Sky Rocket II

{{Short description|Steel roller coaster model}}

{{Infobox attraction model

| name = Sky Rocket II

| logo =

| logo_width =

| image = Superman Ultimate Flight at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (14156245159) (2).jpg

| imagedimensions =

| caption = The Sky Rocket II prototype, Superman: Ultimate Flight

| status = in production

| first_produced = 2012

| installations = 10

| manufacturer = Premier Rides

| manufacturer2 =

| designer =

| height_ft = 150

| height_m =

| drop_ft =

| drop_m =

| length_ft = 863

| length_m =

| speed_mph = 62

| speed_km/h =

| gforce =

| capacity = 500

| vehicle_type =

| riders_per_vehicle = 12-18

| duration =

| restraint = Lapbar, occasionally Comfort Collar

| custom_label_1 = Inversions

| custom_value_1 = 1

| rcdb_number = 12598

}}

Sky Rocket II is a steel roller coaster model made by American manufacturer Premier Rides. The first Sky Rocket II was Superman: Ultimate Flight at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, which opened on June 30, 2012, and the latest is Sky Loop at Riyadh Winter Wonderland in 2022. The ride model features a height of {{Convert|150|ft|m}}, a length of {{Convert|863|ft|m}}, a maximum speed of {{Convert|62|mph|km/h}}, and includes one inversion. The ride has been noted for its low-cost and small foot-print.{{Cite web|url=https://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2018/06/19/it-really-looks-like-busch-gardens-tampa-will-be-getting-a-new-roller-coaster-next-year|title=It really looks like Busch Gardens Tampa will be getting a new roller coaster next year|last=Storey|first=Ken|date=June 19, 2018|website=Orlando Weekly|publisher=Euclid Media Group|language=en|access-date=December 23, 2018}}

History

The production for the Sky Rocket II model began in with its announcement in 2011 with the introduction of Superman: Ultimate Flight for Six Flags Discovery Kingdom.{{Cite web|last=MacDonald|first=Brady|date=April 13, 2016|title=Compact vertical coasters take thrills to new heights|url=https://www.latimes.com/travel/themeparks/la-trb-compact-vertical-coasters-20160413-story.html|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=August 20, 2020|website=Los Angeles Times}} Originally for the prototype model, there would be two cars with two riders per row with three rows in total, though expandable for other consumers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecSNRnz_Z8c|title=IAAPA 2011 Trade Show Part 5 Theme Park Review Premier Rides Lo-Q RGH Ent|last=Alvey|first=Robb|authorlink=Robb Alvey|date=November 17, 2011|website=Theme Park Review|via=YouTube|access-date=December 23, 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qk9dWK2xdE|title=Premier Rides interview at IAAPA|date=November 18, 2011|website=In the Loop|via=YouTube|access-date=December 23, 2018}} The model for Six Flags opened on June 30, 2012.{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/la-trb-superman-ultimate-flight-six-flags-discovery-kingdom-06201206-story.html|title=Bird? Plane? It's Superman coaster at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom|last=MacDonald|first=Brady|website=Los Angeles Times|date=7 June 2012 |access-date=December 23, 2018}} Tempesto at Busch Gardens Williamsburg introduced the model using three cars in 2015.

Design

The {{Convert|863|foot|m|abbr=|adj=on}} track reaches a height of {{Convert|150|ft|m}}, the trains are accelerated forward by linear synchronous motor (LSM) launch, but do not reach the maximum altitude and thus travel backwards through the station, continuing to accelerate, almost reaching the apex of the non-inverting loop. In the subsequent forward passage of the station, the trains are accelerated again and thereby reach the maximum height and speed of {{Convert|62|mph|km/h}}. It is followed by an inline twist, the exit of which leads to a downward dive, which initiates the passage of the non-inverting loop. In the station, the trains are then brought to a halt.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chcqvlcGU4w|title=Superman Ultimate Flight Roller Coaster POV Six Flags Discovery Kingdom|last=Alvey|first=Robb|authorlink=Robb Alvey|date=July 21, 2013|website=Theme Park Review|via=YouTube|access-date=December 23, 2018}}

Zombie Ride at Bosque Mágico is the currently the only Sky Rocket II coaster with a sliding loading platform allowing two train operations. One train is slid into the circuit while the other train is loading at the platform. It is also the only Sky Rocket II to complete two full laps of the circuit. Zombie Ride uses 12 passenger trains like Superman: Ultimate Flight.

Installations

Premier Rides has built ten Sky Rocket II coasters. These are listed by order of opening.

class="wikitable sortable"

! width="20%" |Roller coaster

! width="28%" |Park

! width="15%" |Country

! width="20%" |Opened

!Status

!

