Visit the Kingda Ka page on Coasterpedia - The Roller Coaster Wiki! Click here! Template:Infobox roller coasterKingda Ka is a steel accelerator roller coaster located at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey, United States. It is the world's tallest roller coaster, the world's second fastest roller coaster, and was the second strata coaster ever built. Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point was the first. The coaster was built by Stakotra.[1] The train is launched by a hydraulic launch mechanism to 128 miles per hour (206 km/h) in 3.5 seconds.[2] At the end of the launch track, the train climbs the main top hat tower, reaching a height of 456 feet (139 m) and spanning over a 3,118-foot-long (950 m) track by the end of the ride.[3] Kingda Ka was SBNO due to the construction of Zumanjaro: Drop of Doom which is attached to the Kingda Ka coaster structure.[4]
History
Plans to build Kingda Ka were announced on September 10, 2004 at an event held for the media and roller coaster enthusiasts.[5] The event revealed the park's goal to build "the tallest and fastest roller coaster on earth", reaching Template:Convert and accelerating up to Template:Convert in 3.5 seconds.[6] On January 13, 2005, Kingda Ka's tower construction was completed,[7] and on May 21, 2005, the ride opened to the public. Kingda Ka became the "tallest" and "fastest" roller coaster in the world, taking both world records from Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point. It lost the title of world's fastest when Formula Rossa at Ferrari World opened in November 2010.[8] Intamin designed both Kingda Ka and Top Thrill Dragster, and the two share a similar design and layout that differs primarily by the theme and the additional hill featured on Kingda Ka.[9] Both rides were built by Stakotra [10] and installed by Martin & Vleminckx.[11]
On August 29, 2013, Six Flags Great Adventure officially announced Zumanjaro: Drop of Doom for the upcoming 2014 season. The new attraction will be attached to the Kingda Ka coaster structure.[4] The drop tower will feature three gondolas integrated into the existing which will be also be built by Intamin.
Ride experience
Kingda Ka's layout and experience is nearly identical to Top Thrill Dragster.[12] After the train has been locked and checked, it moves slowly out of the station to the launch area. It passes through a switch track, which allows four trains (on two tracks) to load simultaneously. When the signal to launch is given, the train rolls back slightly (to engage the catch car) and the brakes on the launch track retract.[13] There is a voice that says "arms down, head back, and hold on". The launch occurs five seconds after the hissing sound of the brake fins retracting or the warning voice.[14] Kingda Ka's horn previously sounded before each launch,[15] but it was silenced due to noise complaints from nearby residents; the horn now sounds only when Kingda Ka first launches after being idle for a length of time. When the train is in position, the hydraulic launch mechanism accelerates the train from 0 to 128 miles per hour (0 to 206 km/h) in 3.5 seconds.[2] At the end of the launch track, the train climbs the main tower (or top hat) and rolls 90 degrees to the right before reaching a height of Template:Convert.[3] The train then descends Template:Convert straight down through a 270-degree right-hand spiral. The train climbs the second hill of Template:Convert, producing a moment of weightlessness before being smoothly brought to a stop by the magnetic brakes; it then makes a left-hand U-turn and enters the station. The ride lasts 28 seconds from the start of the launch.[16][17]
Theme
Kingda Ka is themed as a mythical tiger, named for the Template:Convert Golden Tabby Bengal tiger who lived in an adjacent exhibit before moving to the park's safari.[18] The ride's sign and station have a Nepalese style. The queue line is surrounded by bamboo, which augments the jungle theme.[19] Jungle music is played during the wait and throughout the Golden Kingdom section of the park, which was built for the ride.[5]
The hydraulic launch motor is capable of producing 20,800 peak horsepower (15.5 MW). Because of the high speed and open nature of the trains, the ride will not operate in light rain.[20]
Trains and station
Kingda Ka's four trains are color-coded for easy identification (green, dark blue, teal, and orange) and are numbered; the four colors are also used for the seats and restraints. Each train seats 18 people (two per row). The rear car has one row, while the rest have two.[21] The rear row of each car is positioned higher than its front row for better visibility.
Each of Kingda Ka's trains has an extra row of seat mounts. The panels could be removed for the installation of additional seats in the future. This modification would increase the capacity of each train from 18 to 20, and the hourly capacity of the coaster from 1400 to 1600 riders per hour. Kingda Ka's station is prepared for this modification, with entrance gates for the currently-nonexistent row of seats.[21]
Kingda Ka's over-the-shoulder restraint system consists of a thick, rigid lap bar and two thin, flexible over-the-shoulder restraints.[22] Because the over-the-shoulder portions of the restraint are not rigid, the hand grips are mounted to the lap bar. Kingda Ka's restraints are also held down by a belt, in case the main locking system fails. To speed loading, riders are asked to secure their own restraints if possible.
