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 Review of Hypersonic XLC @ Kings Dominion
-1 Rating Posted by: CoastrGlxy on 6/20/2005 10:09:00 AM
In 2001, Kings Dominion already had more launch coasters than most parks in the world with Flight of Fear and Volcano The Blast Coaster. With the addition of a third launch coaster, Kings Dominion was a certified destination for coaster enthusiasts and thrill junkies. With a compressed air launch that takes riders from 0 to 80 mph in less than 2 seconds and a 90-degree vertical climb and descent, you would think that Kings Dominion would have a winner.

The first thing that I noticed as I approached Hypersonic was that KD had just plopped the coaster down right over the walking paths. They definitely have the land to give this ride its own space, but for some reason they didnt. Then, I saw how extremely short it was. RCDB doesnt have a ride time for it, but its got to be 10 to 15 seconds or so. The ride consists of a great launch, a quick 90-degree climb, an immediate (and unsatisfying) 90-degree drop, and a banked turn. After that you hurdle into some loud brakes and then ease back into the station.

The drop may be 133 tall and have a 90-degree angle, but Ive felt more of a free fall feeling on the shorter woodies at the park. Hypersonic has a weird ultra-light and smooth feel. I wonder if normal steel coaster cars would improve the drop. But with heavier cars, the super-fast launch probably wouldnt possible.

Based on the launch and the intimidating looking hill, Hypersonic XLC is great for adrenaline junkies and the general public. To the true coaster enthusiasts who havent ridden it, youre really not missing much. I should probably give Kings Dominion a pass because it is a first-of-its kind coaster. Prototypes seldom do anything more than demonstrate whats possible. But I cant excuse the terrible return on investment you get after waiting thirty minutes or more for such a short, unimpressive ride. The launch is fun, but thats most likely all youll remember from your 10 second ride. Dont blink! Final Rating - 6.0 (Slightly Above Average)
 

