Project 2021/Drachen Spire: Intamin Multi-Launch Shuttle Giga Coaster [Cancelled]

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General Information:​

"Project Drachen Spire," is a community-generated identifier for the Intamin-made, multi-launch, shuttle giga coaster that was originally slated to open at Busch Gardens Williamsburg in 2021. The attraction is planned to utilize the currently-vacant land behind Verbolten, Festhaus Park—the former home of Drachen Fire.

The coaster's main layout—as leaked before the addition was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic—featured two launches, two spikes (one spiral, one vertical-ish), and a couple of banked turns. Drachen Spire was designed to run two trains by means of a pair of switch tracks connecting the primary, shuttle portion of the layout to the station platform.

Important Articles:​

  • Most Up-To-Date Understanding of the Layout:
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    If there’s a god, he’s up there laughing this afternoon. Why? Because BGWFans just had one of those classic sitcom moments. Yesterday, we published our painstakingly detailed analysis of the footer plan for what we believe is Busch Gardens Williamsburg’s 2021 roller coaster—seemingly a huge...
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    Drachen Spire Height Waiver Extension Details – BGWFans

    Just over a week ago, we reported on the renewal of the notorious 355 foot Festhaus Park height waiver that was originally requested for the controversial, Intamin-made, multi-launch, giga, shuttle coaster we’ve dubbed Drachen Spire. In last week’s article, we were very careful to leave the door...
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ˁ˚ᴥ˚ˀ said:
It would need to pass 100 to go up close to 350ft. Unless there are launches on the spike itself.
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The center of mass of the train is the altitude that matters. The center of mass of the train, even a short one, will not be 350 feet in the air, though some extra "height" may be available in the ravine.

A lot will hinge on:
  1. How high up the spike the center of mass of the train travels
  2. How deep into the ravine the pre-spike launch dips
  3. The location of the LSM stators / mag braking along that stretch, specifically whether they continue for some distance uphill on the spike approach -- meaning the launch velocity could be a bit lower, and the max speed on the return could be a bit lower too
  4. Whether or not there is any LSM boost atop the spike (I really really doubt this will be the case)
  5. All the usual energy sinks: air resistance, rolling resistance, ...
I'm expecting something just shy of 100 mph, but as with EVERYTHING beyond the physical evidence Zachary posted, nothing is known for sure on here.

In an airless, frictionless, rotational-inertia-free world, a height difference of 335 feet would be required to just barely exceed 100 mph. We don't live in that world, so the required height only goes up from there.

Delaware Giga Coaster said:
Second, thinking about how it will need to get up close to 100mph on the launch before the spike, when it comes back down I feel like there would have to be trim brakes on that launch section, otherwise we are going through a not all that large turn at ~80mph. That wouldn’t be good
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Correct, the bottom of the drop should feature a speed-bleeding technology (likely passive magnetic braking) to reduce the speed of the train before it hits that big curve during the return trip. Speed: The Ride did this very effectively in Vegas, slowing the train on its backward return before it went through the loop and curve in reverse.
 
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Delaware Giga Coaster said:
Second, thinking about how it will need to get up close to 100mph on the launch before the spike, when it comes back down I feel like there would have to be trim brakes on that launch section, otherwise we are going through a not all that large turn at ~80mph. That wouldn’t be good
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LSM launch sections always double as braking sections to account for roll backs and such. This ride will be no different. They won't have to add anything physically different in order to slow the train down post spike.
 
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I was talking to some spirits this morning, and I figured I should ask about 2021, see what they might know.

The first position is the past—the Three of Swords—representing treachery, betrayal and heartbreak. This is of course from the energy of the MMXX/Project Madrid excitement, confusion, redactions, and ultimately the cancellation of what was believed to be a Giga coaster. No doubt this energy emerged from the 135 pages of forum complaining done regarding the project.

The second position is that of present—The Two of Cups—representing a budding romance! We have seen the veil lifted from the treachery of the past, and we alight with the bright, blossoming energies of love. This energy is pretty evident—the positivism of the forum abounds right now.

Now we find ourselves deep in the mists of the future, trying to scry out what details the spirits can find for us. I will say, of all the energies present, the third position is the most tenuous and should be heeded with caution and an open-mind. Here we find Death. Don't let the drama of the card overshadow what it's trying to tell us: something needs to end. It needs closure, and it will happen voluntarily or involuntarily. Either way—once the initial forms of suffering have passed—it heeds a positive transformation.

