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27-497: Eugen Fischer built a windmill on the site in 1929 and opened a restaurant there. He called the mill "Old Women's Mill" and included a slide for playing on. After Eugen's death in the Second World War, his son Kurt carried on the restaurant, expanding the catering to a park. The windmill was destroyed by fire in 1946 following a lightning strike, and rebuilt by Kurt in 1950. Over the following years attractions were added to

54-779: A launch track . This mode of acceleration powers many of the fastest roller coasters in the world. Linear induction motor (LIM) and linear synchronous motor (LSM) coasters use propulsion via electromagnets , which utilize large amounts of electricity to propel the coaster train along its track into the ride elements (e.g. inversions, twists, turns and short drops). Ten design companies managing these types of rides are Vekoma , Intamin , Gerstlauer , Premier Rides , Maurer , Zierer , Mack Rides , Bolliger & Mabillard , Rocky Mountain Construction and S&S Worldwide . Both Rocky Mountain Construction and Bolliger & Mabillard established their first LSM launched coasters recently with

81-484: A brake run, while Kingda Ka, built in 2005, adds a 129 ft (39 m) airtime hill before the final brake run. Some hydraulic coaster layouts omit the top hat element altogether. Another manufacturer, Vekoma , began producing hydraulic-launched coasters in 2004 with the opening of Booster Bike at Toverland in the Netherlands , reaching speeds up to 47 mph (76 km/h). Using the same type of system as

108-433: A design firm founded by Werner Stengel , and responsible for structures such as Millennium Force at Cedar Point and Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure . In July 2009, extreme in-line skater Dirk Auer travelled the rails of the coaster at speeds of up to 90 kilometres per hour (56 mph), using specially modified skates. The stunt took just over 60 seconds and set a new world record. Expanded in 1972 from

135-814: A hydraulic launch, a pneumatic launch uses compressed air to launch the vehicle. The technology was developed by S&S as the Thrust Air 2000 model. The first coaster of this type was the Hypersonic XLC , opened at Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia, USA in 2001. This coaster closed in 2007. Another incarnation, the Ring Racer was open for only 4 days. Compressed air launches are able to provide more acceleration than traditional pneumatic launches, with Do-Dodonpa at Fuji-Q Highland in Japan having held

162-471: A petting zoo to 47 hectares (120 acres) dedicated to nature and animals, Tripsdrill's wildlife park looks after 130 animals of various species. Most of the animals can be fed and petted by visitors year-round. As well as " wild horses ", the 35 hectares (86 acres) of forests and fields of the wildlife park are home to Arctic wolves, mouflons, fallow deer, raccoons, brown bears, and others. There are falconry demonstrations and feeding viewings, several paths, and

189-442: A playground area. Entry into the wildlife park is included in admission tickets for the theme park. Launched roller coaster The launched roller coaster is a type of roller coaster that initiates a ride with high amounts of acceleration via one or a series of linear induction motors (LIM), linear synchronous motors (LSM), catapults , tires, chains, or other mechanisms employing hydraulic or pneumatic power, along

216-647: A segment. LIMs are mainly used in Premier Rides roller coasters and Intamin impulse and blitz coasters. However, LIMs can also be used for general transport, such as the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover in Magic Kingdom or monorail and maglev trains. Hydraulic -launched roller coasters, pioneered by Swiss manufacturer Intamin , give the riders greater acceleration with improved smoothness over

243-495: Is a German manufacturer of stationary and transportable amusement rides and roller coasters , located in Münsterhausen , Germany. As of May 2024, all 113 Gerstlauer-made rollercoasters are still in operation and at their original park, apart from Seifenkiste at Trampolino Familien- und Freizeitpark, which is currently in storage, and Pandemonium at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom , which now operates at Six Flags Mexico under

270-522: Is capable of reaching 128 mph (206 km/h) in 3.5 seconds. The fastest roller coaster in the world, Formula Rossa , reaches 149 mph (240 km/h) in 4 seconds using the hydraulic method. Accelerator Coasters manufactured by Intamin commonly place a top hat element after the launch, which is a hill in the shape of a tower with a 90-degree ascent and 90-degree drop. Trains enter and exit this element in opposite directions. Top Thrill Dragster , built in 2003, includes this element followed by

297-702: Is flat. Two operating examples of this technique are the Drifter at Sochi Park in the Sochi Olimpic Park and at FunWorks, Abu Dhabi (manufacturer I.E.Park ) In the catapult launch, a dropped weight winds a cable to pull the train until it accelerates to its full speed. Dropped weights were used in early installations of Shuttle Loop . These rides are often not very tall, and usually achieve speeds of 60 mph (96 km/h). Flywheel launches are used on some Anton Schwarzkopf designed shuttle loop coasters and Zamperla Motocoasters . A large flywheel

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324-695: Is present in different styles in Europe and the United States. A specific design feature of all Euro-Fighter roller coasters is a drop with a 'beyond vertical' angle of more than 90  degrees . Another model is their spinning roller coaster , in which the riders are seated facing each other. Gerstlauer also built trains for several wooden roller coasters , though several of which are no longer operating. Examples of these include The Boss at Six Flags St. Louis , USA. As of August 2024, Gerstlauer Amusement Rides GmbH has built 115 roller coasters around

351-406: Is spun at high speeds and is attached to a cable that propels the train forward. Arrow Dynamics' Launched Loop coasters, which were popular in the 1970s and 1980s, use a powerful electric motor and tensioned springs to propel a launch car forward. The launch car pushes the train outward to a drop, and then returns to its position. After the train reaches the opposite platform, another catch car works

