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.

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 Shuttle Loop is a type of steel launched shuttle roller coaster designed by Reinhold Spieldiener of Intamin and manufactured by Anton Schwarzkopf. A total of 12 installations were produced between 1977 and 1982. These 12 installations have bee ...

, 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 Huntington is a city in Cabell and Wayne counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is the county seat of Cabell County, and the largest city in the Huntington–Ashland metropolitan area, sometimes referred to as the Tri-State Area. A h ...

. , 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 Frontier City is a western-themed amusement park in Oklahoma City. It is owned by EPR and operated by Six Flags. The park originally opened in 1958. Frontier City is the third-oldest Six Flags park behind Six Flags New England and Six Flags Grea ...

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 Six Flags Great Adventure is an amusement park located in Jackson, New Jersey. Owned and operated by Six Flags, the park complex is situated between New York City and Philadelphia and includes a water park named Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, Hu ...

in 1978. One track closed in 1987 and stood nonoperational until 1992 when the other track closed. The track that closed in 1987 was then relocated to

as Diamond Back as the other track was relocated to Six Flags America as Python, both opening in 1993. *

Demon A demon is a malevolent supernatural entity. Historically, belief in demons, or stories about demons, occurs in religion, occultism, literature, fiction, mythology, and folklore; as well as in media such as comics, video games, movies, ani ...

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. * 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.

Installations

{, class="wikitable sortable" !Name !Park !Opened !Closed !Status !Cite(s) , - , Afterburner Zoomerang , Fun Spot Park Boardwalk and Baseball , 1991 1977 , 2008 1990 , Closed Relocated , , - , Black Widow , Six Flags New England , 1977 , 1999 , Closed , , - , Boomerang ,

Tokyo Dome City , referred to as Big Egg City before January 1, 2000, is an entertainment complex in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan. It also includes the world's largest roofed baseball stadium, known as Tokyo Dome (AKA "Big Egg"); an amusement park known as Tokyo Dome ...

, 1980 , 1984 , Closed , , - , Diamond Back Lightnin' Loops ,

, 1993 1978 , Operating 1986 , Operating Relocated , , - , Python Lightnin' Loops , Six Flags America

, 1993 1978 , 1998 1992 , Closed Relocated , , - , Revolution , Blackpool Pleasure Beach , 1979 , Operating , Operating , , - , Sidewinder Roaring Tornado , Elitch Gardens Magic Springs Theme and Water Park , 1990 1980 , Operating 1989 , Operating Relocated , , - ,

Thunderbolt Express The Thunderbolt Express was a looping shuttle roller coaster located at Camden Park. Originally named Screamin' Demon (and later just Demon) when it operated at Kings Island from 1977 to 1987, the roller coaster was built and designed by Arrow D ...

Demon , Camden Park Kings Island , 1988 1977 , 1999 1987 , Closed Relocated , {{Cite web, url=https://rcdb.com/313.htm, title=Demon - Kings Island (Mason, Ohio, United States), website=rcdb.com, access-date=2019-09-23

History

Notable installations

Installations

References