Apollo's Chariot
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Contents |
| Apollo's Chariot | |
| Location | Busch Gardens Europe |
|---|---|
| Type | Steel |
| Status | Open |
| Opened | March 27, 1999 |
| Manufacturer | Bolliger & Mabillard |
| Designer | Werner Stengel |
| Model | Hypercoaster |
| Track layout | Out and Back |
| Lift/launch system | Chain lift hill |
| Height | 170 feet (51.8 m) |
| Drop | 210 feet (64 m) |
| Length | 4,882 feet (1,488 m) |
| Max speed | 75 mile per hour (120.7 km/h) |
| Inversions | 0 |
| Duration | 2:15 |
| Max Vertical Angle | 65 degrees |
| Capacity | 1750 riders per hour |
| Cost | $20,000,000 USD |
| Max G force | 4.1 |
| Apollo's Chariot at RCDB | |
| Pictures of Apollo's Chariot at RCDB | |
Apollo's Chariot is the first Bolliger & Mabillard hypercoaster, located at Busch Gardens Europe. It was also the first rollercoaster to incorporate the clamshell harness design, that is a type of lap restraint rather than an over the shoulder harness. This allow the rider to experience more freedom and movement of the body. Opened in 1999, it soon became a favorite roller coaster of many enthusiasts and riders. The roller coaster uses an out and back design with a helix. Notably, the first drop is actually bigger than the ride itself, the drop being 210 feet, and the height of the roller coaster only 170 feet high.
Riders start by climbing a 170 foot lift hill. At the peak, riders drop down a few feet in a pre-drop. The pre-drop serves to reduce the stress and pull of the chain. After the pre-drop, riders drop 210 feet (21 stories) into a water-filled ravine at a 65 degree angle and reaching speeds of 73 mph. At the end of the ravine, riders go up a second airtime hill with a 131 foot drop. The riders then enter a short tunnel at the bottom of the second drop. Then after the third hill, rides go down a left curved 144 foot drop. Then, there is a large, upward helix which pulls 4.1 Gs. Coming out of the helix, there is a small drop, then another hill into a brake run. A sudden dive off of the brake run leads into a series of bunny hills. At the end of the ride, rides drop into a ditch where the on-ride photo is located. Then the train hits the brakes and the riders return into the station.
- Voted #4 Best Steel Coaster (Amusement Today Golden Ticket Awards for 2005).
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On March 30, 1999, on Apollo's Chariot's Media Day, the model Fabio was struck in the face by a goose while riding, suffering a 1-inch cut on his nose.
| Roller coasters at Busch Gardens Europe |
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Alpengeist - Apollo's Chariot - Big Bad Wolf - Griffon - Loch Ness Monster |