Stealth (roller coaster)

Stealth is a launched roller coaster in the Amity area of Thorpe Park located in Surrey, England. Built and designed by Intamin of Switzerland for £12 million, the Accelerator Coaster model opened in 2006, a year after another Accelerator, Rita, opened at sister park Alton Towers. It reaches a height of 62.5 metres (205 ft) and accelerates from 0 to 80 mph (129 km/h) in 1.9 seconds.[1] It is the fastest roller coaster in the UK, and the second tallest after the Big One at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.[2]

This article is about the launched roller coaster located in Thorpe Park. For the flying roller coaster formerly at Paramount's Great America, see Nighthawk (roller coaster).

Stealth
Stealth at Thorpe Park
Thorpe Park
LocationThorpe Park
Park sectionAmity
Coordinates51.405°N 0.515278°W / 51.405; -0.515278
StatusOperating
Opening date15 March 2006 (2006-03-15)
Cost£12 Million
General statistics
TypeSteel – Launched
ManufacturerIntamin
DesignerWerner Stengel
ModelAccelerator Coaster
Lift/launch systemHydraulic launch track
Height62.5 m (205 ft)
Length400.0 m (1,312.3 ft)
Speed80 mph (129 km/h)
Inversions0
Max vertical angle90°
Acceleration0 to 80 mph (0 to 129 km/h) in 1.9 seconds
Height restriction140–196 cm (4 ft 7 in – 6 ft 5 in)
Trains3 (max 2 in operation) trains with 5 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 20 riders per train.
ThemeSpeedway
WebsiteOfficial website
Fastrack available
Single rider line available
Disabled access Wheelchair accessible
Must transfer from wheelchair
Stealth at RCDB

Ride experience

When the passengers board the ride, the noise of a car engine revving can be heard in the station audio loop, as a pre-recorded American-accented voice announces, "Place your heads back, face forwards, hold on tight and brace yourself!". This is followed by the sound of tyres screeching.

After passengers are securely restrained, the launch sequence begins when the brake fins are retracted. The train moves forward and attaches to the catch car. Sometimes smoke is produced from below the cars, presumably to simulate wheelspin. Overhead, a series of five red lights illuminate one by one in a horizontal row as the voice in the recording announces, "Place your heads back, face forward." Shortly after, a second row of green lights begin to illuminate as the announcer enthusiastically shouts "Three, two, one! Go, go, go!" The train launches, quickly accelerating to 80 mph (130 km/h) in 1.9 seconds into a steep, vertical top hat element with a height of 62.5 metres (205 ft). The train turns 90 degrees to the left as it crests the top hat and makes another 90-degree left turn as it descends the other side of the element. After reaching the bottom, the train enters an airtime hill, which produces a brief sensation of weightlessness before the train enters the magnetic brake run and returns to the station.

Rollbacks

As with many Intamin Launch Coasters, Stealth experiences occasional rollbacks, which occur when a train is unable to complete the course, specifically failing to make it over the top hat element as a result of energy loss. Occurrences are rare, and there is a braking system in place on the launch side of the track to safely bring the roller coaster back to a complete stop. However rollbacks are safe, and all staff/engineers are trained to safely evacuate guests off the train.[3] Many enthusiasts see experiencing a rollback as an achievement.

Signage posted at the ride's entrance states that Stealth accelerates from 0 to 80 mph (129 km/h) in 2.3 seconds.[4] The roller coaster originally accelerated at this slower rate before a modification was made several years after opening.

References
  1. "Stealth - Thorpe Park (Chertsey, Surrey, England, United Kingdom)". rcdb.com. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  2. "Stealth: Your questions". Stealth.thorpepark.com. August 2005. Archived from the original on 9 July 2006. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  3. "Stealth rollback (Thorpe park)". YouTube.com. 10 April 2006. Archived from the original on 19 December 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  4. Marden, Duane. "Stealth - Thorpe Park". Roller Coaster DataBase. p. 36. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
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