Australia: Luna Park Sydney Celebrates its New Big Dipper

At the beginning of December 2020, the Australian Luna Park in Sydney announced that it would invest around 30 million Australian dollars (approx. 18.4 million euros) in nine new attractions (cf. EAP news of 8 Dec 2020). One of the highlights: A new Extreme Coaster, which was named "Big Dipper", a name already known at the park. Both the park's former wooden coaster, which was in operation from 1935 to 1979, and the Arrow looping coaster, which was in operation from 1995 to 2001, were already running under this name. The new Big Dipper is now also a world premier: Intamin's first so-called “Hot Racer“. This first launched single-rail coaster was ceremoniously handed over to visitors at the end of December 2021 and has since been providing pure riding fun with a top speed of 72 km/h. During the ride in one of the two seven-seat-trains, guests experience – sitting behind each other – ten curvy elements full of airtime. The seats are equipped with over-the-shoulder-lap-bars which ensures a maximum of freedom and comfort as well as a safe ride experience.

After the first launch, the train accelerates into a Stengel-dive and a zig-zag double down, from where, after a second launch, it enters a non-inverting loop that ends in a sidewinder inversion. Passing through several airtime hills, guests experience forces of -0.3g. S-curves and a fly-over wave turn follow and than the train turns upside-down one more time with a flat spin before entering the station. (eap)