How does a Freefall ride work?
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 พ.ค. 2024
- today I want to talk about how a generation 1 Freefall works. These rides were designed by Giovanola and sold through INTAMIN. These rides are fun to watch but as of now there is only 4 left in the world.
Thanks to everyone who sent me info on the technical operations of the ride and for those who let me use their videos as well. I had to do a ton of searching so if I’ve used something of yours let me know and I’ll add your video to the list below.
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Shockedbywater
/ @shockedbywater
• Rocky Point Park Free ...
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Amusement420
/ @amusement420
• DEMON DROP Line Queue ...
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K1ngdaka88
/ k1ngdaka88
• Stuck on Hollywood Tow...
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Jb Coaster
/ @jbcoaster
• Hollywood Action Tower...
360 video I mentioned
• Movieland Park Hollywo...
Overview 01:02
Layout 07:20
Blocks 10:40
Cab 12:23
Lift base 20:00
Lift top 30:15
Horizontal transfer 36:16
Slope 50:38
Operations 58:30
Breakdowns 63:54
Story 68:08 - บันเทิง
![ลักพาตัว เอาลูกเอิร์นกลับมา...!! [เอิร์นไดเม่]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/f4NVKlZ5qkk/mqdefault.jpg)
Demon Drop was cool because it was the closest feeling to randomly jumping into some sort of continuous industrial process.
Great video. All the mechanicals make a lot more sense now. When I worked at Cedar Point in ‘87 we still had Demon Drop. I used to look at the operation of the ride all the time and try to figure it out. Never figured out the lift shaft and the top transfer to the horizontal. The Slope was a lot more visible so it was easier to figure out. We were told by the mechanics that in the runout, if the cab ran through all the brakes, the tracks actually narrowed at the far end so there would be no way for the cab to fly out the end, it would just wedge into the narrowed tracks. We also would run a neat physics experiment by putting a quarter on our knee before the drop. During the drop the quarter would rise up and hover about 18 inches above the knee, then in the curved track it would fly back between the seats.
I rode Demon Drop in the summer of 1984. I was 9 yrs old. It was my first amusement ride. Now my sons and I are diehard coaster freaks
Always remembered the cab running down the curve then hearing all the change after haha!
I always insisted on being first to enter the cab and I would rake my skinny fingers in the little trough created by the seat pad and the back pad from the first seat to the last. I got a lot of pennies, but I remember getting over a dollar on one haul.
If my memory is correct there would be a ride vehicle on the drop and another in the transfer track at the top. As the first one dropped the one on the lift would reach the top. So it seemed like there were 3 up there because the rider on the lift saw the first one drop. I rode it in the first year of operation at Ceder Point. It all happened fast and my impression was that there were 3 ride vehicles up there at that time. Loved this video brought back memories.
I believe The Demon Drop was still running into the early 2000s. I remember it still being there the first time I went to Cedar Point in 02’. I was to scared to ride it at the time, was kind of a chicken shit at 13. By the time I return in 07’ it was sadly gone. I kinda regret missing my chance to experience it.
These were way better than the newer drop towers. I remember riding Stunt Man's Freefall at Great Adventure as a kid. I really need to get to Dorney for Demon's Drop. My kid won't go on drop towers, but I've convinced him that this IS in fact a rollercoaster, so he has to do it if he wants the credit.
Haha! Good job!
The Edge (Accident one) end up going to Geauga Lake as Mr. Hyde’s Nasty Fall. Did not last long as it left a few yrs after it came in. Parts went to Cedar Point for Demon Drop.
Watching this video has been a joyful blast to the past :) Still miss Freefall at SFMM to this day.
They are good rides. Love to salvage one somehow.
Fantastic video Ryan!
The Rocky Point Freefall is The Edge from Great America in Illinois. It was sold to Rocky Point a couple of years after the accident. When Rocky Point closed, it then went to Geauga Lake.
When the ride was at Great America, the cab didn't drop from the freefall position as quickly as it does in the Rocky Point video. That had to be a programming change after the ride went to Rocky Point.
Also - when the ride opened at Great America, the cab at the bottom of the elevator started it's ascent as soon as the previous cab started it's freefall. I remember being in the cab going up the tower and seeing the previous cab flying down the track in front of me. After the accident, the programming must have been changed so the cab in the shaft didn't start its ascent until the previous car was in the runout. Maybe part of the blocking change you mentioned or maybe just a change done for safety.
It's amazing how complex these rides were for their time. Too bad there are so few left.
These are amazing machines. I would love to figure out how to preserve one at a museum or something. Keep it operational but reduce the usage.
Great job!!!! I just rode Demond Drop on Saturday. It's been exactly 40 years since I first experienced it. Loved this video.
Thank you
My sisters and I rode Demon Drop at Cedar Point in '03 and we loved it, it was better than Power Tower IMO and I still miss it there (along with Wicked Twister). At least they sent it to Dorney Park where it still operates to this day. It'd be nice if Intamin bring these style drop towers back and modernize them so they wouldn't be overly complicated.
