Do-Dodonpa

I know I promised pictures of the new loop, but let's talk about the coaster's history first.

Dodonpa was the second of two "Thrust Air" coasters built by S & S Power.  These two rides are sometimes called the "Thrust Air 2000" models because they opened around the year 2000.  The first to open, Hypersonic XLC, was originally built as a prototype in S & S's manufacturing facility in Utah.  After it was built and tested in 1999, track was added to make the coaster a complete circuit, and it was moved to Virginia where it opened in 2001 at Kings Dominion.  The coaster operated from 2001 to 2007 as Hypersonic XLC.  Dodonpa opened just nine months after Hypersonic's debut.  While very similar to Hypersonic, the second "Thrust Air" was slightly different than the first version.  Both coasters had a massive hill with a vertical climb and vertical drop, but Hypersonic's hill was positioned directly after the launch track, while Dodonpa's took place after a long section of straight track and a sweeping right turn that had a small climb and descent.  Hypersonic's hill contained several large air tanks that stored pressurized air used to launch trains, but Dodonpa's shot tanks are located at ground level near the station seen here.  The exit of the tunnel containing the launch mechanisms is partially visible in this picture.

©2022 Joel A. Rogers.