would have to be crazier than Cougan himself.

Cougan doesn't actually exist, you know.

Cougan doesn't actually exist, you know.

It was, of course, a pun on the character's personality.

And you base that on? Saw alive still does surprisingly well..The same department who also run the most successful event on park?

The event may be successful, financially, but the quality is poor.Saw Alive seems to get worse by the day, and actors just dont happen anymore in the ride. I dont doubt that we may see actors during the opening stages of The Swarm, but they will not last long, if theyre there at all.I say Ents is a flop, because most things are so flaky, if your going to have actors in the queueline for example, you either have them or you dont.....

Whilst we're all wildly off topic, I must also add they probably don't get enough money into the dept also, everything has to be constantly run by marketing too. I think sometimes there's too many cooks.https://www.facebook...&type=3 :D

Edited January 6, 201213 yr by Neilfever

What Neil said basically, although there seemed to be more actors around Saw - The Ride more in 2011 than 2010, even after the fire.But I dont get the "The event may be successful, financially, but the quality is poor." because whilst your right, there can be a big difference between the 2, theres only so long the "poor quality" would remain successful. I'm sure there will be actors around Swarm for the first year or so, then less and less untill the next big coaster

Indeed, it's unrealistic to expect actors around a coaster continuously throughout its life.The only thing which should've really stayed as it was is stealth DJ really. Mmm DJ.

I'm not sure if anyone else knew this or I'm just late finding out by according to people on the Developers diary, the helicopter is not actually going to be used?!

Edited January 7, 201213 yr by Sidders
Excessive punctuation

Where did you see this?

I'm not sure if anyone else knew this or I'm just late finding out by according to people on the Developers diary, the helicopter is not actually going to be used?!?!?!?!?!?

Can you provide a link please to the quote in question?

I've heard the same rumour said by a couple of people on these forums (I think due to water contamination or something weird like that), but have never know of any documentation available to back it up.

Wasn't the whole water contamination thing to do with the main lake? They had to revise the original plan slightly due to this very issue?I don't see how this could be a problem considering it will be placed within a controlled pond on the island itself along with the water jets.

As long as they still have the water skimming effect I will be happy with that helixy part of the ride

Yes Valentez, the original plan was to have the helicopter in a pond that was connected to Manor Lake, though possibilities of water contamination made the council reject those plans, so Thorpe revised them with an SuDS for the helicopter. I'd check the date you found that information from, Alex, if it exists at all.

I believe, then, that the rumours going round may be a misunderstanding / lack of knowledge of the revised idea. I for one did not know of this revision, and didn't know there was a plan to connect said pond to Manor Lake, but meh.

Well, when I say Manor Lake, it's actually that the pond was originally planned to be connected to the small body of water that separates Island C from the mainland.

So is the helicopter being used; Yes or No?

Edited January 7, 201213 yr by Neilfever

Well, after much deliberation and Thorpe geekiness with Valentez, we've spotted that the crane used for lifting the plane into place is still on site and near a Studios North vehicle, which could possibly hold final touches and extra pieces of the helicopter, which is probably hiding somewhere along with the trains.

Is there helicopter already on site?If there is, that'll be proof it'll be used. Sometimes "enthusiasts" wind me up, and this is one of those times.

The water thing was indeed an issue but was resolved before we ever saw the plans published I think. I think the chopper will still be a part of the final ride. It's probably there now.And as for the trains... Who can say...

Just to clear a few things up, the heliopter rumour has come from Facebook, on the Swarm's Developer Diary. Anty Eyre (the person who posted the Swarm's track being fabricated), confirmed that it had been cut.However, after a little more digging, this person also said that the trains are for certain not on-site yet- they are! Also he's very close to a certain person who was convinved that sw6 was B&M, awkward. Just take it with a pinch of salt. I'll be upset if it's been cut though!

He also posted the pictures someone on CF drew of trains that looked like church pews thinking they were the actual trains. Double hawk.Because I have the page on creator only rather than everyone I hadn't seen everything he's posted... I call blagging fanboy. Wouldn't worry - Josh's conclusion of "lack of knowledge" seems to sum this one up nicely!Edit again... The more of this I'm seeing the less I understand how ANYONE can believe this guy? He says the helicopter has been cancelled in the same thread of comments in which he says the trains aren't on site, no one can have seen them, and that they are the same as the Raptor trains. He also says he'd "go and sit outside the park on the day of testing" - he's obviously just a massive wannabe fanboi with nothing better to do than pretend to be important.In the words of George Carlin, "That's a good bull***t story!"

If it's not on site already, I think that we could expect a whole marketing who-ha with it being installed or flown in by the army !

Army? I want an Apache!They just look so damn mean, would be brilliant with The Swarm. Somehow I doubt the MOD would want one just sitting there though Seeing one of these flying at Biggin Hill a couple of years ago is one of the most impressive things I've ever seen - I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of one.

But surely they could acquire one that's been retired from service? The renderings are a little confusing as to what kind of helicopter it could be, but I'm not about to get all fanboyish and hunt down models that resemble the plans á la what everyone seemed to be doing when the plane arrived, because as we can see from the station already, Thorpe can deviate quite substantially from the plans agreed with, so long as the dimensions, sound barriers and visual impact remains relatively unchanged.

Anty eyre is now saying that apparantely the helicopter has been cut, yet he doesn't provide a source. But he mentions it's going to be replaced by something else (as if). So it is safe to say the helicopter will be on the island.