Speaking of does anyone have an exact height number for how tall Ka’s crane was? All I see is 50 stories and while it most likely means 500ft, stories can be different depending on the application.
News Project 2027/Purple: Delayed “World Record Breaking Coaster" (Phantom Spire?)
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I mean the old PR states "over 500 ft." And these pics make it clear it looks 50ish ft taller to top off the tower.
The model crane they used can be configured up to 520' I believe it was a Manitowoc 2250 Series 2.
I am hoping this coaster will be taller than KA as they are advertising this as the big worthy replacement. If this is shorter, I can see backlash or disappointment from the public as they definitely will compare it. Technically this could reach 460 ft even if the crane is 450 ft tall but it’s pretty unlikely.
I found the old FAA permits, crane height was 520' (one permit for all cranes, as they used multiple), and a separate permit for the structure, which we haven't seen filed yet to my knowledge for the new coaster. Looks like the permanent permit was filed after the crane (~3 days).
| STUDY (ASN) | PRIOR ASN | STATUS | DETERMINATION | ENTERED DATE | RECEIVED DATE | COMPLETION DATE | EXPIRATION DATE | LATITUDE | LONGITUDE | SURVEY_ACCURACY | MARKING LIGHTING TYPE | MARKING LIGHTING TYPE OTHER | STRUCTURE NAME | STRUCTURE CITY | STRUCTURE COUNTY NAME | STRUCTURE COUNTY ID | STRUCTURE STATE | DISTANCE FROM AIRPORT | DIRECTION FROM AIRPORT | PROPOSAL DESCRIPTION | LOCATION DESCRIPTION | NOTICE OF | DURATION | DURATION DAYS | DURATION MONTHS | WORK SCHEDULE BEGINNING DATE | WORK SCHEDULE ENDING DATE | DATE BUILT | STRUCTURE TYPE | AGL HEIGHT DET | AGL HEIGHT DNE | AGL HEIGHT PROPOSED | ELEVATION | AMSL HEIGHT DET | AMSL HEIGHT DNE | AMSL HEIGHT PROPOSED | REPRESENTATIVE NAME | SPONSOR NAME |
| 2004-AEA-2998-OE | 2004-AEA-924-OE | Determined - No Hazard | No Hazard | 10/18/04 | 10/15/04 | 10/28/04 | 04/28/06 | 40.139003 | -74.433775 | 4D | Red lights and paint | JACKSON | Ocean | 29 | NJ | 44534 | 329.7 | TO ERECT NEW ROLLER COASTER | New Construction | Temporary | 0 | 5 | 10/15/04 | 03/15/05 | CRANE | 520 | 0 | 520 | 127 | 647 | 127 | 647 | BIRDSALL ENGINEERING INC | SIX FLAGS GREAT ADVENTURE | ||||
| 2004-AEA-2999-OE | 2004-AEA-924-OE | Determined - No Hazard | No Hazard | 10/18/04 | 10/18/04 | 10/28/04 | 04/28/06 | 40.139003 | -74.433775 | 4D | Dual-red and medium intensity | ROLLER COASTER | JACKSON | Ocean | 29 | NJ | 44534 | 329.7 | New Construction | Permanent | 04/30/05 | OTHER | 456 | 0 | 456 | 127 | 583 | 127 | 583 | BIRDSALL ENGINEERING INC | SIX FLAGS GREAT ADVENTURE |
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It's essentially impossible for it to be taller than Ka given the crane waiver. Between 400 and 420 (Dragster) has always been my hypothesis. Definitely think that's still most likely.
I also pulled the old FAA correspondence, if anyone's interested.
Relevant bit from the FAA determinations; construction equipment can be up to the height of the structure, but anything higher needs a separate permit.
Relevant bit from the FAA determinations; construction equipment can be up to the height of the structure, but anything higher needs a separate permit.
Yeah I was wondering a larger final track piece could end up slightly over the 450 mark to just make it taller. But realistically yeah KA crane was 520 ft so this being 450 means it prob will be shorter may not even be 400 ft
If the ride is shorter than 400ft that’d honestly be a bit of a disappointment. I think that’s a fair opinion to have
Removing ka with no official notice and replacing it with a non strata would be a major disappointment
To be fair I think you can replace "non-strata" with a number of arbitrary categories and still be correct... I don't disagree at all but I think "non-complete-circuit" is more egregious to me
Pretty sure it was said somewhere in the last 107 pages- but I believe(d) this would claim the North American height record by a few feet.
That said, a 450ft crane does not have a 450ft lifting capacity. So unless that model crane has a 24ft buffer between max lift height and max structure height (my gut says this is too small), I'm not so sure anymore. Still think some portion of it will hit the 400ft mark.
That said, a 450ft crane does not have a 450ft lifting capacity. So unless that model crane has a 24ft buffer between max lift height and max structure height (my gut says this is too small), I'm not so sure anymore. Still think some portion of it will hit the 400ft mark.
My guess is still around 400' or a bit less, with the train getting to around 350'-375'.
Exactly. Dragster used 480' cranes, Ka used 520'. When Dragster was built I recall it was notable for only a handful of mobile cranes of that height existing in the States. With wind turbines/etc lift hights of that nature aren't as rare; Ka also used a weird lift configuration that might've necessitated the taller crane height, or it's just what was available.
We might still beat out Dragster but if so only by a few feet.
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Honestly, the only major element of this coaster I was excited for was its height. Similar to Ka, the main attraction to this tower coaster would be its landmark height! If it’s under 400 ft than GA should have just built a large giga coaster in green lanterns and KAs plot instead. Imagine how insane and exciting that would have been. I’m afraid if they do go with the tower it would be a missed opportunity.
Ka's plot, golden kingdom, and rolling thunder's old plot are still available if they wanted a giga in the future.
They could also thread it between Superman and the new ride for a nice front of the park loop for the chunk of GL's plot that's not being used currently.
If they use structure height instead of track height for advertising the new ride I’m going to be very grumpy. 400’ structure with 375’ of track on it does not a strata coaster make.
No matter what, this will always be in the shadow of KA in some form. It could be 500ft tall and 20 MPH faster, but in the end, it was the way it was all carried out that stings the most. Even the GP noticed which is rare, ha.
At the very least, SF would be wise to have a plaque or some other thoughtful marker of the impact KA had as a record holder and a memory for millions. Interplay of the story of that ride and whatever this is would be pretty special IMO. But to build this and forget KA even happened in this location is a missed opportunity to showcase the power of the park and its ideas as the years go on.
At the very least, SF would be wise to have a plaque or some other thoughtful marker of the impact KA had as a record holder and a memory for millions. Interplay of the story of that ride and whatever this is would be pretty special IMO. But to build this and forget KA even happened in this location is a missed opportunity to showcase the power of the park and its ideas as the years go on.
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