I’ve thought about it. Two switch tracks and a LSM lift. Would also cut the size down by 2/3 having a safe runout.
Another great video Ryan. The animation must have taken ages, but really helps with the explanation.
These things look so complicated compared to the modern drop tower!
Keep up the great work.
Thank you. I didn’t want to do that level of animation but there are just no pictures or video showing how these things really work. So custom made it is!
The Edge!!!! Nice video man! I was to young to ride the one at Marriotts Great America between Milwaukee and Chicago, but I clearly remember watching it as a young lad and hearing the screams. :)
Fun right!
Heck yeah!
Demon Drop is one of the greatest rides ever made. I kinda cringe though when you mention all the dampers, because CLANG BANG KLUNK KLUNK every time you ride it, but that's what makes it so great.
Great video! The story at the end had me laughing so much 😂
Jerry Barber invented this!
If you would like to contact him, let me know.
He’s a friend of mine!
I would love to see Intamin build a brand new one somewhere. 1st generation or not, this is the best drop tower ever invented!
OMG I always wondered how this thing worked. Great job. Keep up the adventures.
Thanks.
Thanks Ryan and Rich.
Your welcome!
Never realized until now how similar this is in concept to Tower of Terror WDW
I never had the chance to ride one (I either got to parks that had them after they were removed or to parks that got them after I was there). And despite me not being a fan of the "Giant Drop" type freefall rides, (I like the launched ones like what S&S builds) I would totally ride one of these contraptions. They are so clunky and seem overcomplicated for what they do, I just have to.
Thanks for the great explanation, Ryan!
Your welcome! They are fun
AstroWorld's Sky Screamer ('83 one of the last built) was supposedly Giovanola's improved model with the fast lift. Until that accident a year later, I remember it was programmed so that as soon as one cab was 1/2 way up the lift, the next cab would back almost completely into the tower and then wait. Thus, one cab was under the other one. As soon as the cab up top was transferring, the next cab finished backing onto the lift and began ascent. You did see two cabs up top from time to time during an e-stop. After the reprogram the next cab waited outside the tower until the other one had dropped. The line moved really slow after the change. You also realized how slow the other models were at going up if you ever rode a fast lift model.
I remember never standing still long in line during the busy months of the early 90s with the Demon Drop. Slow and steady with how they rolled those cars in for loading and out for launch.
Talk about a complicated ride 😱. Demon Drop was always operating, I think this is the only ride Intamin ever built that actually ran without issues.
It was very hard to get issues other than the handful I knew of. Slope clutch and touchy brakes
I miss the demon drop! That was a great ride!
they were like mini Supermans. so much fun.
Remarkable video, excellent explanation on a highly complex ride. Thank you and everyone who shared video and their experiences. Great ending story, Thanks for your outstanding work.
Your welcome!
I loved these free fall rides! I've only been on two of these Free Fall rides: Free Fall at Magic Mountain and Demon Drop when it was at Cedar Point.
The only bad thing about the one at Magic Mountain it was pretty painful when the cab stopped in the reversing break and transition back into the upright position.
I noticed Demon Drop in the video at Dorney Park was so SLOW going back into the upright position. Where Free Fall and Demon Drop, when it was at Cedar Point, would only take a second or two max to transition back into the upright position.
Great video!
Magic was good at making the slope faster. These rides would have lasted longer if they could use magnetic brakes. Then that would have made them smoother. As well
Hi thanks for making this much love ❤😊
You’re welcome
Probleem!!! 😝
Nice and interesting video! So much interesting mechanics on this type of ride.
Another fun fact, after about 2 mins being stuck up there, my friend is asking me if we're stuck. 😂
That’s hilarious!! My family now hears me say (in that voice) Problem!
I’ve had similar experience. We stopped mid lift on a ride and I think it was my wife asked, did we stop. Funny what the brain does.
I also love on that video the ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Haha!!
great video! Thanks for what you do
Your welcome!
Wow great video. Awesome work with the research and custom-shot footage and hand-drawn diagrams. This is your best and most advanced video yet. Love the level of detail you go into. Thanks for the informative videos! Especially after 2 other vids this week. You're the man Ryan!
I try making my normal videos weeks in advance so I have a”buffer” to keep me on track when life gets complicated.
Wonderfully complicated loved it. Will probably have to watch a few times to really understand it all. Especially enjoyed the visuals. Looks like you had more fun than usual with this one.
There was not many pictures of what I needed and it was all critical to operation. It’s been a mystery to me as well. Always could not understand how it came out of the vertical lift
I remember being in school and went to CAGA (my home park too!) and we were encourage to put change on our knee for the drop, which of course would appear to suspend in the air. I swear all you would hear was pennies, dimes and quarters landing down below on the diamond cut above the load zone. I don't think they encourage, even in the name of science to have falling debris on rides any more. The late 80's and 90's were so much fun. Like motorcyclist without helmets. Living on the EDGE. [punny]
Aerosmith punny!!! Loved that song. I’m sure they got some extra headaches with all the change in those things. Back in the good old days where people wouldn’t sew you over loose change.
