Airtime – ThrillZing

Apollo’s Chariot: Busch Gardens Williamsburg’s Soaring Hypercoaster

tz — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 05:48:57 +0000

Apollo’s Chariot opened on March 27, 1999, at Busch Gardens Williamsburg in Williamsburg, Virginia, and earned the distinction of being the first hypercoaster ever designed by Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard. Standing 170 feet tall and delivering a breathtaking 210-foot drop at a 65-degree angle, it quickly established itself as one of the premier steel coasters in North America.

The ride stretches 4,882 feet of track through the park’s rolling Virginia terrain, sending riders over eight relentless airtime hills at a top speed of 73 mph. With roughly 26 seconds of cumulative airtime and zero inversions, Apollo’s Chariot is a pure speed-and-float machine that has earned consistent placement in the industry’s top-ten coaster rankings for over two decades.

Stats at a Glance

Park: Busch Gardens Williamsburg
Location: Williamsburg, Virginia
Manufacturer: Bolliger & Mabillard
Opened: March 27, 1999
Height: 170 ft (52 m)
Drop: 210 ft (64 m)
Top Speed: 73 mph (117 km/h)
Length: 4,882 ft (1,488 m)
Inversions: 0
Duration: 2 min 15 sec

The Ride Experience

From the moment the train crests the 170-foot lift hill, Apollo’s Chariot delivers an immediate, near-vertical plunge that accelerates riders to 73 mph before pulling into the first of eight sweeping airtime hills. Each hill is carefully contoured to the natural Virginia terrain, giving the layout an organic, out-and-back flow that keeps riders weightless for seconds at a time rather than delivering quick pops. Trains seat 36 riders across nine rows of four, and the open lap-bar restraints—a B&M hallmark—allow full freedom of movement that amplifies every float.

The final approach back to the station threads through lower-profile hills that still generate surprising lift at speed, making the ride feel relentless from first drop to final brake run. At 2 minutes and 15 seconds, Apollo’s Chariot offers more sustained airtime per ride than most coasters twice its age.

Legacy and Recognition

In the years since its 1999 debut, Apollo’s Chariot has become a perennial Golden Ticket Award contender, reaching as high as fourth place among steel coasters in 2005, 2007, 2008, and 2012. Its longevity in top-ten rankings is remarkable in a category where newer, taller rides frequently displace established favorites.

The coaster also entered pop culture history on its opening day when model Fabio was struck during the inaugural ride—an incident that generated international headlines and cemented Apollo’s Chariot in theme-park lore. Today it remains one of the most beloved attractions at Busch Gardens Williamsburg and a landmark example of B&M’s hypercoaster formula that the manufacturer has since replicated at parks around the world.

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Apollo’s Chariot FAQs

What kind of roller coaster is Apollo’s Chariot?

Apollo’s Chariot is a steel sit-down hypercoaster built by Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard. It was B&M’s very first hyper coaster model, featuring no inversions but eight large airtime hills.

How fast and tall is Apollo’s Chariot?

The coaster stands 170 feet tall and features a 210-foot first drop that launches riders to a top speed of 73 mph. The track runs 4,882 feet in total length.

What happened at Apollo’s Chariot’s opening in 1999?

On the inaugural day, model and actor Fabio was aboard a media ride when an impact occurred on the first drop, leaving him with a facial injury. The incident made international news and became one of the most famous moments in roller coaster history.

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Photo: myself (User:Piotrus) / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

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Mystic Timbers: Kings Island’s Mystery-Packed Wooden Coaster

tz — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 05:47:14 +0000

Mystic Timbers is a wooden roller coaster at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio, built by Great Coasters International and opened on April 15, 2017. The ride winds through 3,265 feet of track at up to 53 mph, cresting a 109-foot lift hill before plunging 98 feet into a wooded landscape.

