planenut

Another funny comment today from a young chap - "that was way out of my comfort zone!"

Ah, then in that case I would say there is no device for stopping a rollback. It would have to have the ability to push it over the top, but there is nothing on it.

Stealth today - overheard a young chap having just ridden it, "what maniac designed that?"

Are you talking SWARM or Stealth?

It seems that to everybody that saw or met, heard or heard of, Muhammad Ali, former boxing champion, he was an icon, a legend, hero, ambassador, gentleman, oh yes, and a sports star. He passed away this morning. I doubt that many on this forum will have seen him, most probably never heard of him. I consider that I was lucky to have lived at the same time as he has, as good an example of a cool guy, one will be hard pushed to find. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2016/06/04/muhammad-ali-was-an-american-idol-and-a-muslim-read-his-words-on/

Despite loads of people "willing" a rollback, I dread it as it would always be a loss of ride-time.

To be honest, the last few times I've been, the ops. were not batching anyway, so it would be a better way of "filling" the ride. (not sure if their management puts as much emphasis as previously on the full load)

Hi Celia, it would be a bit strange if I didn't show an interest, so, if I'm not working on the chosen day, then yes please. Planenut

Groups is what killed off Stealth SRQ (so they made it a disabled entrance - up stairs - Doh!). Vortex has a SRQ gate, but you end up in the group for the next ride and the op. isn't able to utilize the SR.

Wow, I was originally going over today, but with the weather doubtful, then finding Stealth was down, I decided not to. Must have been very cool today.

How much for a picture of your face then?

So true Han with watching people's reaction; for those fearing Stealth I tell them to watch the face of the people getting off it. I estimate 1/500 doesn't enjoy it. Detonator has a 115' drop; Apocalypse at Drayton Manor has 177', with a choice of sitting, standing, or floorless, a great freefall.

Spitfire and Hurricane museum at Manston; Chatham Dock Yards. Yes, I've heard that Diggerland is good fun, and that's not far from the Dock Yards.

and if you don't understand it, go and queue for something else.

I do understand what you mean, but the Vampire ride is what I call a "pendulum ride"; all the forces work in the same way therefore inducing only one type of pressure. I have heard a lot of people stating, once they were strapped in, that they thought they were queuing for a different ride. I know it's only my opinion but I think it better to watch a ride before riding it.

Certainly due to most of the rides being one of maybe three, many parts have to be manufactured to order, rather than being made ready. That adds to their cost.

Interesting input to this thread, so here's my tuppenceworth. All rides are safe, they would not be there otherwise, they are all maintained to a very high standard. We are all physically and mentally different, so the effects we anticipate and those we feel will be different too. Try to watch each ride before using it, and try to understand the forces that make it work and the directions and forces that will work on you. Once in your seat and harness, you cannot go anywhere, not at all, but try to leave a bit of "expansion" room around you, otherwise, like Han, you'll suffer a bit. No height problem, as the ride is only as high as your bottom is on the seat, and everything is fixed to the next bit. Your first ride on any item is a discovery of those effects, and how you feel with it, and after that you can experiment with your position within the seat and harness, how you position your head, and what you try to view on the way round. Don't treat the stop as an end, but as part of the ride, it has effects too. The lift hills worry some but part of that is the noise of the safety devices, adding to the build-up. Always keep your head back until the ride is fully running, and concentrate on the launch/start as if you miss that, it might hurt. Try to feel the parts of a ride that you can use to either float or tense up on. Enjoy the ride and then you can tell your mates about it.

Was intending to attend during next week, but a close friend just reminded me "it's half term"............oh catastrophe; as most of you will realize that means loads of you younger types there now until September on "study days", then holidays.

Went to TP today, third visit in two weeks, the luck of living nearby. To start with the park opened earlier than recently at 0930; all well and good, but neither Saw, Nemesis Inferno nor Stealth opened at that time. Decided to wait in the "no it's not available" queue for NI as I could see them testing, to find when on the first ride, Stealth had started testing. Got on Stealth and after the first trip, someone decided to share their breakfast with everybody on the exit stairs; got the first train after that, in the seats, and the staff gate went faulty. All off, engineer came to the ride quickly and fixed said gate, and all went well for the rest of the day. Very few park visitors, and along with others re-rode continuously several times during the last hour.

Not a problem; we are all different, especially when it comes to "physical". There are plenty of people of all ages, who will not go on anything, even Dragon's Fury. Never worry about what others think, and enjoy what appeals to you. Some people just enjoy the Parks, and watching other people on the rides. Some, just put on a performance but will be going on, whilst others go on, but don't actually want to be there; I would not do that.

record it and keep listening to it, job done........ish! enjoy it, as it's a chance to show them what you have got.

Great pics and story David, thanks for sharing. Some interesting angles of the rides and park; Stealths paintwork blending nicely with the bright sky; great shot from the top of SWARM's lift hill looking toward the sunset complete with spectrum.

Stealth yesterday ran at 100% performance, and the ride ops. again were in full control. It is difficult at times for them to have to deal with such a varied assortment of "general public", with some even wanting to decide on their family's harness and seating arrangements. One lady even trying to follow an operator checking the harnesses on her entourage again, which obviously cannot be done and means that the op. has to re-check them. The team again, were very tactful and that's certainly an asset to a well run ride.

There are more stoppages in the heat and that's normally down to sensors.

I do hope this ride is really good. I spoke with a staff member on Thursday, and he will be working on it and his comment was "if it works it's going to be really, really good". so, not much there then.