This was the best video you've done, kudos! I find these so much more intense than the new drops and I'm kind of fascinated that so few exist now.
Any idea why they became so violent? The Rocky Point one seems to be really smooth, with the Hollywood one seems to be really throwing the cab around. Is this a case of potentially needing new shocks?
Shocks and speed. Most slowed the lift down so they tried to speed it up in other areas and the cab runs into stuff blowing the shocks out. Never ending battle and the brakes were very touchy so a lot of issues there. Would have benefited from lsm brakes to move.
Had one at Astroworld. Sounded like a giant coke machine. 🤣🤣🤣
Very interesting.
i was worried there wouldn’t be a video today with the 2 earlier this week
I really try to release on Fridays. But the smaller videos are spur Of the moment so they don’t count as a video
What makes a drop tower intense?
Have heard that Zumanjaro and Lex Luthor have tame drops. The short carnival drops with the quick release at top are the most intense I have experienced. Excited to ride Demon Drop in the future.
Thanks for the great content!
I think it is the shorter drop. The big ones (I’ve been on drop of doom) you have a lot of time dropping. But these are over so quick. I think that makes it a positive. No time to settle out.
Its Hollywood Action Tower at Movieland park Italy. great video enjoy the in depth view
Your welcome!
I always liked the curve
3 videos in one week! Hell yeah
Glad it makes you happy! I loved researching this one.
Extremely Interesting Video! These rides had a lot of intrigue, though the subsequent generations are more efficient/elegant.
In my opinion, those subsequent generations of freefalls unfortunately negatively impacted the design of roller coasters- which became less about intrigue-filled airtime, and more about comparatively random track geometries / inversion ballet.
Maybe you could cover the racer backwards at Kings Island. I always wondered what extra stress would be with the train going backwards instead of forwards
those ptc trains are so simple that there really isn't much difference to them, the chassis pretty much don't change no matter which direction the train is facing since the wheel assemblies aren't trailered.
Somebody needs to build modern taller versions of these with a fast lift, mag brakes, and more reliability. The runout is the most exciting part of the ride much like a splash on a log flume. Togo's Ultra Twister is another one that needs a modern return. The fast lifts (AstroWorld's SkyScreamer was one) were more thrilling too.
I can do any and all roller coasters but I do NOT like drop towers/free falls. I remember being terrified of this at six flags over Georgia back In the day
They are not for everyone.
I first rode Demon Drop when I was 11 in 1983. They must have slowed down the drive tires in the horizontal transfer at the top because they actually advertised how you were "diabolically dangled", much like a dive coaster today. I wonder if Bolliger and Mabillard were inspired to design the Dive Coaster from the Free Fall and their days when they were with Giovanola?
Anyways here's the commercial I referenced earlier:
th-cam.com/video/AaJdFD_eAq4/w-d-xo.html
That’s cool. Amazement park!
I was going to Six Flags Magic Mountain since the 70's, & always rode Freefall. Freefall had the fast lift, but they left you at the top of the tower for a short time before they dropped you. Here is the SFMM Freefall commercial from 1982 I found:
th-cam.com/video/2VcZWzw2Rbg/w-d-xo.htmlsi=OWgMpYccrHYFOpKN
GREAT VIDEO RYAN!
@@pinball541 that was a great commercial haha! I have a feeling there was a little bit of army sponsorship there. Maybe not. Thanks!
@@ryantheridemechanic- Hello From Phoenix Arizona 🌡 🔥
Great channel Ryan. Thank you! Just watching this ride running at full capacity was a thrill. Does anyone know how many are still operating in the U.S.? Is it just Demon Drop?
Only demon drop. 4 total in the world.
My favorite scary ass freefall ride is Falcons fury at Busch Gardens. Stupid scary. I'm not actual a fan of freefalls. Lol
The Edge❤
1:02:38 Anyone else notice the kiddos grabing their ankles before the drop? Does it make the ride better?
I think it’s just a mental thing. Like holding on to the restraint vs raising your hands. My opinion
Idea for a video:funny stories working at an amusement park, from ride ops, mechanics, whomever!
want to tell some stories?
I have a bunch🤣
Did you ever work with an enterprise ride? I'd love if you did a video about how they work if you know
Never worked on one but they simple enough to explain. I have some story’s (2 haha) on them.
The one in Italy did not work (Brake faillure and cable faillure and injured people this week). Full article on Looopings.
That’s not good
@@ryantheridemechanicWell, it was another freefall tower then the old classic Intamin ones. It looked like one of the Fabbri droptowers that got totally broken.
How about a follow up showing how the intamin gint drop free fall towers work?
Like a normal 250ft tower?
If it’s a Normal intamin tower I have made a video.
th-cam.com/video/jHvs56C5ZUE/w-d-xo.htmlsi=6rYX9Y9FXr42htN2