunderbird Station and Theme:
Since 2013, Holiday World has partnered with the St. Louis design firm PGAV Destinations to create enhanced theming for the world’s first theme park.
PGAV took the Thunderbird name and coaster design and created the visual theming of the legendary bird’s powerful flight through farms and forests of southern Indiana.
Construction is already underway and may be viewed live on Holiday World’s ConstructionCam.
Thunderbird Video:
Watch an overview video of Thunderbird in action below:
Right Wing POV:
Left Wing POV:
Thunderbird is scheduled to open in late April 2015. Visit Holiday World’s Thunderbird website to see more photos, videos and to learn more about the coaster.
What are your thoughts about this launched B&M wing coaster? Discuss in the comments section below.
Great write up! I think this is a phenomenal addition to the already amazing park that Holiday World is. The thing I am curious about are the short trains. I personally think it has to do with the power of the launch and is just a way of reducing the weight of the trains, but who knows?
Thanks for a great write up. Check out my new blog lifeisarollercoaster.org for trip reports to theme parks (…and food!).
Looks like a unique and great ride, i wish i could ride it when it opens.