Launched Loop (Arrow Dynamics)

A Launched Loop is a type of steel launched shuttle roller coaster manufactured by Arrow Dynamics. With 8 different installations, 7 of them being relocated at least once, the ride was introduced in 1977, with the last one opening in 1993.

Launched Loop
Sidewinder at Elitch Gardens in 2006.
Status	Discontinued
First manufactured	1977
No. of installations	8
Manufacturer	Arrow Dynamics
Height	56.0 ft (17.1 m)
Drop	47 ft (14 m)
Length	635.0 ft (193.5 m)
Speed	45.0 mph (72.4 km/h)
G force	4.0
Vehicle type	Roller coaster train
Vehicles	1
Riders per vehicle	4
Rows	2
Riders per row	2
Duration	1:06
Inversions	1
Launched Loop at RCDB

History

The first installation of a Launched Loop dates back to 1977 with the installation of Demon at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio. Two more also opened in 1977; Zoomerang at Boardwalk and Baseball in Haines City, Florida, and Black Widow at Six Flags New England in Agawam, Massachusetts. These were most likely built to rival Intamin's Shuttle Loop, which started being built the same year. In 1987, Demon at Kings Island became the first Launched Loop to be relocated, becoming Thunderbolt Express at Camden Park in Huntington, West Virginia. As of September 2019^[update], only three Launched Loops operate: Revolution at Blackpool Pleasure Beach in Lancashire, England, Sidewinder at Elitch Gardens in Denver, Colorado, and Diamond Back at Frontier City in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Notable installations

• Lightnin' Loops was a combination of two different launched loop roller coasters with interlocking loops built for Six Flags Great Adventure in 1978. One track closed in 1987 and stood nonoperational until 1992 when the other track closed.^[1][2] The track that closed in 1987 was then relocated to Frontier City as Diamond Back as the other track was relocated to Six Flags America as Python, both opening in 1993.^[3][4]
• Demon at Kings Island, while not being the first built, was the first launched loop to open. The ride was then relocated to Camden Park as Thunderbolt Express where it operated until 1999.^[5]
• Revolution at Blackpool Pleasure Beach is the longest-operating launched loop, opening in 1979, and also is the only of its kind to not be relocated any time in its lifetime.^[6]

Installations

Name	Park	Opened	Closed	Status	Cite(s)
Afterburner Zoomerang	Fun Spot Park Boardwalk and Baseball	1991 1977	2008 1990	Closed Relocated	[7][8]
Black Widow	Six Flags New England	1977	1999	Closed	[9]
Boomerang	Tokyo Dome City	1980	1984	Closed	[10]
Diamond Back Lightnin' Loops	Frontier City Six Flags Great Adventure	1993 1978	Operating 1986	Operating Relocated	[11][12]
Python Lightnin' Loops	Six Flags America Six Flags Great Adventure	1993 1978	1998 1992	Closed Relocated	[13][14]
Revolution	Blackpool Pleasure Beach	1979	Operating	Operating	[15]
Sidewinder Roaring Tornado	Elitch Gardens Magic Springs Theme and Water Park	1990 1980	Operating 1989	Operating Relocated	[16][17][18]
Thunderbolt Express Demon	Camden Park Kings Island	1988 1977	1999 1987	Closed Relocated	[19][20]