Galactica is a great complement to not just Nemesis, but also to the rest of the thrill coasters at Alton Towers John Wardley put it best by saying something to the effect of this: where Nemesis and Oblivion are villains, Air is the hero. The theme and the ride itself doesn't try to intimidate, rather it aims to welcomes people and offers a sense of liberation I wish more parks could execute such a dynamic this well. As good as coasters with great airtime and/or thrilling inversions are, there is a place for unique ride experiences like this that you can ride all day and not come away from it with bruised thighs and/or feeling dizzy
Alton Towers is known simply for its groundbreaking attractions and unique methords of tackling restrictions. Galactica, The Smiler, Oblivion were all groundbreaking attractions, and other ones (namely Nemesis) tackled height restrictions insanely well whilst providing fresh experiences for the UK AND Europe
I love Air/Galactica, so really pleased to see it getting some attention on this channel. As Europe's only B&M flyer, we're really lucky to have it here in the UK. I got to do the VR once and actually thought it worked really well, but understand why it only lasted as long as it did. Fun fact: Before A.T built Nemesis, Six Flags had given them a favour by showing them the prototype Batman invert early. So when A.T built Air, they returned the favour to Six Flags and that's why Superman at Over Georgia opened the same year as Air.
Was there yesterday (25th Sept), my 12 yo daughter has gotten braver and rode a lot at Alton this time. This was her 1st inverting roller coaster. She loved it and rode twice. I remember it as air, VR and as current. I'm a local too!
I hear some people in the UK talk this ride down and say they wouldn’t be surprised if Towers got rid of this ride next, but I love it. I get the impression that John Wardley designed it as a coaster that entertains and nothing else. A ride that anyone who doesn’t like the intensity of Nemesis or The Smiler can go on. Plus throughput (when it’s opened) is usually pretty fast
I have not ridden Galactica, but I have ridden three other flying coasters including, Superman at SFOG, Manta at SWO, and Tatsu at SFMM. I love them! You literally feel like you're flying! I hope to experience Galactica someday.
Galactica really needs some TLC over the closed season, because the current state this ride is in with abysmal operations (they only had 1 train in the station when I visited during The easter holiday peak, basically making the duel loading pointless), ripped signage (look at 1:24 lol) and worn track that needs a serious repaint is all really bad. It’s not a good look to have this next to the brand new immaculate B&M next door. If this ride isn’t maintained over the winter then I genuinely worry for its future
Thing is with alton towers is that they leave things in terrible states before a refresh. Duel was looking god awful before it became Alton Manor. I think the same is happening here. They even have the emergency lights on in the station now, there is no way its staying like this next year.
exactly, i think maybe they are either going to leave it to rot and then renovate it (like a duel/curse at alton manor situation) or remove the ride altogether
My first pretzel loop was on Manta sea world Orlando, Blacked out the first time and got winded cause the force on that inversion is very strong but worth riding over and over. Have not tried Galactica yet but hoping to visit Alton towers next year.
I remember riding this when I was just tall enough and LOVED it. It was known as Air and was so smooth and not too intense. Flying coasters now with the pretzel loops are just a bit too much for me. I'd welcome more Flying coasters like this one that are more tame.
Galatica is the only B&M flying coaster I've been on. It's my 4th favorite coaster at the park along side nemesis, wicker man and the smiler. It actually does feel like your flying and the duration is definitely as long as nemesis.
I find it to be under rated as a ride. Its almost always got a large queue as its a magnet for those who don't like the big intense stuff. Didn't ride it in its VR days but was there in 2002. Gotta say it was something wild to go from Nemmy to Air and not feel like its way tame. When ever the school trips are there. Its always got a long line. The flip on your back part feels just as tight now than it did back then. The station and lift tunnel are looking abit shabby now. I feel that with the current Nemesis rebirth. Air/Galactica will get some form of re theme-refit to fit in with the new nemmy.
U and Sarah need to go to Scream-A-Geddon it honestly looks really cool and they have two interactive haunt there where the actors can touch you. I just watched it in someone else’s Vlog. I definitely think you and Sarah should go out and experience it. It’s probably like an hour drive away from you guys.
People are always complaining that this doesn’t have high positive g but flying coasters shouldn’t be intense. Sarah is probably the 1st person I’ve heard praise the tamer layout😅
exactly! nemesis is next door... they contrast each other so nicely in a way that compliments one another, i just want their themes to reflect that synergy more...
Great ride. I wish they'd add more themeing to it like they had in the concept art. I'm hoping they will retheme her to be the counter to nemesis reborn. It would really make forbidden valley much better.
