While I love Top Gun and think it needs to be saved and upkept and themed well, I wonder why Paramount Parks decided to give us the Arrow suspened coaster in 1993 that we've grown to love. While our Top Gun is one of my favorite coasters, my ultimate favorite is Top Gun:The Jet Coaster at Paramounts Carowinds, an inverted B&M coaster featuring zero g-rolls and an underground tunnel. While the Arrow suspened coaster is more like actually sitting in a plane and flying, it doesnt do any inversions and is nto as thrilling as a Beemer, I always wondered why PKI never gave us a B&M instead of an Arrow, I figured it was because B&M hadnt started making inverts yet. So today I did a little research, I wanted to find out when the first B&M invert was built. I found out it was in 93 and figured the reason Paramount parks didnt give us a B&M invert was because it had been built at some other park and it was only B&M's first coaster like this, untill I found out that the first B&M inverted coaster was the Top Gun out at Paramount's Great America. So my question to you guys is, does anyone know why in 1993 did we get an Arrow suspened coaster and they got a B&M invert? I love our Top Gun, but give me a Beemer any day.

I posted that ^ and realized that Im stupid and know the answer.... I forgot PKI already had plans with Arrow to build a suspened coaster called Thunder Run then Paramount bought the park and re-themed it to Top Gun. Brain fart. *slaps head*

Edit...

and I just remembered that PGA did not get the first invert, because the first B&M batman invert was built in 92. geeze whats wrong with me.

Oh well, Its a Super Fun Ride! and SMOOTH!!

^Yeah, I love our Top Gun I just wish it looked like it did when it opened with the fake missles and the smoke and the nice looking red track. What happened to its hollywood makeover this year PKI?

Well, atleast you got the extra 2 post counts.

Well I think it is ironic we got the first and the last Arrow Suspended coasters. I am a huge Arrow fanboy though - so I'll stick with the Arrow!

Yes, Top Gun was the last Arrow suspended coaster built, meaning PKI had the last and the first ones. Hopefully, PKI will keep Top Gun around for years to come as it is still a fun ride. Not nearly as fun as the Top Gun at Carowinds, but it is becoming a more unique ride as more of the arrow suspended dissapear.

^Which Arrow suspended dissapeared recently? I guess AW's counts since they may be closed permanently (not if CF is doing what ive been hearing rumors of) and the one Arrow suspened in England called The Vampire was retrofitted with vekome invert seats.

I love top gun. For anyone who doesn't, Go ride in the front seat and then tell me what you think. It is such a fast paced ride.

Yes, I was referring to the now retrofitted Arrow in England, and the questionable fate of XLer 8er at Astroworld. And, it is not like there were an incredibly large amount of this type of ride constructed to begin with.

Actually I like Top Gun in the back. Goose 7.

Goose totally got pwnt by that cockpit malfunction.

Indeed

I didn't like Maverick. He was too much of a ... maverick... I liked Goose, Viper, Jester and Iceman.

Top Gun is still a classic PKI ride in my book.

Actually I like Top Gun in the back. Goose 7.

You like everything in the Rear...

Not EVERYTHING!

But yes - I like to ride roller coasters while sitting in the rear of the train...

Anyways - you get more airtime in the back. Vortex is cool because you get good airtime in the back in certain spots - but in the front you also get awesome airtime, but in different spots. Vortex in the front and Vortex in the back are two totally different rides!!!

Yea that first drop is a killer in the back.

I always wondered why PKI never gave us a B&M instead of an Arrow, I figured it was because B&M hadnt started making inverts yet. So today I did a little research, I wanted to find out when the first B&M invert was built. I found out it was in 93 and figured the reason Paramount parks didnt give us a B&M invert was because it had been built at some other park and it was only B&M's first coaster like this, untill I found out that the first B&M inverted coaster was the Top Gun out at Paramount's Great America. So my question to you guys is, does anyone know why in 1993 did we get an Arrow suspened coaster and they got a B&M invert? I love our Top Gun, but give me a Beemer any day.

The reason? Kings Island, when they were planning their new coaster for 1993, was owned by Great American/Carl Lindner before being sold to Paramount after the 1992 season. They had already had a layout, and concept for this Arrow suspended, to either be called "Swoop" or "Thunder Road."

And I assume they chose an Arrow suspended because while The Bat (the very first Arrow suspended coaster, 1981-83) was a failure, it was a fun and popular ride, and that type of ride was missed by the guests.

A friend of mine said the name "Thunder Road" was chosen because it had been used previously on a Carowinds racing wood coaster, and KECO/Paramount have been known to repeat trademarks, like "White Water Canyon," "Vortex," "King Cobra/Kobra," etc.

I thought though, "Swoop" was the more likely name because the ride was to be located in the jungle/safari themed Wild Animal Habitat area.

Also, the very first B&M inverted was actually Batman: The Ride built at Six Flags Great America in Illinois, in 1992. I'm guessing that KECO (which was acquired earlier 1992, minus Kings Island, by Paramount) had bought the second B&M invert, and planned to install it for 1993 at the Santa Clara, CA Great America.

For those who may not know, two almost identical parks were built by hotel and hospitality chain Marriott, in Santa Clara and in Gurnee, IL (near Chicago), and both named Marriott's Great America, and opened in 1976. Marriott later added attractions at either one of both of the parks. The two parks were sold after the 1984 season - the Santa Clara park to the city (managed and later bought by Kings Entertainment), and the Gurnee location to Six Flags theme parks.

^yes, ive been to both great americas. I was dissapointed with how poor the demon is in the paramount one as apposed to the one at six flags.

...Yes, I was referring to the now retrofitted Arrow in England...

I think these would be pretty sweet on top gun.

^Sorry, I don't think it would make TG much more exciting. If you're going to have inverted like seats, might as well install an invert. Which brings me to this question. Why is PKI dissing us by not installing a B&M invert? They have proven to be extremely popular and new ones are popping up every year. And, I don't want to hear the old "family attraction" arguement. It holds no water at all. My grandfather and I rode The Beast when it opened. Doesn't that make it a family ride?

I disagree, I think this would add a whole new feel to Top Gun. Top Gun is a very fast and thrilling ride and I think having your feet dangle would be pretty sweet. Clearly it would be cheeper than taking it out and adding a new inverted B&M or Govinola. It would not be that hard, Kings Island is on good terms with Vekoma and Im sure it would be very possible. And the question of why we dont have a B&M has been asked hunderds of times, no one knows.

The way it was explained to me is that B&M does things a certain way. For example, if they manufacture a coaster that's 180ft tall with 3 inversions one year, they won't manufacture a coaster that's 300ft tall with 8 inversions the next. This is simply so they don't destroy their market in between. With PKI wanted all of these custom jobs, it would be difficult to work with such an orginization.

I'm not 100% sure of that, but that's what I've heard.