Set against the lore of the abandoned Miami River Lumber Company, the coaster delivers 16 moments of airtime through forested terrain before pulling into a darkened shed — where one of three randomized finales (bats, a snake, or an elusive tree creature) awaits unsuspecting riders. The ride won the Golden Ticket Award for Best New Ride of 2017.

Stats at a Glance

Park: Kings Island, Mason, Ohio
Manufacturer: Great Coasters International
Opened: April 15, 2017
Height: 109 ft (33 m)
Drop: 98 ft (30 m)
Top Speed: 53 mph (85 km/h)
Length: 3,265 ft (995 m)
Inversions: 0
Duration: About 2 minutes

The Ride Experience

After a chain-lift ascent to 109 feet, Mystic Timbers drops 98 feet at a 53.7-degree angle and launches into a relentless sequence of hills and curves through mature woodlands. The layout was engineered to maximize ejector airtime — riders experience 16 distinct moments of negative-G lift across the roughly two-minute run.

The signature finale arrives as the train plunges into an enclosed shed. Inside, a random projection sequence plays out: riders may encounter a swarm of bats, a menacing snake, or the mysterious creature of the Miami River Lumber Company legend. The randomized ending keeps repeat riders guessing and has made the shed one of the most talked-about elements of any wooden coaster in North America.

Awards and Legacy

Mystic Timbers earned the Golden Ticket Award for Best New Ride of 2017 from industry publication Amusement Today, validating its instant status as one of the finest wooden coasters in the country. Its arrival allowed Kings Island to reclaim the world record for most wooden roller coaster track at a single park — a combined 18,804 feet across four wooden coasters.

The ride’s combination of immersive theming, terrain-hugging layout, and mystery-driven narrative set a new benchmark for modern wooden coaster design. It remains a cornerstone of the Kings Island lineup and consistently ranks among the top wooden coasters in annual enthusiast polls.

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Mystic Timbers FAQs

What happens in the shed at Mystic Timbers?

The shed is an enclosed finale structure where one of three randomized projection sequences — bats, a snake, or a mysterious tree creature — plays out. The sequence is chosen at random each cycle, so riders rarely experience the same ending twice.

How tall do you have to be to ride Mystic Timbers?

Riders must be at least 48 inches (122 cm) tall to board Mystic Timbers.

Who built Mystic Timbers?

Mystic Timbers was designed by Skyline Design and constructed by Great Coasters International (GCI), a Pennsylvania-based manufacturer known for fast, airtime-focused wooden coasters.

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Photo by Susanne Koppert on Pexels.

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Nitro at Six Flags Great Adventure: An 80 mph Steel Hyper Coaster

tz — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 05:45:37 +0000

Nitro is a steel hyper coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey, designed and built by Bolliger & Mabillard. It opened on April 7, 2001, and immediately set records as the tallest roller coaster on the East Coast and the fastest in New Jersey at the time of its debut.

Standing 230 feet tall with a 215-foot first drop and a top speed of 80 mph, Nitro carries riders through 5,394 feet of swooping camelback hills and a finale helix on an out-and-back layout. Despite zero inversions, its sustained negative G-force airtime and 4.3 peak G-force have earned it consistent top-three rankings in Amusement Today’s annual Golden Ticket Awards for steel coasters.

Stats at a Glance

Park: Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson, New Jersey
Manufacturer: Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M)
Model: Hyper Coaster
Opened: April 7, 2001
Height: 230 ft (70 m)
Drop: 215 ft (66 m)
Top Speed: 80 mph (130 km/h)
Length: 5,394 ft (1,644 m)
Inversions: 0
Duration: 2 min 20 sec

The Ride Experience

Nitro’s chain lift climbs to 230 feet before releasing riders into a 68-degree first drop that accelerates the train to 80 mph. The out-and-back layout then delivers a relentless string of camelback hills, each one generating sustained floater airtime that lifts riders clear of their seats. A sweeping return helix bleeds speed before the final brake run, keeping intensity high across the full 2-minute-20-second run.

