T3 (roller coaster)
| T3 | |
|---|---|
| Previously known as T2 (1995-2009) | |
| Kentucky Kingdom | |
| Coordinates | 38°11′39″N 85°44′49″W / 38.194136°N 85.747009°WCoordinates: 38°11′39″N 85°44′49″W / 38.194136°N 85.747009°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | 1995 |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Steel – Inverted |
| Manufacturer | Vekoma |
| Model | SLC (662m Prototype) |
| Lift/launch system | Chain lift hill |
| Height | 101.7 ft (31.0 m) |
| Length | 2,171.9 ft (662.0 m) |
| Speed | 49.7 mph (80.0 km/h) |
| Inversions | 5 |
| Duration | 1:36 |
| Capacity | 900 riders per hour |
| Height restriction | 52 in (132 cm) |
| Trains | 2 trains with 7 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in a single row for a total of 14 riders per train. |
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T3 at RCDB Pictures of T3 at RCDB |
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T3 (pronounced "T-three" or "Terror to the third power") is an inverted roller coaster at Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville, Kentucky. Previously named T2, the Suspended Looping Coaster model manufactured by Vekoma opened in 1995. The amusement park closed in 2010 due to financial difficulties, but later reopened under new ownership in 2014. The roller coaster was refurbished and renamed T3, which reopened to the public on July 3, 2015.
The concept to add inversions to the inverted roller coaster was first developed by Jim Wintrode, general manager of Six Flags Great America, in the 1990s. Wintrode worked with Walter Bolliger and Claude Mabillard – from Swiss roller coaster manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard – along with engineer Robert Mampe to develop Batman: The Ride which opened at Six Flags Great America in 1992.Dutch amusement ride manufacturer Vekoma developed a similar concept shortly after, and the model became known as the Suspended Looping Coaster (SLC). Their first installation was El Condor at Six Flags Holland which debuted in 1994.
In 1995, nine parks around the world announced plans to add Vekoma SLCs, including Kentucky Kingdom. The installation at Kentucky Kingdom was identical to the original prototype at Walibi Holland, but it featured a different color scheme – red track with purple trains. Announced as T2, the roller coaster officially opened to the public in 1995.
At the end of 1997, the rights to operate Kentucky Kingdom were sold to Premier Parks for $64 million. Following the acquisition, Batman and DC Comics themes were added to Kentucky Kingdom. As a result, T2 was painted black for the 1999 season. This was due to a plan by Six Flags to retheme part of the park as Gotham City, and rebrand T2 as Batman: The Ride and its next door roller coaster, Chang, as Riddler's Revenge. However, these plans never came to fruition, while T2 retained its new coat of black paint.
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