I wish you would've compared the dutchman's lay-down turn to this one rather than compare it to a pretzel loop. that would've been my immediate comparison, but i don't know how Galactica feels.. I think just visually, the transition for fly to lie is the biggest thing that is totally different
When I rode this last year, I was pretty disappointed. It feels a bit too short and doesn't really do much interesting after the fly to lie. The fly to lie is really great though. But my biggest gripe is that there's no queue for the front row. The front row is the only row with any sort of view and is a significantly better experience IMO, and they might recognize that everyone would wait for front row if it was an option.
I have done this quite a few times since my first ride in 2018. I did ride with vr once and I prefer the ride without without it because my headset fell off In the fly to lie inversion. My last couple rides on it were really fun and the ride overall felt faster and I even liked my most recent ride on this more than Wicker Man. Galactica is certainly one of the most underrated roller coasters in the park. However, I do prefer rides like Nemesis (GOAT), Oblivion and The Smiler
@ParamountFitnessTV Overall, Wicker Man has the better ride experience with the story and theming included. While Galactica seems to be running better than it has done in the past, my fastest ride on Wicker Man was more intense with forces you don't often expect from UK coasters.
Air (Yes i still call it that) is a decent ride. Being B&M first and being limited with height its a winner. I found Manta too intense for a flying coaster.
I wish I loved this ride the way everyone in the comments and everyone I've spoken to seems to. I don't dislike the ride but think I made the mistake of massively overhyping it and it really didn't live up to expectations for me - I honestly found it kind of boring and definitely not worth how long I waited for it. Hopefully another trip on a quieter day and with a more open mind might change my opinion.
@@mrquavers mmmm, I think both of those are better than this, I probably overestimated it. I think it’s too short and force less. Although Rita is short, it packs in more force, and a bit of airtime, and has a great launch.
@@hazza_builds753 bro just said Galactica was short despite it being longer than both other rides as well as it being the second or third longest ride there
Air is a great great ride. Galactica is a stupid name and the VR thing was silly. The current theme is cheap and tacky yikes. Imagine spending money to make a good ride far worse. Rebrand a ride that’s meant to make you feel like you’re flying with a theme that’s irrelevant drivel and then double down by covering riders eyes with a rubbish game so you can’t actually see that you even are flying. Not to mention all manor of eye and face sweaty grossness, insane downtime and unreliability, people being sick from the VR - Shambles. Air was the world’s first (decent) and easily most famous flying coaster. Towers trampled its legacy 😔
I hate B&M flyers. I feel like I'm wearing a straight jacket. Pure claustrophobia. Extremely uncomfortable for me. They are an easy skip for me now days.
How come Dolly Parton has her own themepark but the likes of Taylor Swift and Jennifer Lopez haven't invested a single penny into the industry. Just proves they don't care about their fans.
Galactica is a great complement to not just Nemesis, but also to the rest of the thrill coasters at Alton Towers
John Wardley put it best by saying something to the effect of this: where Nemesis and Oblivion are villains, Air is the hero. The theme and the ride itself doesn't try to intimidate, rather it aims to welcomes people and offers a sense of liberation
I wish more parks could execute such a dynamic this well. As good as coasters with great airtime and/or thrilling inversions are, there is a place for unique ride experiences like this that you can ride all day and not come away from it with bruised thighs and/or feeling dizzy
I love that quote, so true!
Indeed, and correspondingly doesn't have a dark/horror theme unlike most of Merlin's other thrill coasters.
I wonder if Exodus will be similar.
@@dingo137it is
Alton Towers is known simply for its groundbreaking attractions and unique methords of tackling restrictions. Galactica, The Smiler, Oblivion were all groundbreaking attractions, and other ones (namely Nemesis) tackled height restrictions insanely well whilst providing fresh experiences for the UK AND Europe
I love Air/Galactica, so really pleased to see it getting some attention on this channel. As Europe's only B&M flyer, we're really lucky to have it here in the UK. I got to do the VR once and actually thought it worked really well, but understand why it only lasted as long as it did.
Fun fact: Before A.T built Nemesis, Six Flags had given them a favour by showing them the prototype Batman invert early. So when A.T built Air, they returned the favour to Six Flags and that's why Superman at Over Georgia opened the same year as Air.
Yes I've ridden it, I really liked it, you nailed it, short but graceful and a world first.. Nice
I’ve been watching coaster studios for many years and the quality of your videos and your reviews is just insane! I’m a big fan of the channel :)
You guys are awesome best videos ever keep up the great work
Galactica looks like a fantastic first flying coaster! Looks very graceful.
