Totally awesome or totally horrifying? The Swarm, a new roller coaster at Thorpe Park in Chertsey, UK is tearing up crash test dummies:
Even former fighter pilots find the coaster a bit much:
Link -via The Agitator | Official Website | Photo: Rod Kirkpatrick
The self-described "flight through apocalyptic devastation on Europe's tallest winged rollercoaster" propels up to 28 riders at a time with their arms and legs dangling freely at 62 miles per hour and includes trips through an inverted 127-foot drop and several close encounters with walled structures that are designed to make passengers feel like they are about to crash.
Even former fighter pilots find the coaster a bit much:
The ride's designers ran some test runs with crash test dummies, leaving many shocked when the dummies returned from the experience missing arms and legs. A team of former British fighter pilots were then brought in as the coaster's preparation neared completion. Mark Cutmore, team leader of the Blades, a stunt pilot organization, told the Metro: "I am a self-confessed adrenaline junkie, but even as a pilot used to G-force there were some gut-wrenching moments, and I have to admit the near miss element is eye-watering -- you really do feel as if you are going to crash into the structures."
Link -via The Agitator | Official Website | Photo: Rod Kirkpatrick
Close enough ?
If anyone visiting Thorpe Park thought they could get their by tube, or pop into the West end right after they would be mistaken and rather perplexed.