Launched Loop (Arrow Dynamics) Explained

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, 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., 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 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 in 1978. One track closed in 1987 and stood nonoperational until 1992 when the other track closed.^{[1] [2]} The track that closed in 1987 was then relocated to Frontier City as Diamond Back as the other track was relocated to Six Flags America as Python, both opening in 1993.^{[3] [4]}
• Demon 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.^[5]
• 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.^[6]

Installations

Name	Park	Opened	Closed	Status	Cite(s)
AfterburnerZoomerang	Fun Spot ParkBoardwalk and Baseball	19911977	20081990	ClosedRelocated	[7] [8]
Black Widow	Six Flags New England	1977	1999	Closed	[9]
Boomerang	Tokyo Dome City	1980	1984	Closed	[10]
Diamond BackLightnin' Loops	Frontier CitySix Flags Great Adventure	19931978	Operating1986	OperatingRelocated	[11] [12]
PythonLightnin' Loops	Six Flags AmericaSix Flags Great Adventure	19931978	19981992	ClosedRelocated	[13] [14]
Revolution	Blackpool Pleasure Beach	1979	Operating	Operating	[15]
SidewinderRoaring Tornado	Elitch GardensMagic Springs Theme and Water Park	19901980	Operating1989	OperatingRelocated	[16] [17] [18]
Thunderbolt ExpressDemon	Camden ParkKings Island	19881977	19991987	ClosedRelocated	[19] [20]

References

1. Web site: Lightnin' Loops - Six Flags Great Adventure (Jackson, New Jersey, United States). rcdb.com. 2019-09-23.
2. Web site: Lightnin' Loops - Six Flags Great Adventure (Jackson, New Jersey, United States). rcdb.com. 2019-09-23.
3. Web site: Python - Six Flags America (Upper Marlboro, Maryland, United States). rcdb.com. 2019-09-23.
4. Web site: Diamond Back - Frontier City (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States). rcdb.com. 2019-09-23.
5. Web site: Demon - Kings Island (Mason, Ohio, United States). rcdb.com. 2019-09-23.
6. Web site: Revolution - Blackpool Pleasure Beach (Blackpool, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom). rcdb.com. 2019-09-23.
7. Web site: Afterburner - Fun Spot Park (Angola, Indiana, United States). rcdb.com. 2019-09-23.
8. Web site: Zoomerang - Boardwalk and Baseball (Haines City, Florida, United States). rcdb.com. 2019-09-23.
9. Web site: Black Widow - Six Flags New England (Agawam, Massachusetts, United States). rcdb.com. 2019-09-23.
10. Web site: Boomerang - Tokyo Dome City (Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan). rcdb.com. 2019-09-23.
11. Web site: Diamond Back - Frontier City (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States). rcdb.com. 2019-09-23.
12. Web site: Lightnin' Loops - Six Flags Great Adventure (Jackson, New Jersey, United States). rcdb.com. 2019-09-23.
13. Web site: Python - Six Flags America (Upper Marlboro, Maryland, United States). rcdb.com. 2019-09-23.
14. Web site: Lightnin' Loops - Six Flags Great Adventure (Jackson, New Jersey, United States). rcdb.com. 2019-09-23.
15. Web site: Revolution - Blackpool Pleasure Beach (Blackpool, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom). rcdb.com. 2019-09-23.
16. Web site: Sidewinder - Elitch Gardens (Denver, Colorado, United States). rcdb.com. 2019-09-23.
17. Web site: Sidewinder - Elitch Gardens (Denver, Colorado, United States). rcdb.com. 2019-09-23.
18. Web site: Roaring Tornado - Magic Springs Theme and Water Park (Hot Springs, Arkansas, United States). rcdb.com. 2019-09-23.
19. Web site: Thunderbolt Express - Camden Park (Huntington, West Virginia, United States). rcdb.com. 2019-09-23.
20. Web site: Demon - Kings Island (Mason, Ohio, United States). rcdb.com. 2019-09-23.