Mexico Hyper Opens in Mexico

[Stu]

Six Flags Mexico have finally opened their Chance Morgan hyper coaster "Superman el Último Escape" i guess it translates as "Superman: The Ultimate Escape"

I say finally as the park were supposed to open this ride in 2002, but 2 years later, in November of all months, the ride is open

Check this site

and select superman from the menu on the left, great night shots of the ride in action

[Graeme]

I've been following this for years, but I never thought I'd see it built! I suppose it's the same sort of calibre as Steel Force? Possibly even better, as it's their newest one. After all, Intamin refined S:ROS for their 3rd one. Mind you, I really can't remember if this was designed before Phantom's Revenge or not - it's been going on that long!

I think this will possibly be the last traditional "hypercoaster" ever built.

[Stu]

It's hard to make out exactly where it goes, or what it looks like as a whole,

i like the bunny hop into the curvey drop that dwafs the SLC! It must be a fair height that part

but i think you're right this will probably be the last ever hyper coaster, with the hydraulic launch, coasters won't need expensive (to build and maintain) lofty chain lifts anymore, it's a shame we didn't get an out n back hyper in the UK or even an intamin / morgan / B&M "mega" coaster

[Graeme]

To be honest, 200ft lift hills pointing into the air have never looked quite "right" to me. I suppose it has a lot to do with my 1999 trip to Blackpool. I rode the Big One, then, I was over by Big Dipper when I saw it break down. The thought of walking down the lift was too much for me!

I suppose parks will start using a launch for whatever their biggest ride is (ie. needs the biggest speed/height). It's interesting to see a park like Cedar Point... well, it's the only park where you can see how coasters have evolved through hypers, gigas and stratas. Now that neither gigas or hypers break the height record, I wonder what "tall" coasters are going to settle down at. Even the Intamin rockets are becoming around 150ft.

EDIT - By the way, I can possibly see another B&M speedcoaster being built in a situation where the park owner really wanted the "B&M quality", and also where he had terrain to use, like Apollo's Chariot.

I suppose with launches, inversions and vertical drops, the wooden coasters remains more than ever the most traditional coaster - lift hill, no inversions and the steepness is whatever's "right" for the layout, nothing to necessarily advertise.