378-534: The RMC Topper Track Coaster, Lightning Rod, at Dollywood, and B&M's wingrider, Thunderbird, at HolidayWorld. An example of an LSM launched roller coaster is Maverick at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. These launch systems transfer electricity through a motor on the roller coaster's track so that it controls the speed at which it will urge the cars and train either forward or backward on

405-478: The acceleration record from when it opened as Dodonpa in 2001 to its closure in 2024, launching passengers from 0 to 112 mph (180 km/h) in 1.56 seconds (it is now held by Stealth at Thorpe Park , UK). S&S has brought back pneumatic launches in China with OCT Thrust SSC1000 and Bullet Coaster at Happy Valley Wuhan and Happy Valley Shenzhen respectively. Maxx Force at Six Flags Great America marked

432-416: The accumulators is used to drive a number of hydraulic motors (commonly 16 or 32), which spin a large winch drum that rewinds a cable attached to the lead car of the train, called the catch-car, in a matter of seconds. The cable runs under the launch track , and the catch-car moves along a groove in the track's center. The motor is positioned at the opposite end of the catch-car on the launch track. While

459-478: The attraction are themed to everyday life in those times, like bathing and laundry. Its largest installation to date, Mammut , built in 2008, is an entirely wooden roller coaster, the first of its kind in Southern Germany, and themed as a sawmill. Nearly 860 metres (2,820 ft) long and costing approximately 6 million euros, the roller coaster was designed by the renowned Ingenieur Büro Stengel GmbH,

486-439: The electromagnetic and catapult launch mechanisms. The acceleration from a hydraulic launch is greatest at the beginning and dies off rapidly, but the acceleration from a LIM/LSM launch remains fairly constant throughout the duration of the launch. The core of the system involves powerful hydraulic pumps, usually eight, that are each capable of producing approximately 500 horsepower (373 kW). In Kingda Ka 's configuration,

513-602: The manufacture of amusement rides and roller coasters. In March 2007, Gerstlauer Elektro GmbH was subsequently renamed Gerstlauer Amusement Rides GmbH. Gerstlauer's first own-designed and manufactured roller coaster, the 'G'sengte Sau', a bobsled roller coaster , was built in Erlebnispark Tripsdrill , an amusement park in Baden-Württemberg , south-eastern Germany. Since 2003, Gerstlauer became popular with their Euro-Fighter roller coaster, which

540-542: The name of Joker. In 1982, Hubert Gerstlauer, a former employee of the Anton Schwarzkopf -owned Schwarzkopf Industries GmbH company founded his own company, named Gerstlauer Elektro GmbH . With this new Gerstlauer-named company, he delivered electric and pneumatic equipment for Schwarzkopf's facilities. After final bankruptcy of Schwarzkopf Industries GmbH in 1992, Gerstlauer Elektro GmbH acquired part of their production sites and facilities, and continued

567-447: The park to his sons Roland, Helmut, and Dieter in 1996, and died on 28 January 2010. In 2013, the park opened a new launched coaster called Karacho . For the 2020 season, the park added two new roller coasters by Vekoma . These coasters were Volldampf and Hals-über-Kopf . Approximately 600,000 people visit Tripsdrill each year and the park employs about 150 people. The theme park area opens from late March to early November, but

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594-465: The park. In 1957, a zoo opened with approximately 300 animals. A mechanical attraction arrived in 1960 in the form of pedal-driven locomotives. The zoo was transformed into a wildlife park and petting zoo in 1972, which was expanded in 1976 to include over 1,000 animals. The wine museum ‘Vinarium’ contains the largest collection of wood-spindle presses in Germany. Kurt Fischer handed on the management of

621-416: The return of pneumatic launches in the United States. Magnets are placed under the cars and a series of flywheels coupled to aluminum discs is in the launch zone: there is no contact between the two. The system can be used also for speed up intermediate launchers, and for braking, with static aluminum blades, at the end of the ride. Thanks to the energy stored in the flywheels, the power demand for launching

648-558: The same way. An example of this is Irn Bru Revolution . Another type of launch is by friction wheels . The launch track consists of a series of horizontal tires that pinch the brake fins on the underside of the train. One example of this is the Incredible Hulk Coaster at Universal's Islands of Adventure . Gerstlauer 48°18′36″N 10°26′59″E  /  48.31000°N 10.44972°E  / 48.31000; 10.44972 Gerstlauer Amusement Rides GmbH

675-413: The system can produce a peak power of up to 20,800 hp (15.5 MW) for each launch. Hydraulic fluid is pumped into several different hydraulic accumulators – energy storing devices – containing two compartments that are separated by a piston . As the incompressible hydraulic fluid is pumped into one compartment, nitrogen in the other compartment is compressed. At launch, the fluid under pressure from

702-432: The train inches forward into a ready position, the pusher mechanism moves back from the motor toward the train. Once the pusher connects, the anti-rollback braking system drops beneath the track, giving the train the green light to be launched. The first hydraulic launch coaster was Xcelerator reaching 82 mph (132 km/h) in 2.3 seconds. The world's tallest roller coaster, Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure ,

729-450: The wildlife park is open all year. The parking lot directly in front of the main entrance is free of charge. Originality, attention to detail, and a preference for local building firms and materials is an important emphasis at Tripsdrill. The park was one of the first to install the now-ubiquitous " teacups " ride and its Bathtub Flume Ride is the tallest in Europe. The theme of the park is "Schwaben anno 1880" (Swabia in 1880) and many of

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