Three 36-passenger trains cycle continuously, giving the ride a capacity of roughly 1,800 riders per hour — impressive for a coaster spanning more than a mile of track. B&M’s signature smooth ride quality means the forces feel powerful rather than punishing, making Nitro equally accessible to first-time thrill-seekers and seasoned enthusiasts.

Records and Legacy

When Nitro opened in spring 2001 it was the tallest coaster on the East Coast and New Jersey’s fastest. While taller rivals have since arrived at other parks, Nitro has remained one of the most celebrated examples of B&M’s hyper coaster formula, peaking at third place among all steel coasters worldwide in the Golden Ticket Awards.

The coaster’s opening ceremony on April 11, 2001 featured former WWE superstar Mick Foley, who triggered a fireworks display above the queue — an early sign of the pop-culture cachet Six Flags attached to the ride. More than two decades on, Nitro is still considered a flagship attraction at Great Adventure and a benchmark against which newer hyper coasters are measured.

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Nitro FAQs

How tall is Nitro at Six Flags Great Adventure?

Nitro stands 230 feet (70 m) tall, with a first drop of 215 feet at a 68-degree angle.

Does Nitro have any inversions?

No. Nitro has zero inversions. As a hyper coaster it focuses entirely on high-speed airtime hills and sweeping banked turns rather than loops or corkscrews.

Who built Nitro and when did it open?

Nitro was designed and built by Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M) and opened to the public on April 7, 2001.

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Photo: Dusso Janladde / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

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Twisted Timbers: Kings Dominion’s Hybrid Airtime Machine

tz — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 05:43:40 +0000

Twisted Timbers is a hybrid roller coaster at Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia, built by Rocky Mountain Construction using their I-Box steel track technology. It opened on March 24, 2018, standing 111 feet tall across 3,351 feet of track, after RMC transformed the park’s aging wooden Hurler coaster into one of the most dynamic hybrid rides on the East Coast.

Where Hurler was a rough, repetitive out-and-back wooden coaster, Twisted Timbers emerged with 20 distinct airtime moments, 3 inversions—a barrel roll, a cutback, and a zero-g roll—and 3 overbanked turns, all with the silky smoothness RMC’s steel rail is known for. The coaster ranked third among new rides in the 2018 Golden Ticket Awards and quickly cemented itself as a must-ride at Kings Dominion.

Stats at a Glance

Park: Kings Dominion, Doswell, Virginia
Manufacturer: Rocky Mountain Construction
Opened: March 24, 2018
Height: 111 ft (34 m)
Drop: 109 ft (33 m)
Top Speed: 54 mph (87 km/h)
Length: 3,351 ft (1,021 m)
Inversions: 3

The Ride Experience

Twisted Timbers crests its chain lift and immediately plunges riders into a 109-foot drop before launching into a relentless sequence of twists, airtime hills, and overbanked turns. The three inversions—a barrel roll near the first drop, a cutback, and a zero-g roll—are woven between 20 moments of ejector and floater airtime, keeping riders weightless far more often than grounded.

At a top speed of 54 mph the pacing never meaningfully lets up across the 3,351-foot layout. The I-Box track delivers a smoothness that stood in sharp contrast to the wooden Hurler it replaced, earning praise from enthusiasts and earning Amusement Today a 38th-place ranking on its 2018 top-50 steel coasters list.

From Hurler to Twisted Timbers

The original Hurler opened at Kings Dominion in 1994 as a near-clone of the Hurler at Carowinds, both designed by International Coasters Inc. By 2015 the ride had grown rough enough that Kings Dominion closed it permanently. Rocky Mountain Construction was contracted to rebuild the track using their patented I-Box steel rail system, which sits atop the original wooden support structure.

The conversion took roughly two years and resulted in a coaster that shares almost nothing with its predecessor beyond the wooden skeleton. Twisted Timbers stands as a prime example of RMC’s ability to resurrect aging wooden coasters, and the transformation was dramatic enough to draw national attention when the ride debuted in spring 2018.