Superman: Ultimate Flight

|Six Flags Discovery Kingdom

|{{USA}}

| align="center" |2012

| align="center" |Operating

|{{Cite web|url=https://rcdb.com/10139.htm|title=Superman Ultimate Flight - Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (Vallejo, California, USA)|last=Marden|first=Duane|publisher=Roller Coaster DataBase|access-date=December 23, 2018}}

Sky Scream

|Holiday Park

|{{DEU}}

| align="center" |2014

| align="center" |Operating

|{{Cite web|url=https://rcdb.com/6736.htm|title=Sky Scream - Holiday Park (Hassloch, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany)|last=Marden|first=Duane|publisher=Roller Coaster DataBase|access-date=December 23, 2018}}

Tempesto

|Busch Gardens Williamsburg

|{{USA}}

| align="center" |2015

| align="center" |Operating

|{{Cite web|url=https://rcdb.com/12277.htm|title=Tempesto - Busch Gardens Williamsburg (Williamsburg, Virginia, USA)|last=Marden|first=Duane|publisher=Roller Coaster DataBase|access-date=December 23, 2018}}

Zombie Ride

|Bosque Mágico

|{{MEX}}

| align="center" |2015

| align="center" |Relocated (See "Drakko: The Flying Beast")

|{{Cite web|url=https://rcdb.com/12096.htm|title=Zombie Ride - Bosque Mágico (Guadalupe, Nuevo León, Mexico)|last=Marden|first=Duane|website=Roller Coaster DataBase|access-date=December 23, 2018}}

Phobia Phear Coaster

|Lake Compounce

|{{USA}}

| align="center" |2016

| align="center" |Operating

|{{Cite web|url=https://rcdb.com/12897.htm|title=Phobia Phear Coaster - Lake Compounce (Bristol, Connecticut, USA)|last=Marden|first=Duane|publisher=Roller Coaster DataBase|access-date=December 23, 2018}}

Hype

|Särkänniemi

|{{FIN}}

| align="center" |2017

| align="center" |Operating

|{{Cite web|url=https://rcdb.com/14759.htm|title=Hype - Särkänniemi Amusement Park (Tampere, Pirkanmaa, Finland)|last=Marden|first=Duane|publisher=Roller Coaster DataBase|access-date=December 23, 2018}}

Sky Rocket

|Chimelong Paradise

|{{CHN}}

| align="center" |2017

| align="center" |Operating

|{{Cite web|url=https://rcdb.com/15110.htm|title=Sky Rocket - Chimelong Paradise (Panyu, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China)|last=Marden|first=Duane|publisher=Roller Coaster DataBase|access-date=December 23, 2018}}

Electric Eel

|SeaWorld San Diego

|{{USA}}

| align="center" |2018

| align="center" |Operating

|{{Cite web|url=https://rcdb.com/14683.htm|title=Electric Eel - SeaWorld San Diego (San Diego, California, USA)|last=Marden|first=Duane|publisher=Roller Coaster DataBase|access-date=December 23, 2018}}

Tigris

|Busch Gardens Tampa

|{{USA}}

| align="center" |2019

| align="center" |Operating

|{{Cite web|url=https://rcdb.com/16607.htm|title=Tigris - Busch Gardens Tampa (Tampa, Florida, USA)|last=Marden|first=Duane|publisher=Roller Coaster DataBase|access-date=December 23, 2018}}

Sky Loop

|Riyadh Winter Wonderland

{{flagicon|Saudi Arabia}} Saudi Arabia

| align="center" |2022

| align="center" |Relocated (Traveling)

|{{Cite RCDB|coaster_name=Sky Loop|location=Riyadh Winter Wonderland|rcdb_number=19641|accessdate=July 11, 2015}}

Drakko: The Flying Beast

|Salitre Mágico

{{flagicon|Colombia}} Colombia

| align="center" |2023

| align="center" |Operating

|{{Cite RCDB|coaster_name=drakko: the Flying Beast|location=Salitre Mágico|rcdb_number=19641|accessdate=July 22, 2023}}

unknown

|Steel Pier

|{{USA}}

|

|Under construction

|{{Cite web |title=unknown - Steel Pier (Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States) |url=https://rcdb.com/20503.htm |access-date=December 1, 2022 |publisher=Roller Coaster DataBase}}{{Cite web |last=Goldman |first=Jeff |date=November 18, 2022 |title=2 new roller coasters announced for Steel Pier on Atlantic City Boardwalk |url=https://www.nj.com/atlantic/2022/11/2-new-roller-coasters-announced-for-steel-pier-on-atlantic-city-boardwalk.html |access-date=December 1, 2022 |website=NJ.com |language=en}}

References

{{Reflist}}