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Stealth is a launched roller coaster in the Amity area of Thorpe Park located in Surrey, England. Built and designed by Intamin of Switzerland for £12 million, the Accelerator Coaster model opened in 2006 as the fastest roller coaster in the UK before being passed by Hyperia in 2024. It is also the third tallest in the UK after Hyperia and the Big One at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. [1] It reaches a height of 62.5 metres (205 ft) and accelerates from 0 to 80 mph (129 km/h).[2] Riders experience a maximum of 4.7 g.[3]
| Stealth | |
|---|---|
 Stealth in 2024 | |
| Thorpe Park | |
| Location | Thorpe Park |
| Park section | Amity |
| Coordinates | 51°24′18″N 0°30′55″W / 51.405°N 0.515278°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | 15 March 2006 |
| Cost | £12 Million |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Steel – Launched |
| Manufacturer | Intamin |
| Designer | Werner Stengel |
| Model | Accelerator Coaster |
| Lift/launch system | Hydraulic launch track |
| Height | 62.5 m (205 ft) |
| Length | 400.0 m (1,312.3 ft) |
| Speed | 80 mph (129 km/h) |
| Inversions | 0 |
| Max vertical angle | 90° |
| G-force | 4.7 |
| Height restriction | 140–196 cm (4 ft 7 in – 6 ft 5 in) |
| Trains | 3 trains with 5 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 20 riders per train. |
| Theme | Speedway |
| Website | Official website |
 Fastrack available | |
 Wheelchair accessible | |
 Must transfer from wheelchair | |
| Stealth at RCDB | |
Ride experience
editThis section may contain an excessive amount of intricate detail that may interest only a particular audience. (March 2024) |
When the passengers board the ride, the noise of a car engine revving can be heard in the station audio loop. After passengers are securely restrained, the launch sequence begins with the brake fins lined along the launch track retracting, the train is moved forward by two retractable friction wheels before rolling backwards, attaching to the catch car below. While this is happening riders will also see smoke from below the cars, a feature reintroduced in the 2023 season. Overhead, a series of five red traffic lights illuminate one by one in a horizontal row, as a pre-recorded announcement states "Place your heads back, face forwards…" before the lights change to green as the train launches. The voice in the recording enthusiastically shouts “Three, two, one, GO GO GO!” followed by the sound of tires screeching. The train launches, quickly accelerating to 80 mph (130 km/h) into a vertical top hat element, with a height of 62.5 metres (205 ft). The train turns 90 degrees to the left as it crests the top hat and makes another 90-degree left turn as it descends. After reaching the bottom, the train enters an airtime hill, which produces a brief sensation of weightlessness before the train enters the magnetic brake run and returns to the station.[4] The ride's layout is similar to Kingda Ka, although narrower in scope.
During events (such as Fright Nights), a different launch announcement may be used.
Rollbacks
editAs with many Intamin Launch Coasters, Stealth experiences occasional rollbacks, which occur when a train is unable to complete the course, specifically failing to make it over the top hat element as a result of energy loss. Occurrences are rare, and there is a braking system in place on the launch side of the track to safely bring the roller coaster back to a complete stop. However, rollbacks are safe, and all staff/engineers are trained to safely evacuate guests off the train.[5]
2024 revamp
editFor the 2024 season, Stealth's station and entrance areas have been completely repainted and the theming has been enhanced as part of the Sparkle Project, an ongoing scheme to give the park a facelift.[6]
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References
edit- ^ "Stealth: Your questions". Stealth.thorpepark.com. August 2005. Archived from the original on 9 July 2006. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
- ^ "Stealth - Thorpe Park (Chertsey, Surrey, England, United Kingdom)". rcdb.com. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
- ^ "The Science of Roller Coasters" (PDF). Thorpe Park. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 January 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
- ^ Stealth at Thorpe Park - POV - Front Row - 4K - 2023, 2 December 2023, retrieved 7 December 2023
- ^ "Stealth rollback (Thorpe park)". YouTube.com. 10 April 2006. Archived from the original on 19 December 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
- ^ "Thorpe Park Shares Project Sparkle Update | Theme Park Guide". themeparkguide.co.uk. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
External links
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