Review Comments

fergusonat on 6/20/2005 10:37:44 AM said:
Though I gave Hypersonic a 6 as well, you cant really expect this ride to be as big as Dodonpa...Hypersonic was the first of its kind and the launch technology was brand new. Plus, Hypersonic is the actual prototype that S&S originally tested with. It isnt even a custom model...
CoastrGlxy on 6/20/2005 2:21:24 PM said:
So they shouldnt have built it until they could make it longer. Busch would have never built such a short coaster. Even if it meant having the first of its kind. Im just all about quality over quantity, I think PKD does more of the opposite. I guess theres room in the world for both types of parks. A park w/ four Mercedes and a park w/ about a dozen or so Chevys.
Hercules on 6/20/2005 2:34:45 PM said:
I would have to disagree with you there CoastrGlxy. Someone has to get a prototype. Busch has excellent parks and great rides, however, they sort of had a prototype ride in Apollos Chariot. Obviously, it wasnt the actual prototype like Hypersonic was, but it was one of the first B&M Mega Coasters. The concepts of those coasters had kind of been used in the past, but who is to say that it wouldnt have flopped? Also, remember Drachen Fire and that mess? That wasnt a prototype, but it didnt turn out the way they would have wanted. But anyway, someone has to get the prototype of some sort so that it can be seen how it operates. This is used to build upon the ride concept and to see if the ride is liked and gets a good following of ridership. They dont want to put of the huge amount of money on something that they dont know how it will work. Hypersonic gets mixed reviews, and has basically floped. That has helped other organizations to decide to not invest in one and that is why you have not seen one in a while. Its all just chance and I guess PKD was the one to make the wrong move.
CoastrGlxy on 6/20/2005 2:51:32 PM said:
Good points Hercules. Except for the fact that they didnt do a mini Apollos Chariot. They didnt half it b/c they were scared. Its a fully developed, expansive terrain coaster. If youre going to do a coaster go all in. Thats the way BG does I guess. But youre right Drachenfire was a bust and it was basically a prototype (designed by a computer). And youre right again I guess PKD couldnt afford a Drachen Fire like flop so they went with a "reasonably priced" prototype. Makes since. Im probably a little too hard on PKD, it was my home park growing up, not I could just fall asleep on most of the rides.
fergusonat on 6/20/2005 3:13:41 PM said:
Hey PKD is still a good park, but unfortunately they will never be able to meet Busch standards and we need to accept that. I wouldnt quite call Drachenfire a flop because a lot of people loved it. There are hundreds of extremely rough rides out there that are still around and still going strong. Drachenfire was one of the few to be torn down because of it...most likely because of Buschs high standards for its rides. Hypersonic flopped...yes. Ever since it was built, there have been seemingly unending mechanical problems and the modifications to the trains was NOT cheap. But it was a prototype, and it was the first of its kind. PKD goes in for that sort of prestige, even if it fades very quickly. And no, Drachenfire was not a prototype. Arrow loopers were around for like 20 years before it was even built With Hypersonic, S&S built a ride in the middle of Utah or who-knows-where, tested it a few times, took it apart, shipped it to Virginia, shortened the drop, and slapped it over a plot of asphalt....
Hercules on 6/20/2005 3:20:36 PM said:
Right, Drachen Fire was not a prototype, it was a B&M design that was made by Arrow which is why it was not overly good (eventhough I think it looked pretty sweet). Anyway, it was a flop. It was torn down and a lot of people HATED it. There were people who loved it, but, were there long lines after people rode it once? No. Were there a lot of people in the general public that complained about it? Yes. And isnt the general public what dictates everything? Yes. Busch has high standards and the ride flopped in terms of reaching their standards. I wouldnt be surprised if it were still standing in a Six Flags park for a couple more years.
fergusonat on 6/20/2005 3:27:14 PM said:
Oh boy, almost every day I take a moment to think how amazing it would have been if Drachenfire was built by B&M Ah well...it didnt happen. Perhaps B&M will make Drachens Revenge or something...
CoastrGlxy on 6/20/2005 3:57:12 PM said:
Of course Arrow loopers have been around for many years. But Drachenfire was a prototype of sorts b/c it was the first coaster designed entirely by a computer. Supposedly a computer helped them plan the layout and the unique elements like the loop during the first drop. It was something Arrow had never done, so to them it was a prototype. They were trying to mimmick the elements that B&M reported that they could produce for a Kumba-like coaster. But Busch wanted 2 Kumbas one in FL and one in VA. B&M was too busy so Busch gave the VA job to Arrow and the rest is history. And Im sorry but if youre inoperable for 4 years, no parks in the world will buy you, and youre torn down. Youre a flop. Im not saying it wasnt a good ride, but it definitely wasnt a successful one. I know it had fans but why didnt any other park buy it? Rides are moved and bought every year.
CoastrGlxy on 8/29/2005 9:32:04 AM said:
After this discussion Ive decided to remove my comments about Dodonpa from the review as it isnt a fair comparison since XLC was the prototype. Ive also removed my comments about Busch Gardens as Im sure that incited some PKD fans to throw a "Bad" my way. But it is curious to note how many people who gave 8s, 9s, and 10s also said it was TOO SHORT. Hmmm . . . . Maybe it doesnt deserve those ratings then!!! Just a thought.
fergusonat on 8/29/2005 8:50:25 PM said:
^No way, man...XLCs launch is great, but 1.8 seconds of glory isnt enough to give a ride a 10, IMO...the whole ride is brutally rough and cresting the hill crushes your thighs mercilessly. In the early days, Hypersonic was a smooth ride with excellent airtime and amazing speed, but after the modifications to the trains and restraints, the ride has gone downhill, not to mention the removal of a few sets of brakes that resulted in even more whiplash at the end of the ride
Canobie Coaster on 9/1/2005 6:48:23 PM said:
I have been hearing this ride was rough lately, but before, I had heard that it was one of the smoothest roller coasters ever.
CoastrGlxy on 10/4/2005 1:08:22 PM said:
That just what it needs going for it, a short, no really short ride thats basically one hill AND its rough. Great launch or not thats at the very least a subpar ride if you add those elements up. But the people who have been to two or three parks and ridden just a handfull of coasters, keep giving it 10s and defending it. Were all entitled to our opinions, right?
Farp on 10/5/2005 4:55:11 PM said:
Haha who thinks up of names for these rides. Hypersonic XLC?? What a stupid name. Its like my Subaru WRX WHoaaaaaa LETTER COMBINATIONS! Im sure it means something but Im to much of a bum to care.
PeterD on 10/5/2005 5:25:59 PM said:
hy·per·son·ic (hpr-snk) - adj:
"Of, relating to, or capable of speed equal to or exceeding five times the speed of sound."

There are plenty of dumber names in the coaster industry than this. If Top Thrill Dragster wasnt a record-breaker/owned by CP Im sure plenty of people would think that its a stupid name.
Farp on 10/5/2005 8:53:56 PM said:
Yeah I know what hypersonic means. And top thrill dragster is a stupid name... so is millenium force for that matter haha. Actually I think every coaster has a stupid name. Except the Iron Dragon. That name rulez lol
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