Superman: Tower of Power is a thrill ride located at two Six Flags parks, and formerly Bluegrass Boardwalk. The one at Six Flags St. Louis is an Intamin Giant Drop model, and the one at Six Flags Over Texas is an S&S Combo Tower model. The one at Bluegrass Boardwalk (then known as Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom) was demolished after an accident that maimed a teenage girl.[1][2]
[edit] Six Flags St. Louis
The Superman: Tower of Power at Six Flags St. Louis was manufactured by Intamin, and is one of Intamin's "Giant Drop" models. Riders sit in open-air ski lift style seats that face away from the tower, leaving their feet dangling. The cars lift up slowly at first, but quickly accelerate to 12 mph (19 km/h) after leaving the magnetic brakes. Riders are held at the top of the 23-story tower for several seconds at the top. The cars are then individually released from the couplings and free fall some 129 ft (39 m), reaching 62 mph (100 km/h) before hitting the brakes.
- Introduced: May 19, 2006
- Height: 227 ft (69 m)
- Drop height: 217 ft (66 m)
- Free fall distance: 129 ft (39 m)
- Free fall speed: 62 mph (100 km/h)
- Lift speed: Up to 16 ft (4.9 m) per second
- Ride Duration: 1 min, 30 sec
- Capacity: 6 cars that hold 4 passengers each, for a total of 24 riders per cycle
- Manufacturer: Intamin AG
- Height restriction: 48 in (122 cm)
[edit] History
- The ride was originally operated at Six Flags Astroworld in Houston, where it was known as the "Dungeon Drop". When Astroworld was closed and demolished in 2005, Dungeon Drop was relocated to Six Flags St. Louis.
- The ride was originally intended to be named "Acrophobia". The tower pieces were painted in an alternating color scheme of orange, green, and teal with white accent rings – prior to being erected at the park during the off-season. When CEO Mark Shapiro made his stop at the park on his national tour of the Six Flags parks in 2006, he ordered the name change to Superman: Tower of Power and the tower was repainted again, but in an alternating color scheme of yellow, blue and red with yellow and blue accent rings.
[edit] Bluegrass Boardwalk
Superman Tower of Power on June 9, 2007
The Superman: Tower of Power at Bluegrass Boardwalk was an Intamin Giant Drop model, nearly identical to the one at Six Flags St. Louis. It opened in 1995 as the first ride of its kind. The original name for this ride was "Hellevator", but it was renamed to "Superman: Tower of Power" in 2007 and received a fresh coat of paint at the top of the ride.
The ride was dismantled in 2008.
[edit] Rider experience
Riders sit in one of four seats in several cars attached to the tower. They are quickly taken 177 feet (47 m) in the air at 12 mph (19 km/h), held at the top for several seconds, and then dropped around 154 feet (47 m) at speeds of 54 mph (87 km/h), before being stopped just 23 feet (7.0 m) from the ground by magnetic brakes.
- Introduced: 1995
- Demolished: 2008
- Height: 177 ft (54 m)
- Drop height: 154 ft (47 m)
- Max speed: 54 mph (87 km/h)
- Lift speed: 12 mph (19 km/h)
- Manufacturer: Intamin
- Height restriction: 48 in (122 cm)
[edit] Incidents
On June 21, 2007, a 13-year-old girl was severely injured on Superman: Tower of Power. Shortly after the start of the ride, a cable snapped which fell and entangled the girl. Though she was able to remove the cable from her neck before the ride reached the top, it was still looped past her feet during the "drop" and shattered her left femur while severing both feet on the way down.[3] The operator heard the cable snap and acknowledged unusual screaming as the car climbed, but failed to hit the emergency stop button before the ride reached the top (after the drop, the ride cannot be halted).[4] Doctors were able to reattach her right foot. The ride was closed for two weeks and later reopened; however, it was removed from the park not long after.[1][2]
[edit] Six Flags Over Texas
Superman at Six Flags Over Texas illuminated at night
The Superman Tower Of Power at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington,TX was added to the tower section of the park in 2003. With a structural height of 325 feet (99 m), it is the tallest ride in the park passing that of the Oil Derrick Observation Tower by 25 feet (7.6 m). Superman Tower of Power is also the tallest ride to use both space shot and turbo drop pneumatic (air powered) sequences in the world. It features three towers: blue, red, and yellow positioned so that ride resembles a tripod like structure. Riders are seated facing outwards and are strapped using air-locked shoulder restraints and a safety belt that attaches the restraint to the seat. The ride begins with the weigh process. During this time the cart is raised and lowered as the ride's computer determines the amount of air pressure to use for the ride cycle. Once completed, there is a brief pause and the riders are then launched up the tower (space shot)then slow just before reaching the top. This is the first feeling of weightlessness that the riders experience. The cart briskly falls halfway down the tower then brought back up to the top to complete the turbo drop portion of the ride. Once at the top the cart locks into the brakes and is held there giving the riders just enough time to view both the Dallas and Fort Worth skylines. The cart is then released from the brakes, and the riders are dropped giving them the second and final experience of weightlessness. The riders are then bounced half way up the tower and dropped again until they are slowly brought back down to be unloaded.
At night the ride is illuminated by various lights that change color and can be seen for miles.
During the hot Texas summers, operators will only run the space shot portion of the ride as the cables overheat too quickly.[citation needed]
- Introduced: 2003
- Total height: 325 ft (99 m)
- Structural height: 313 ft (95 m)
- Drop height: 245 ft (74 m)
- Top Speed: 55 mph (89 km/h)
- G-force: min -1.0 g, max +4.0
- Height restriction: 52 in (132 cm)
[edit] External links
[edit] References
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Superman in amusement parks
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Flash Pass Available at both Six Flags parks.
Must transfer from wheelchair
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