Raptor (Cedar Point)

Overview

Raptor

logodimensions	175px
imagedimensions	275px
location	Cedar Point
section	Main Midway
coordinates	41.47903°N, -82.68181°W
previousattraction	Mill Race
type	Steel
type2	Inverted
status	Operating
soft opened	May 6, 1994
opened	May 7, 1994
manufacturer	Bolliger & Mabillard
designer	Werner Stengel
model	Inverted Coaster - Raptor
lift	Chain lift hill
height ft	137
drop ft	119
length ft	3790
speed mph	57
inversions	6
duration	2:16
angle	45
capacity	1,600
cost	$11.5 - $12 million
restriction in	54
trains	3
carspertrain	8
rowspercar	1
ridersperrow	4
virtual queue name	Fast Lane
virtual queue image	Cedar Fair Fast Lane availibility.svg
virtual queue status	available
rcdb number	1

Raptor is an inverted roller coaster designed by Bolliger & Mabillard at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, United States. The coaster, which broke many records upon its opening in 1994, differs from previous inverted coasters. Instead of having a short layout designed to fit into a compact area like Batman: The Ride, Raptor was designed with a larger, 3,790-foot (1,160 m) layout, making it the tallest, fastest and longest inverted roller coaster in the world when it opened. It features six inversions, including a cobra roll, a first for inverted roller coasters.[1][2] The ride is themed as a bird of prey.[3]

History

On August 19, 1993, Cedar Fair Entertainment Company filed a trademark for the name Raptor.[4]

Ride experience

Raptor is located on three acres (1.2 ha) at the front of the park near Blue Streak. The ride travels over the pathway to Blue Streak then passes by the Cadillac Cars and Cedar Downs Racing Derby.[6]

Layout

The ride begins with a left-hand turn out of the station to the lift hill that ascends 137 ft. Riders are pulled up by a 9,000 lb (40 kN) chain lift. At the top, the train dips slightly into the pre-drop before turning 90 degrees to the left as it drops 119 ft down the first hill. From the bottom the train immediately enters a 100 foot vertical loop. The train then enters a zero-g roll followed by the cobra roll, a first for inverted roller coasters, which inverts riders twice.

After the cobra roll, the train makes a slight right turn followed by an upward left-hand helix and enters the mid-course brake run. Next, the train dives down to the right transitioning into a brief straight section of track. Riders then enter the first of two flat spins which rotates the train 360 degrees to the left. The track straightens briefly again before turning to the right and entering a short dip before taking riders into the second flat spin. The ride finishes with a 1.5 revolution flat helix where riders encounter strong positive G-forces before making one last left turn into the final brake run and back into the station.[1][9][10] One cycle of the ride lasts about 2 minutes and 16 seconds.[8]

Track

The steel track is approximately 3790 ft in length and the height of the lift is approximately 137 ft. The first drop is 119 ft. When the coaster first opened, it was painted with dark green supports, bright green track and unpainted rails. 1,500 gallons of paint were used to originally paint it. Raptor was repainted for the 2002 season and the rails were painted dark green, matching the supports.[8] Most of the 117 sections of track were manufactured by Clermont Steel Fabricators in Batavia, Ohio.[6] The roller coaster was repainted again for the 2016 season with its original colors.[11]

Trains

Raptor operates with three steel and fiberglass trains. Each train has eight cars that have four seats in a single row for a total of 32 riders in Ski lift like trains. Riders are secured by an over the shoulder restraint with a locking belt.[12] The trains were manufactured in Switzerland at Bolliger & Mabillard's headquarters.[6]

Raptor (Cedar Point)

History

Ride experience

Layout

Track

Trains

Operation

Incidents

Awards

External links

References