Battlestar Galactica coaster will feature launched lift hills
by MadWatchStudios on Aug.04, 2009, under Battlestar Galactica, Universal Parks
The latest news out of Universal Studios Singapore is each track of the Battlestar Galactica dueling coaster will feature LSM launched lift hills. LSM, or Linear Synchronous Motors, is a form of electro-magnetic propulsion that is used in place of a traditional lift hill. LSM usually launches a train on horizontal track straight out of the station – in this case however, it sounds like the will LSM rapidly propel the train up the lift hill. While this is not official news from the park, it is what Screamscape is reporting, and their sources tend to be very reliable. It also makes sense if the riders are meant to feel like Viper Pilots, that the ride would start with a launch.
Sources are reporting the coaster will shoot the trains off the top of the lift around 40 MPH. While 40 MPH isn’t very fast for a LSM launch – I’m sure it will reach a faster speed once gravity takes over after the lift (similar to Incredible Hulk at Islands of Adventure, although Hulk uses a very inefficient tire-driven launch system).
The news about this coaster just keeps getting better and better. First the news about the dueling tracks having one side inverted, and the other side traditional sit down was enough to have me sold on it. Add in the launched lift hills and I’m ready to start planning my trip. It’s even enough to finally get me to start watching the show.
The Battlestar Galactica coaster is scheduled to open when the Universal Studios Singapore park opens in 2010.
