Hypersonic XLC
| Hypersonic XLC | |
|---|---|
The launch section
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| Kings Dominion | |
| Park section | The Grove |
| Coordinates | 37°50′14″N 77°26′46″W / 37.837155°N 77.445974°WCoordinates: 37°50′14″N 77°26′46″W / 37.837155°N 77.445974°W |
| Status | Removed |
| Opening date | March 24, 2001 |
| Closing date | October 28, 2007 |
| Cost | $15,000,000 USD |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Steel – Launched |
| Manufacturer | S&S Worldwide |
| Designer | S&S Worldwide |
| Model | Thrust Air 2000 |
| Track layout | out-and-back |
| Lift/launch system | Pneumatic |
| Height | 165 ft (50 m) |
| Drop | 133 ft (41 m) |
| Length | 1,560 ft (480 m) |
| Speed | 80 mph (130 km/h) |
| Inversions | 0 |
| Duration | 16 seconds |
| Max vertical angle | 90° |
| Capacity | 1,380 riders per hour |
| Acceleration | 0-80 in 1.8 seconds |
| G-force | 4.0 |
| Height restriction | 54 in (137 cm) |
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Hypersonic XLC at RCDB Pictures of Hypersonic XLC at RCDB |
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Hypersonic XLC was a roller coaster located at Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia. Hypersonic was the first compressed air launch coaster in the world. In 2007, Hypersonic XLC was closed and later dismantled. The platform is all that remains at the ride's former location between the Grizzly and the now defunct Hurler coasters.
Hypersonic was built by S&S Worldwide, a company specializing in air-powered rides such as Skyhawk and Power Tower, both located at Cedar Point. Hypersonic was S&S Worldwide's actual prototype for an air-launched coaster, called Thrust Air 2000. The ride was originally fabricated by Intermountain Lift, Inc. It was reconstructed at Kings Dominion after being moved from its original location in Utah. S&S Worldwide also greatly modified the section following the 90° drop to accommodate Kings Dominion's landscape and to properly bank the turn. Hypersonic XLC suffered extended downtime, and was closed for nearly three months at the beginning of Kings Dominion's 2002 season.
After a launch from 0 to 80 mph (130 km/h) in 1.8 seconds up a 90° incline, the ride crested a 165-foot (50 m) hill, and without fully slowing, plummeted down a 90° dive. Next, the coaster performed a banked left turn, went through a smaller banked right turn, and skirted a small hill before heading into the brake run.
Hypersonic XLC's launch system was comparatively new technology utilizing compressed air to launch the ride train. It is very similar to the launch system used to launch Space Shot rides, also developed by S&S Worldwide. Characteristics of compressed air launches are shorter runways and quicker acceleration, when compared to hydraulic and LIM/LSM launch platforms.
The compressed air launch system is used on the world's fastest accelerating ride, Dodonpa, which accelerates to 107 mph (172 km/h) in just 1.8 seconds. It was also used on ring°racer. Rides such as Kingda Ka and Top Thrill Dragster have a higher top speed than Dodonpa, but Dodonpa is the ride with the quickest acceleration.
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