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Wanda Hefei|White Dragon in Sky |Intamin Launch Semi-Shuttle

Re: Wanda Hefei | Unknown | Intamin Launched Semi-Shuttle

We do hear about accidents. A few flat rides have had them and have made the news in the west.

Even if they didn't make the mainstream media, which they would based on the flat ride reporting, they'd make the coaster sites, so at least we would hear about it. A video of a frisbee ride breaking did the rounds via YouTube/Facebook etc. recently, so to assume that we'd never hear about a coaster accident is naive.

We did hear about a car detaching itself from a Hebei Zhongye looper a while back, even though nobody was injured, so of course we would hear about anything more serious. This idea that some people seem to have that China is some sort of black hole when it comes to news is just totally inaccurate. Yes, the press there is government controlled, but it's used to prevent political stories; they don't block basic news stories about accidents. Plus, everyone has smartphones and internet access; it's not North Korea.

The safety standards for testing new coasters in China are very rigorous. It's not "anecdotal" on my part, M&V/Gravity Group have said as much. Since they make coasters in China, I think they'd know.

Health and safety in China with regards to staff training and maintenance is a different thing entirely. Once the coasters are handed over, that's out of the manufacturers' hands. There will be an accident at some point; statistically, there has to be. When that happens, every coaster "expert" on forums like these will be screaming "CHINESE KNOCKOFF!!!!!" when the truth is that it will invariably be down to maintenance issues or operator error, exactly like it is with pretty much every coaster accident in the west.

Whenever there has been an accident, it's taken extremely seriously. A brand new park had an incident on opening day where people fell from a booster ride. This was entirely down to operator error, not the ride itself. Not only was the ride closed down, but the entire park was, and seems unlikely to reopen for a very long time, if at all.

Back to this coaster though. If it does turn out to be a Chinese knockoff, I hope it IS from Golden Horse, though to be honest, I'm doubtful. They tend to knockoff coasters that they have had direct access to, copying them exactly, and I'm not sure that they would've had access to the only current tilt coaster.

The other manufacturers don't seem to reverse-engineer to the same extent - they copy coasters that they couldn't have had direct access to, and/or design their own layouts - so the results are a lot less consistent than Golden Horse.

I'm not defending these companies in terms of producing quality rides because they're not. They're mostly pretty awful, but usually no worse than poor examples of the originals. A newer knockoff loopscrew will ride better than an older Vekoma/Arrow, for example, but they're still a crap ride type. You have to remember that they're knocking off ride types that generally don't get a lot of love in the first place.

I'm just showing the other side to the the whole "dangerous" argument because it's lazy and misinformed; there's absolutely zero evidence that they are, and we absolutely would have heard about any accidents.
 
Re: Wanda Hefei | Unknown | Intamin Launched Semi-Shuttle

Update from Wanda Hefei. The launched Intamin seems to be coming along nicely. While the Chinese dueling tilt coasters look a lot bigger than I expected.

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Source
 
Re: Wanda Hefei | Unknown | Intamin Launched Semi-Shuttle

One of my loves in life is those banking transitions on Intamin coasters - they just look so so so good.
 
Re: Wanda Hefei | Unknown | Intamin Launched Semi-Shuttle

The new worlds tallest non inverted loop (It's 55m Beating out Flying Aces by 3m I believe) is going up at Wanda in Hefei on their Intamin launched coaster.

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Source

Unlike Flying Aces this ride will be launched into the loop.
 
Re: Wanda Hefei | Unknown | Intamin Launched Semi-Shuttle

All these awesome looking Intamins being installed outside the U.S. :-(
 
Re: Wanda Hefei | Unknown | Intamin Launched Semi-Shuttle

This coaster looks so odd, I can't wait to see it testing and open just to get it into my head of exactly what the layout will be.
 
Re: Wanda Hefei | Unknown | Intamin Launched Semi-Shuttle

Wow, lucky Gavin! You can just tell that Intamin is going to deliver an innovative and intense high quality ride. The Golden Horse tilt coasters have my attention, its great to see they aren't ripping off Vekoma's archaic skeleton track (old style track) so it could track quite smoothly and be a good ride.
 
Re: Wanda Hefei | Unknown | Intamin Launched Semi-Shuttle

I'm so intrigued by the tilt coasters. Can't wait to see more.

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Re: Wanda Hefei | Unknown | Intamin Launched Semi-Shuttle

I can't help but to notice how smooth that transition is from(or to, don't know which way yet) the inline twist. I'm actually kind of glad that Golden Horse is doing this, as Vekoma could've easily screwed it up with their bulky Arrow track.
 
Re: Wanda Hefei | Unknown | Intamin Launched Semi-Shuttle

GuyWithAStick said:
Vekoma could've easily screwed it up with their bulky Arrow track.

Luckily for enthusiasts and public alike, I think Vekoma plan to start using a better track type for their loopers except for copy and paste boomerangs in random Asian and Eastern European parks where they can make a quick and easy buck. Anyone remember the Vekoma vertical lift hill prototype coaster plans? That appeared to be using a new kind of track.
 
Re: Wanda Hefei | Unknown | Intamin Launched Semi-Shuttle

Is there any confirmation on the manufacturer of the tilt coasters? We're all saying Golden Horse, but they don't really do custom layouts, especially with coasters of this size. They certainly don't modify/improve track design either. They flat out steal existing coasters: track, cars, layout and all.

I'd say we should possibly be looking at Beijing Shibaolai, who have been going a lot bigger in recent years, and using different technologies other than basic chain lifthills with Sky Loop, Boomerang and Launched Motorbike coasters. Then there are their more established SLCs, which, unlike Golden Horse's, have a custom layout that doesn't just ripoff Vekoma's directly.

Taking it all into consideration, they seem a better fit, though I'd be tempted to say that Golden Horse might deliver a slightly better product.
 
Re: Wanda Hefei | Unknown | Intamin Launched Semi-Shuttle

Gavin is right. We don't actually know who's building the tilts as far as I know.

I suspect you are also right its probably BSA as they built the custom SLC at Wanda Nanchang

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and It also seems they are building the custom mine train at Wanda Harbin
Harbinmine1.jpg


Beijing Jiuhua Amusement Rides have also started doing custom layouts but their track style looks more like the old togo track ties.
http://rcdb.com/12015.htm#p=52475

But to be honest it could be any of them right now.
 
Re: Wanda Hefei | Unknown | Intamin Launched Semi-Shuttle

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Tilt platforms are going in on the tilt coasters.
 
Re: Wanda Hefei | Unknown | Intamin Launched Semi-Shuttle

That non-inverting loop is **** huge.


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Re: Wanda Hefei | Unknown | Intamin Launched Semi-Shuttle

Bloody hell, that's amazing!
 
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