Saturday, April 1, 2017

Playland Aiming for May Opening of New Gale Force Roller Coaster


© Playland's Castaway Cove
According to a recent news article, Playland's Castaway Cove is planning on being able to open their new roller coaster, Gale Force, this May.  The compact design coaster, created by S&S Worldwide, was originally to set to open a year ago, in May of 2016.    Several delays made the ride sit idle as the summer passed by and the news story gives light on just what happened.

It turns out that one piece of the ride's track didn't set exactly as designed, one where the coaster enters the station, which was making for a safe, but bumpy ride.  S&S Worldwide decided that the segment of track needed to be re-manufactured, so the ride's opening was put off until this year.

Gale Force features a triple-launch, forward and backward, to get the individual, 12-seater cars moving at more than 60 miles per hour, but that one bumpy track connection would have been passed 3 times each cycle, and at high speeds.

The new track is now installed and the ride has been modestly tested in recent weeks.  With more testing set for the coming weeks, Playland's Castaway Cove will then be able to apply for a state inspection and sign-off and open the coaster.

In addition to the three LSM launches, Gale Force will also feature a maximum height of 125 feet and a beyond vertical plunge mid-ride.


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