So nice to see Galactica getting some praise! It's one of my favourites at Towers, such an enjoyable ride every time
Was there yesterday (25th Sept), my 12 yo daughter has gotten braver and rode a lot at Alton this time. This was her 1st inverting roller coaster. She loved it and rode twice. I remember it as air, VR and as current. I'm a local too!
I hear some people in the UK talk this ride down and say they wouldn’t be surprised if Towers got rid of this ride next, but I love it. I get the impression that John Wardley designed it as a coaster that entertains and nothing else. A ride that anyone who doesn’t like the intensity of Nemesis or The Smiler can go on. Plus throughput (when it’s opened) is usually pretty fast
Whilst I'm not a huge Galactica fan, it is very good in the dark, especially the ending as it's in near pitch black and makes for a great sensation.
I have not ridden Galactica, but I have ridden three other flying coasters including, Superman at SFOG, Manta at SWO, and Tatsu at SFMM. I love them! You literally feel like you're flying! I hope to experience Galactica someday.
Galactica really needs some TLC over the closed season, because the current state this ride is in with abysmal operations (they only had 1 train in the station when I visited during The easter holiday peak, basically making the duel loading pointless), ripped signage (look at 1:24 lol) and worn track that needs a serious repaint is all really bad. It’s not a good look to have this next to the brand new immaculate B&M next door. If this ride isn’t maintained over the winter then I genuinely worry for its future
Thing is with alton towers is that they leave things in terrible states before a refresh. Duel was looking god awful before it became Alton Manor. I think the same is happening here. They even have the emergency lights on in the station now, there is no way its staying like this next year.
exactly, i think maybe they are either going to leave it to rot and then renovate it (like a duel/curse at alton manor situation) or remove the ride altogether
I’m so pleased you gave this ride a positive review. This is among my absolute favourite roller coasters.
My first pretzel loop was on Manta sea world Orlando, Blacked out the first time and got winded cause the force on that inversion is very strong but worth riding over and over. Have not tried Galactica yet but hoping to visit Alton towers next year.
It's a perfect gateway coaster between Th13teen and the others. Not too forceful, not too fast, generally comfortable, and lots of fun.
I remember riding this when I was just tall enough and LOVED it. It was known as Air and was so smooth and not too intense. Flying coasters now with the pretzel loops are just a bit too much for me. I'd welcome more Flying coasters like this one that are more tame.
Galatica is the only B&M flying coaster I've been on. It's my 4th favorite coaster at the park along side nemesis, wicker man and the smiler. It actually does feel like your flying and the duration is definitely as long as nemesis.
The Galactica is my all time favourite ride at Alton towers I went on it on Sunday my next favourite is the wickerman.
I find it to be under rated as a ride. Its almost always got a large queue as its a magnet for those who don't like the big intense stuff. Didn't ride it in its VR days but was there in 2002. Gotta say it was something wild to go from Nemmy to Air and not feel like its way tame. When ever the school trips are there. Its always got a long line. The flip on your back part feels just as tight now than it did back then. The station and lift tunnel are looking abit shabby now.
I feel that with the current Nemesis rebirth. Air/Galactica will get some form of re theme-refit to fit in with the new nemmy.
I love this ride… And this channel!
Hope we get more B&M Flyers in the states I’d love something like Flying Dinosaur
We’ve got Tatsu, I thought Tatsu was the King.
There’s Manta at SeaWorld
The very first flying coaster was actually Skytrak at the now defunct Granada Studios in the UK.
U and Sarah need to go to Scream-A-Geddon it honestly looks really cool and they have two interactive haunt there where the actors can touch you. I just watched it in someone else’s Vlog. I definitely think you and Sarah should go out and experience it. It’s probably like an hour drive away from you guys.
I love Galactica and it was my first upside down coaster :)
A good, fair review.
I hope with Nemesis reopening next year, we will get AIR back.
Prepare for air... assume the position... now fly...ffllyyyyy....
This ride looks awesome! I hope Kings Dominion could get a B&M Wing Hyper Coaster for 2024 Season. 👍✌️
People are always complaining that this doesn’t have high positive g but flying coasters shouldn’t be intense. Sarah is probably the 1st person I’ve heard praise the tamer layout😅
exactly! nemesis is next door... they contrast each other so nicely in a way that compliments one another, i just want their themes to reflect that synergy more...
I've riden Manta and found it very intense.
The idea with Air was to fly, not be an acrobatic flying.machine!
i LOVE Air
Great ride. I wish they'd add more themeing to it like they had in the concept art.
I'm hoping they will retheme her to be the counter to nemesis reborn. It would really make forbidden valley much better.