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Twisted Timbers FAQs

What type of coaster is Twisted Timbers?

Twisted Timbers is a hybrid roller coaster. Rocky Mountain Construction kept the original wooden support structure from Hurler but replaced all of the track with their I-Box steel rail system, producing a ride that looks like a wooden coaster but handles inversions and aggressive elements like a steel one.

How tall is Twisted Timbers and how fast does it go?

The coaster stands 111 feet tall and reaches a top speed of 54 mph (87 km/h) on a drop of 109 feet.

What replaced Hurler to become Twisted Timbers?

Hurler was a wooden roller coaster that operated at Kings Dominion from 1994 to 2015. Rocky Mountain Construction converted it into Twisted Timbers using I-Box steel track technology, and it reopened on March 24, 2018.

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Photo by Susanne Koppert on Pexels.

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Skyrush: Hersheypark’s High-Flying 75-MPH Wing Coaster

tz — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 05:39:30 +0000

Skyrush is a steel Wing Coaster at Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania, built by Intamin and opened on May 26, 2012. It was the park’s 12th roller coaster and the world’s first Intamin Wing Coaster, placing riders in seats cantilevered beyond the edges of the track for an unobstructed, free-floating sensation through every twist and hill.

A cable lift hauls the train 200 feet skyward before releasing it down an 85-degree first drop, accelerating to 75 mph and generating up to 5 Gs. The 3,600-foot layout threads directly above Spring Creek, delivering four high-speed banked turns and five dedicated airtime hills in just 63 seconds. Since its debut, Skyrush has claimed a spot in Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket Awards top 50 steel coasters nearly every year it has been eligible.

Stats at a Glance

Park: Hersheypark, Hershey, Pennsylvania
Manufacturer: Intamin
Opened: May 26, 2012
Height: 200 ft (61 m)
Drop: 212 ft (65 m)
Top Speed: 75 mph (121 km/h)
Length: 3,600 ft (1,100 m)
Inversions: 0
Max G-Force: 5.0

The Ride Experience

Skyrush opens with a cable lift that yanks the train 200 feet upward at roughly 26 feet per second — brisk enough that the crest arrives almost without warning. The descent hits 85 degrees, just shy of vertical, and slams riders to 75 mph within the first few moments of the drop.

The course then sweeps through wide, high-banked curves and five pronounced airtime hills, all routed low above the waters of Spring Creek. Winged seats leave nothing between riders and the landscape below, making every surge of ejector airtime feel completely exposed. At peak intensity, the ride registers a maximum of 5.0 Gs — among the highest sustained forces found on any modern steel coaster.

Design and Recognition

Skyrush was the first Wing Coaster ever produced by Swiss manufacturer Intamin, functioning as a prototype for the model. Each train carries 32 riders arranged four across in a single row per car, with seats extending outward beyond the rails on both sides. Two trains run the circuit, supporting a capacity of around 1,350 riders per hour.

For the 2024 season, Hersheypark replaced the trains’ seats and restraint system — an upgrade widely praised by enthusiasts who had previously flagged restraint comfort as the ride’s main drawback. Skyrush has appeared in the Golden Ticket Awards top 50 steel coasters in virtually every year since opening, confirming its reputation as one of the most intense and well-regarded hyper coasters in North America.

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Skyrush FAQs

How tall is Skyrush?

Skyrush stands 200 feet (61 m) tall and features a 212-foot (65 m) first drop angled at 85 degrees.

What type of roller coaster is Skyrush?

Skyrush is a steel Wing Coaster manufactured by Intamin — the first Wing Coaster the company ever built. Riders sit in pairs on each side of the train in seats that extend beyond the track edges, leaving them fully exposed to the air.

Does Skyrush have any inversions?

No. Skyrush has zero inversions. Its intensity comes from speed, a near-vertical drop, five ejector airtime hills, and sustained G-forces reaching 5.0 throughout the 63-second ride.

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Photo: 45BearsFan / CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.

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