I will not comment further, as that would only be speculation. Consider this my inside information of the future of the park. This is what the spirits gave unto me, and this is what I pass along to you.

IMG_20200121_103120.jpg

Edit: omg, I didn't realize it would happen so soon. Rest in peace the crypt.
 
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The NL2 videos are incredible, many thanks for all the hard work! I'd love to see how the pov looks from a backward facing car though!
 
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Super interesting concept. It’s definitely different than what I expected, but I’m looking forward to riding it!
 
halfabee said:
The center of mass of the train is the altitude that matters. The center of mass of the train, even a short one, will not be 350 feet in the air, though some extra "height" may be available in the ravine.

A lot will hinge on:
  1. How high up the spike the center of mass of the train travels
  2. How deep into the ravine the pre-spike launch dips
  3. The location of the LSM stators / mag braking along that stretch, specifically whether they continue for some distance uphill on the spike approach -- meaning the launch velocity could be a bit lower, and the max speed on the return could be a bit lower too
  4. Whether or not there is any LSM boost atop the spike (I really really doubt this will be the case)
  5. All the usual energy sinks: air resistance, rolling resistance, ...
I'm expecting something just shy of 100 mph, but as with EVERYTHING beyond the physical evidence Zachary posted, nothing is known for sure on here.

In an airless, frictionless, rotational-inertia-free world, a height difference of 335 feet would be required to just barely exceed 100 mph. We don't live in that world, so the required height only goes up from there.


Correct, the bottom of the drop should feature a speed-bleeding technology (likely passive magnetic braking) to reduce the speed of the train before it hits that big curve during the return trip. Speed: The Ride did this very effectively in Vegas, slowing the train on its backward return before it went through the loop and curve in reverse.
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I do believe that you ate thinking of this in reverse. The top speed will be the speed to counteract gravity plus friction to get to the peak height, not the speed gained by gravity minus friction traveling down a drop.

Center of mass im guessing is 15-20ft below the nose of the train on a 4 car int. So lets say this only gets the train +300 feet from highest launch stator.

Reference red force boosts the trains 355 ft with 117mph.
 
ˁ˚ᴥ˚ˀ said:
Center of mass im guessing is 15-20ft below the nose of the train on a 4 car int. So lets say this only gets the train +300 feet from highest launch stator.

Reference red force boosts the trains 355 ft with 117mph.
Click to expand...

Just keep in mind that RF uses a straight launch track and stators don't really go up the hill like this very well could, so I wont be getting too excited expecting a 100+ MPH ride.

Quick edit note: I would guess that this ride will probably be between 95-100mph to get anywhere near the top of the tower, which means you can theme it to football (soccer) and call it "Upper 90's" lol
 
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ˁ˚ᴥ˚ˀ said:
I do believe that you ate thinking of this in reverse. The top speed will be the speed to counteract gravity plus friction to get to the peak height, not the speed gained by gravity minus friction traveling down a drop.
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Boosting to height, yes, loss effects slightly increase the max speed needed. Dropping from height, loss effects slightly reduce the max speed reached.

Both are happening here. And it's fair to assume the max launch speed therefore will be greater than the max speed of the drop, assuming launch and braking are identically effective at providing vs. bleeding kinetic energy. (Again, assumptions, but probably safe, or approximately so.)

Totally agree that we should consider both halves of the vertical experience -- not just the second half I focused on.

None of that really changes my expectations materially, to be honest. I think 99 mph is more likely than 101 mph (etc.) as the actual requirement.

But I also think the ride system will be capable of at least 100 mph, regardless of whether that speed is needed. Nice to hang a hat on that rack.

ˁ˚ᴥ˚ˀ said:
Center of mass im guessing is 15-20ft below the nose of the train on a 4 car int. So lets say this only gets the train +300 feet from highest launch stator.

Reference red force boosts the trains 355 ft with 117mph.
Click to expand...
...With momentum to spare, reliably, in Red Force's case. Not needed for Drachen Spire. IMO that top speed is also suspiciously high by at least 5 mph, which makes a very substantial difference when the 5mph in question is between 111-112 mph and 117. Way more kinetic energy bundled up in those higher mph.

This is good idle fun to pass the time... I think marketing will win, which will only obscure the true high speed typically reached on the ride.
 