Kingda Ka's station has two parallel tracks, with switch tracks at the entrance and exit. Each of the station's tracks is designed to accommodates two trains, so each of the four trains can be operated from its own station. While all of the trains are mechanically identical and able to load and unload at each of the four individual station bays the original plan was for all trains to operate at the same time and for each train to load and unload at their own station. During normal operation, trains on one side are loaded while trains on the other side are launched.[22] When both sides of the station are in use an employee directs riders in line to go to a particular side, where they can choose to sit in the front or rear of the train.[13] During recent seasons it has become common that only one train bay (the forward one on the side opposite of the parking lot) be used for the loading, unloading, and dispatching of trains and that the other train or trains in operation on any given day wait either in the station behind a loading/unloading train or outside of the station on the brakes that follow the second hill. Two operators load, check and dispatch each train; another launches the trains. Kingda Ka's music is by Safri Duo; almost their entire Episode II album is played in the queue and station. The other is the remix version of Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger", played by DJ Quicksilver. Both of these may be heard during the queue and in the station.[23]
Rollbacks
A train may occasionally experience a rollback following a launch. A rollback occurs when the train fails to make it over the top of the tower and descends back down the side it was launched. Kingda Ka includes retractable magnetic brakes on its launch track to prevent a train from rolling back into the loading station.[15]
Incidents
Bolt failure
During a test run with no passengers on June 8, 2005, a bolt failed inside a trough that the launch cable travels through. This caused the liner to come loose creating friction on the cable and preventing the train from accelerating to the correct speed. The rubbing of the cable against the inside of the metal trough caused sparks and shards of metal to fly out from the bottom of the train. The ride was closed for almost two months following the incident.[24]
Damage occurred to the launch cable which was frayed and required replacement, to the engine including minor damage to seals, and to many of the brake fins. The brake fins in the launch section are mounted to keep fast-moving trains from moving backward into the station. However, the fast-moving train being pulled forward caused an unexpected stress on a number of fins bending them forward. Not all required replacement, but there were more damaged brake fins than Six Flags had replacements for. Extra brake fins had to be ordered from the manufacturer, Intamin in Switzerland, and the ride had to undergo thorough testing following the repair.[20] Kingda Ka reopened on August 4.[25]
Lightning strike
Kingda Ka was struck by lightning in early May 2009 and suffered serious damage.[26] After being closed for three months, Kingda Ka reopened on August 21, 2009.[27]
Hurricane Irene
On August 27, 2011, Kingda Ka suffered unspecified damage shortly before Hurricane Irene. On Saturday, August 27, Six Flags Great Adventure did not open due to the approaching hurricane. While it is unknown whether additional damage occurred due to the storm, the coaster was damaged to the extent that it could not run before Irene.[28] Kingda Ka remained closed until the start of the 2012 operating season on April 5.[29]
Bird strike
Shortly before 5:00 pm on July 26, 2012, a young boy was sent to the hospital after suffering minor injuries from being struck by a bird during normal operation. The ride resumed normal operation shortly after the incident.[30]
References
- ↑ http://www.stakotra.sk/kingda_ka.html
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Kingda Ka: Great Adventure
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Template:Cite RCDB
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 New for 2014
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Kingda Ka: The Media Event (October 12, 2004). Archived from the original on March 14, 2008. Retrieved on September 1, 2007.
- ↑ Six Flags Great Adventure will launch the tallest, fastest roller coaster on earth (September 29, 2004).
- ↑ Six Flags Makes History as it Completes the Tallest, Fastest Roller Coaster on Earth's 95-story Tower (January 14, 2005). Retrieved on March 30, 2008.
- ↑ "Record breaking roller coasters". Retrieved on May 30, 2012.
- ↑ Kingda Ka vs. Top Thrill Dragster
- ↑ http://www.stakotra.sk/amusement.html
- ↑ Intamin. Martin & Vleminckx. Retrieved on November 16, 2013.
- ↑ Top Thrill Dragster photo. Retrieved on May 30, 2012.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Coaster Grotto Review", Coastergrotto. Retrieved on June 4, 2012.
- ↑ Blog Critics review (2007). Retrieved on June 4, 2012.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 "Kingda Ka rollack". Retrieved on March 13, 2012.
- ↑ Kingda Ka POV (2010). Retrieved on June 1, 2012.
- ↑ Kingda Ka Ride Review (2008). Retrieved on March 12, 2012.
- ↑ We go Places information on Kingda Ka. Retrieved on June 7, 2012.
- ↑ "10 Highest roller coasters on Earth". Retrieved on May 25, 2012.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Levine, Arthur. Kingda Ka malfunction- Why Six Flags Great Adventure's roller coaster is not operating. About.com. Retrieved on August 22, 2007.
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 "Extra row on train", amusementpics.com. Retrieved on June 4, 2012.
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 "Kingda Ka roller coster", love to know.theme parks. Retrieved on June 4, 2012.
- ↑ "Station music", Scipiomask. Retrieved on June 4, 2012.
- ↑ "2005 incident", Rideaccidents.com. Retrieved on June 4, 2012.
- ↑ "Kingda Ka reopens (2005)", abclocal.go.com. Retrieved on June 6, 2012.
- ↑ England: Roller coaster the ultimate terror ride
- ↑ Kingda Ka has reopened
- ↑ Road trip to Six Flags Great Adventure
- ↑ Opening weekend at Six Flags Great Adventure
- ↑ Bird slams into boy's face on Six Flags roller coaster