I got to go on this back 2003 with John wardley, the designer,
I think this was the only real successful VR implementation - the "full dedication" was an excellent idea and it seemed to work
F.L.Y.: I am perfection perfected
I wish you would've compared the dutchman's lay-down turn to this one rather than compare it to a pretzel loop.
that would've been my immediate comparison, but i don't know how Galactica feels.. I think just visually, the transition for fly to lie is the biggest thing that is totally different
That’s very valid- the sensations are not that different!
That's crazy that they can't build above 20 metres. Pretty big achievement to get this ride in there, considering that.
I love this ride- and yes, when I ride it with VR I was sick for the rest of the day. VR does not belong on coasters
My first inversion was mantas pretzel loop 😬
Nice.
When I rode this last year, I was pretty disappointed. It feels a bit too short and doesn't really do much interesting after the fly to lie. The fly to lie is really great though.
But my biggest gripe is that there's no queue for the front row. The front row is the only row with any sort of view and is a significantly better experience IMO, and they might recognize that everyone would wait for front row if it was an option.
I refuse to call air gala...
I like what you did there
I have done this quite a few times since my first ride in 2018. I did ride with vr once and I prefer the ride without without it because my headset fell off In the fly to lie inversion. My last couple rides on it were really fun and the ride overall felt faster and I even liked my most recent ride on this more than Wicker Man.
Galactica is certainly one of the most underrated roller coasters in the park. However, I do prefer rides like Nemesis (GOAT), Oblivion and The Smiler
How would you rate this in comparison to Wickerman? Equally as intense? Better?
@ParamountFitnessTV Overall, Wicker Man has the better ride experience with the story and theming included. While Galactica seems to be running better than it has done in the past, my fastest ride on Wicker Man was more intense with forces you don't often expect from UK coasters.
‘Worst’ flying coaster I’ve ever been on, but it’s still a Flyer which also still makes it fun
Air (Yes i still call it that) is a decent ride. Being B&M first and being limited with height its a winner.
I found Manta too intense for a flying coaster.
I like galactica 😊
I still find it bizarre to see you reviewing coasters from my home park
Same
Towers is my home park
Galactica is more like a B&M Family Flying Coaster in my opinion.
Used to love the bit on your back and the rise as a whole. Now I can't breath on my back so I don't ride it much. Fly is far superior.
i preffer the fly at phantasialand with the launch
I wish I loved this ride the way everyone in the comments and everyone I've spoken to seems to. I don't dislike the ride but think I made the mistake of massively overhyping it and it really didn't live up to expectations for me - I honestly found it kind of boring and definitely not worth how long I waited for it. Hopefully another trip on a quieter day and with a more open mind might change my opinion.
It feels so slooooooow when your on it. They need to get rid imo and get more thrilling rides.
ive never rode galactica but from all the videos i see it just looks so slow and sluggish
I went on this, I really don’t think it’s that good. I was pretty underwhelmed. But it wasn’t bad, I’d give it a 5/10
its better then 13 and rita no doubt
@@mrquavers mmmm, I think both of those are better than this, I probably overestimated it. I think it’s too short and force less. Although Rita is short, it packs in more force, and a bit of airtime, and has a great launch.
@@hazza_builds753 bro just said Galactica was short despite it being longer than both other rides as well as it being the second or third longest ride there
@hazza_builds753 I see your point
Personally I think Rita is too short and rough
@@mrquavers yeah, I understand, although I’ve never found it rough, maybe I’m just the right height
hi win are u going to Carowinds and can I met u I am 11 years old and have watch all your videos
Air is a great great ride. Galactica is a stupid name and the VR thing was silly. The current theme is cheap and tacky yikes. Imagine spending money to make a good ride far worse. Rebrand a ride that’s meant to make you feel like you’re flying with a theme that’s irrelevant drivel and then double down by covering riders eyes with a rubbish game so you can’t actually see that you even are flying. Not to mention all manor of eye and face sweaty grossness, insane downtime and unreliability, people being sick from the VR - Shambles. Air was the world’s first (decent) and easily most famous flying coaster. Towers trampled its legacy 😔
I appreciate your appreciation for a UK coaster... but Air is just a vomit machine honestly
I hate B&M flyers. I feel like I'm wearing a straight jacket. Pure claustrophobia. Extremely uncomfortable for me. They are an easy skip for me now days.
the ride is pretty boring and now it's even worse being Galactica, Air had a sick soundtrack and embodied the 2000s
How come Dolly Parton has her own themepark but the likes of Taylor Swift and Jennifer Lopez haven't invested a single penny into the industry. Just proves they don't care about their fans.
Bro you have to make the raptor wing coaster revew 😢