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Sorry, I'm not done with how excited I am about this. I'm gonna copy / paste something I wrote for r/rollercoasters to summarize my excitement.

Let's first look at what's around this park. You've got...

• King's Dominion: recently neutered with the removal of a one-of-a-kind ride with Volcano and rumored to add a short wing coaster in 2021. Home of Virginia's only (/fastest /tallest) giga coaster at 305ft (300ft drop) and 90mph with Intimidator 305.
• Six Flags Great Adventure: home of Kingda Ka, strata coaster and the fastest / tallest in the US + a good variety of steel coasters with one amazing wooden coaster. Getting a custom (for now) Raptor from RMC in 2020
• Carowinds: Home of the world's tallest and fastest giga coaster at 325ft and 95mph. Great selection of rides, including competing hyper Intimidator to Apollo's (arguably because of distance) and a diverse selection of other rides.
• Six Flags America: Not even close to the same ballpark as these other parks. Cheaper?

Now... Busch Gardens is adding Pantheon, a first of its kind multilaunch coaster from Intamin in 2020. It looks... amazing. So why then would Busch add another coaster with a "swing launch" (forward, back, forward) when Pantheon and Tempesto already have one? Well, in addition to people enjoying 1) long rides and 2) launches more than lift hills, this new ride could be a genius marketing move and put BGW on the map with 2 one of a kind coasters in two years that are easily marketable because one of them helps the park break records in the giga class of coasters.

• The ride has a height waiver of 355ft above grade making it the tallest giga coaster in the USA and perhaps the giga with the biggest drop because of the large ravine before the spike. The ride is permitted to be 435ft above sea level so we could be looking at something truly incredible.
• Only coaster over 305ft for over 300 miles and only with an over 300ft drop
• Fastest coaster within 300 miles.
• Second "only of its kind" in the US in two consecutive years at the same park.
• Solidifies BGW as the park with the most individual launches (2 with Verbolten, 3 with Tempesto, 4 with Pantheon, and likely 3 with Drachen Spire = 12)
• Move fast while competition (King's Dominion) is down one of its best and most unique coasters
• Virginia launch capital
• Cheaper due to it and Pantheon being prototypes and under one contract with Intamin
• Possibly marketed as a strata? 435ft above sea level is what the permit allows. Slimy, but maybe effective.

This coaster is... a win already. And before anyone says, "yeah well I'd rather have Pantheon and then wait a few more years for more $ for a full circuit ride"... You need to factor in opportunity costs. What will BGW earn how quickly with two super marketable rides? What will be lost as nearby parks catch up? How much more expensive would this new ride actually be?

This is the most interesting / best decision I've seen a park make in a really, really long time.

---

Okay I'm done now and can't even tell you how much I agree with Zach about the marketing value of sequencing Pantheon before Drachen Spire
 
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RE: Front and back seating.

Hacking some seats in each direction is going to make queuing a complete shit fest from groups trying to sync up and who wants front facing and back facing.
No thanks on that.
 
ControlsEE said:
Should press the marketing dept to have JCC cops or VA state troopers to "verify" the speed on opening day.
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And juice it up to the max of the ride system's allowable performance envelope, since the resulting speed report will stick forever.

"Trooper, have you calibrated that LIDAR unit lately? Let me see that calibration certificate... <squint, rotate form and hold at arm's length> Gee, it looks like your equipment may end up reading a bit low. Better add 5mph to whatever it reads, just to be 'accurate'..."
 
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warfelg said:
RE: Front and back seating.

Hacking some seats in each direction is going to make queuing a complete shit fest from groups trying to sync up and who wants front facing and back facing.
No thanks on that.
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I think it's doable. And I think it'll be no more a shit-fest than Hagrid's cycle and sidecar.

And I figure the marketing will be "the fastest, tallest shuttle coaster on the East Coast. Unless they try to fudge the speed to 101mph running an empty train to surpass Superman: Escape from Krypton - then they trumpet the speed as "fastest in the USA!"
 
GrandpaD said:
I think it's doable. And I think it'll be no more a shit-fest than Hagrid's cycle and sidecar.

And I figure the marketing will be "the fastest, tallest shuttle coaster on the East Coast. Unless they try to fudge the speed to 101mph running an empty train to surpass Superman: Escape from Krypton - then they trumpet the speed as "fastest in the USA!"
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Don't forget that they can also market it as the world's fastest mulit launch without any caveats this time
 
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