Superman Escape

Superman Escape
Location	Warner Bros. Movie World
Coordinates	27°54′28.7″S 153°18′45″E
Status	Operating
Opened	26 December 2005 (2005-12-26)
Cost	A$12,000,000
Type	Steel - Launched
Manufacturer	Intamin
Designer	Werner Stengel
Model	Accelerator Coaster
Track layout	Custom
Lift/launch system	Hydraulic Launch
Height	40 m (130 ft)
Drop	40 m (130 ft)
Length	760 m (2,490 ft)
Max speed	100 km/h (62 mph)
Inversions	0
Duration	1:40
Max vertical angle	90°
Capacity	820 riders per hour
Acceleration	0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) in 2 seconds
Max G force	4.2
Height restriction	140 cm (4 ft 7 in)
Trains	2 trains with 5 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 20 riders per train.
Maximum Height	196 cm (6 ft 5 in)
Superman Escape at RCDB
Pictures of Superman Escape at RCDB
Amusement Parks Portal

Superman Escape is an Intamin Accelerator Coaster at Warner Bros. Movie World in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. The ride opened on Boxing Day (26 December), 2005. It is the fourth roller coaster in the theme park. It accelerates from 0 to 100 kilometres per hour (62 mph) in two seconds.

History

Construction and Opening

By June 2005, construction was well under-way for Superman Escape with the area cleared ready for the ride. The ride caused the removal of the Movie Magic Special Effects Show and the Looney Tunes Musical Revue. By August 2005, the launch track was constructed in addition to supports for the ride's first element, a top hat. At this time 43 pieces of track still remained to be constructed. During August the top hat was constructed as well as the first of two camel humps. By mid September the second camel hump was constructed. With the roller coaster's construction completed in October, the focus turned to theming and landscaping before the ride's official opening on 26 December 2005.

Marketing

During construction the ride was heavily marketed in print, television, radio, online, in-park and outdoor advertising. Warner Bros. Movie World launched teaser campaign entitled 01002. This line referred to the launch: 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 2 seconds. A competition was run to determine who could decipher this code first. In-park advertising consisted of banners which read "It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Superman! Launching December 2005.".

Summary

The ride starts in a MRT (Metropolis Rapid Transit) subway station. Warnings of tremors make it necessary to move to the next station. This move is done via a typical tire drive system. Many special effects follow such as gas mains bursting, a pumping station blowing resulting in a flood and collapsing walls. Then a blue streak is seen followed by Superman saying "Hold on folks, I'll get you out of here. Fast. Superman fast." This line is followed by the main 100 kilometres per hour (62 mph) launch. The train launches up the ride's Top Hat, followed by a heavily banked turn to the right. The train then speeds up and over the first Camel Hump before briefly entering the second story of the ride's station for a sharp left hand turn. Upon exiting the building riders enter the second Camel Hump, which creates a headchopper effect with the first. The third banked turn wraps in parallel to the first, but crosses over it and into the brakes. There is a gift shop after the ride where people can buy Superman merchandise and on-ride photos.

Gallery

• 

  The plaque outside the ride

• 

  The roller coaster's 100-kilometre-per-hour (62 mph) launch.

• 

  Looking up at the 40-metre (130 ft) top hat.

• 

  The first camel-hump which crosses over the second.

• 

  A train exiting the mid-course tunnel.

• 

  The top hat looms over Warner Bros. Movie World's entrance

See also

• Warner Bros. Movie World
• Superman
• Accelerator Coaster

External links

• Official website
• Superman Escape launch site at the Web Archive