Project 2025/Caldera: Rapterra (Launched B&M Wing Coaster)

[CoasterAuditor]

This one's got at least 3 inversions (4 if you count the first element; maybe 5 if the S-curve is actually a corkscrew). That's a good amount of upside-downs! This wing has a launch, one of two B&M launched wings in the Western Hemisphere. I think that's probably the ride's main focus.

It's still really cool and exciting, just slightly to somewhat less impactful on the excitement for some of us without that large corkscrew in the middle of the ride. I personally love when a wing coaster has me hanging in some bizarre position or tricking me into thinking I am going to collide into something. The large corkscrew could have contributed to a potential sense of feeling disoriented as you go into the turnaround.

 

[pogoism9]

The latest pics are

Can't wait to see that thing running and zooming out from behind the trees as people are approaching the area.

 

[Tee0212]

Tbh I always thought the first element was a cutback/overbank turn and not an inversion.

 

[CoasterMac]

Being primarily responsible for the letdown here, I do want to stress that it's still simply a guess based on the delivered track sections. I could easily be wrong about my analysis, as seen by my incorrect read & prediction of the step-down launch.

That said, I'm personally hoping I'm wrong here, and that it is a corkscrew/roll. I feel it would begin a better and more natural sequence of inversion-noninversion all the way through the end of the ride. Though if it is an elevated s-hill, I still think it will provide an interesting range of forces due to the seating position.

Either way, the thing I'm most happy about is that this ride exists, in this form, period. The upgrade from the initial 'leaked' Wing layout cannot be overstated, and I am appreciative of that above all.

 

[Haunted River]

Looks beautiful

 

[CoasterAuditor]

Being primarily responsible for the letdown

Thank you for the work you do with these @CoasterMac they are awesome!

 

[rswashdc]

I'm going to give the ride designer some grace here about whether or not an inversion was the best choice here. There's basically no cost difference between the inversion/non-inversion layout, so this choice wouldn't be because of some penny pinching move.

 

[Zachary]

Yep. That's my position too @rswashdc. Let 'em cook. If we ride it and the element sucks, we can lament the lack of a corkscrew then. Until then, I'm happy to defer to the experts.

 

[ironicgwazi]

As someone that just rode GateKeeper multiple times this past weekend, the inversions were the highlight of the ride. I understand that particular layout is almost exclusively all inversions, but they just work best on the wing style. The large corkscrew is actually one of my favorite inversions on the ride just because of how floaty and fun the sensation is, like you're just gliding on the wing of a stunt plane. I never expected the first overbank to invert, but seeing the corkscrew after the dive loop would be my preference over an s-hill. Then again, I’m reserving judgment until actually seeing what the element is, how it’s profiled/how it rides in the POV, and actually riding it.

 

[Haunted River]

They’ll be putting more supports up tomorrow. They have some on the flatbed that’ll go back there. I think they will finish this front section in the next week if the weather cooperates.

Video later tonight

 

[Haunted River]

Video from today

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Direct Link to Embedded Media Source

 

[madmax]

Yep. That's my position too @rswashdc. Let 'em cook. If we ride it and the element sucks, we can lament the lack of a corkscrew then. Until then, I'm happy to defer to the experts.

There’s a 100% chance that element will suck. KD dropped the ball with some of these element choices.

 

[warfelg]

Yep. That's my position too @rswashdc. Let 'em cook. If we ride it and the element sucks, we can lament the lack of a corkscrew then. Until then, I'm happy to defer to the experts.

I don't disagree at this, as I always want to ride before judging a ride.

But, as my opinion, I feel that wing and inverts should be more about inversions because the airtime elements just don't hit the same. Also, and I believe this is very tied to this element change - Is this going to have the B&M vest restraint? The 2 I've rode with that, again in my opinion, the air time elements sucked because the vest was so tight I didn't feel any air time.

 

[MysticClay]

Yep. That's my position too @rswashdc. Let 'em cook. If we ride it and the element sucks, we can lament the lack of a corkscrew then. Until then, I'm happy to defer to the experts.

I fully agree, we don’t know a thing about the theming yet, perhaps a near miss element (or something else?) could make up for the lack of a corkscrew there

 

[ironicgwazi]

Something I feel like that hasn’t really been discussed yet: the first launch. Will it be a rolling launch or come to a stop beforehand? I’m assuming it is more than likely the latter, however I honestly love Penguin Trek’s rolling launch out of the building and it gives a nice unexpected punch. Again, I’m assuming the train will probably come to a stop for hopefully some kind of lighting/sound effected prior to the launch but would be cool to see them pay homage to Volcano with a rolling launch.

 

[CoasterMac]

Glad you brought that up. I am now under the impression that it will be a rolling launch. Both Thunderbird and Pipeline have a set of drive tires right before the LSM motors begin on the track, and both of those stop for a few seconds before launching. Penguin Trek, however, does not have a set of tires immediately before the LSMs, and is a rolling launch. Caldera is the same, as it's only LSMs after it departs the station.

Now that's not to say that it couldn't stop there without a set of tires, as the LSMs would be entirely capable of controlling the train at that point (especially because that first launch section is its own valley). It's not written-in-stone evidence, but just comparing B&M's existing LSM rides, I think it's a plausible 'tell' that it's a rolling launch. And like you said, it'd be a neat homage to Volcano, especially if the back car is still slightly on the curve when the train starts launching

 

[CoasterAuditor]

It's interesting the difference in dynamics/pacing of a "parked launch" versus a "rolling launch" for me, a rolling launch doesn't feel like it's the central feature of the ride versus a parked launch. But I figure that's probably because a "parked launch" just by nature seems quite a bit more dramatic compared to just rolling along and accelerating suddenly.

 

[ironicgwazi]

Glad you brought that up. I am now under the impression that it will be a rolling launch. Both Thunderbird and Pipeline have a set of drive tires right before the LSM motors begin on the track, and both of those stop for a few seconds before launching. Penguin Trek, however, does not have a set of tires immediately before the LSMs, and is a rolling launch. Caldera is the same, as it's only LSMs after it departs the station.

Now that's not to say that it couldn't stop there without a set of tires, as the LSMs would be entirely capable of controlling the train at that point (especially because that first launch section is its own valley). It's not written-in-stone evidence, but just comparing B&M's existing LSM rides, I think it's a plausible 'tell' that it's a rolling launch. And like you said, it'd be a neat homage to Volcano, especially if the back car is still slightly on the curve when the train starts launching

That’s a neat pull!! I’m honestly kinda hoping it’s rolling, both for homage to Volcano and personal preference. But I think either way could be sick, as long as the park does the launch sequence right with some kind of added theming element and/or sound.

It's interesting the difference in dynamics/pacing of a "parked launch" versus a "rolling launch" for me, a rolling launch doesn't feel like it's the central feature of the ride versus a parked launch. But I figure that's probably because a "parked launch" just by nature seems quite a bit more dramatic compared to just rolling along and accelerating suddenly.

That’s a good point. For me, launches are all about the surprise aspect along with the acceleration and forces they provide. I typically prefer rolling launches on anything that isn’t a hydraulic launch (which is its own beast with the rate of acceleration they provide) as I feel they provide that surprise element a lot more, whereas parked launches feel premeditated and you typically know exactly when you are about to take off. Even something like Hulk with a launch sequence, it catches me off guard every time.

 

[Avalancher]

The suggested non-inverting element could still be cool if it passes through a structure in some sort of a near miss/head chopper/key hole maneuver. Otherwise, I would also prefer the inversion.

 

[bfgfgd]

How bad will this coaster's rattle be that's the real question...