I work at another Six Flags park with an S&S tower (not combo towers but one space shot and one turbo drop). As an operator of the ride I can tell you the experience per tower is all the same. What makes each launch/drop feel weaker or stronger is the weight of the gondola. The ride starts by bringing the gondola up about ten feet off the ground. When it's sitting there the ride is weighing the gondola and filling the air tanks to match the pressure needed. The operator can actually see the weight of each cycle in the op booth on the panel. In the footage you used the red and blue towers were full or nearly full but the yellow was empty. The heavier the gondola the more powerful the launch/drop feels due to the ride needing more air pressure to thrust the gondola in whichever direction. But with lighter gondolas, less air pressure is needed, hence a less powerful ride cycle. Also, the ride is all automatic, after starting the cycle the ride ops do not control when the launch or drop occurs. Fun fact, a heavier gondola on each tower needs more time to allow the air tanks to fill. So a heavier gondola means you're at the top of the tower waiting to drop longer and conversly waiting longer in the weighing position to launch. Hope all of that helped you understand how S&S Space Shots/Turbo Drops operate!! It's quite fascinating and they are my favorite ride to operate at my park.
Thanks for sharing some operational details. Do you know why some towers routinely run stronger than others? Some have had better rides for me regardless of how they're loaded.
@CanobieCoaster That I am not sure why. I always thought the taller ones weren't as punchy no matter if launching or dropping. My thought process is (purely just speculation) no matter the height of the towers the air pressure to launch or drop is the same based solely on the weight of the gondola. So for example the towers of Superman at SF Over Texas are compared to the towers of Dominator at Dorney. They both use the same amount of air pressure to complete the cycle, but the taller towers just dissipate the air slower since they have to go higher whereas the smaller towers hit the maximum end of each tower quicker, resulting in a more punchy G force. If that makes sense? Just my theory though. (Edit note: That theory is most likely not correct due to Power Tower (50mph), Superman at Over Texas (55mph), and Sasquatch (45mph) all having different advertised speeds along with their different heights.)
@CoasterBen So each tower has a "Down" button to lower the gondola while in the weighing position. This brings the gondola back down and ends the cycle before the drop/launch cycle begins. Cases to use this is for a cell phone being out, seatbelt unbuckles, scared guest, or weather. Once the gondola leaves the weighing position the only way to bring the gondola back to its home position is to hit the E-stop. After doing so the air pressure cylinders match air pressure with one another and then begin to slowly, very very slowly lower the gondola. Takes a couple minutes for the gondola to reach its home position. No tower (launch nor drop) can get "stuck" and become stationary on the tower at any point in time during the cycle, they'll always return home. Due to hitting the down button, E-stop, or even power outage, in all scenarios the tower will slowly slowly descend. Unless for some outstanding circumstance like a mechanical failure with a cable or such that would cause it to get physically stuck. Hope this helps!
Honestly, if you want the best Combo Tower experience at a Six Flags park, go to Kilauea at Six Flags Mexico. It replaced S&S's very first Space Shot ride, and to this day is still intense. It shoots down pretty quickly, and it bounces up faster and higher than most towers today. Also I'm kinda surprised none of the Six Flags parks have Double Shots.
That sums up my feelings on it. I've called it a glorified elevator. If only it had more power. I skip it on many of my visits, but I'll go for it if the single rider line is very short.
@@CanobieCoaster Ah man! That's a bummer. :( I've only been there for the first time this past summer and going forward, I already am going to do my very best to make it to that event every single summer for the rest of my life. I hope that you can make it when they do it again in 2025 bro!
This is kinda unrelated to the video, but I'm trying to rank my credits but don't wanna do it on paper because I will have to remake it every time I add new credits. Is there a software you use to rank coasters where the numbers change when you add new ones? Nice video!
The older style Space Shots have fantastic ejector. Examples include Big Shot, Orbite, and Detonator. On these ones, you are shot above the cylinders and yanked downwards.
The old drop towers were better..The one they had there was called texas cliffhanger..It dropped you then you laid on your back..Those were from the 80s and they were alot better..Then in the 90s you had the updated version as they had one at Astroworld called Dungeon Drop and those were also very good..Now theese towers are high but they suck...Yes the one in kemah is way,way better.. That one leaves your stomach way up there..
I work at another Six Flags park with an S&S tower (not combo towers but one space shot and one turbo drop). As an operator of the ride I can tell you the experience per tower is all the same. What makes each launch/drop feel weaker or stronger is the weight of the gondola. The ride starts by bringing the gondola up about ten feet off the ground. When it's sitting there the ride is weighing the gondola and filling the air tanks to match the pressure needed. The operator can actually see the weight of each cycle in the op booth on the panel. In the footage you used the red and blue towers were full or nearly full but the yellow was empty. The heavier the gondola the more powerful the launch/drop feels due to the ride needing more air pressure to thrust the gondola in whichever direction. But with lighter gondolas, less air pressure is needed, hence a less powerful ride cycle. Also, the ride is all automatic, after starting the cycle the ride ops do not control when the launch or drop occurs. Fun fact, a heavier gondola on each tower needs more time to allow the air tanks to fill. So a heavier gondola means you're at the top of the tower waiting to drop longer and conversly waiting longer in the weighing position to launch.
Hope all of that helped you understand how S&S Space Shots/Turbo Drops operate!! It's quite fascinating and they are my favorite ride to operate at my park.
Thanks for sharing some operational details. Do you know why some towers routinely run stronger than others? Some have had better rides for me regardless of how they're loaded.
@CanobieCoaster That I am not sure why. I always thought the taller ones weren't as punchy no matter if launching or dropping. My thought process is (purely just speculation) no matter the height of the towers the air pressure to launch or drop is the same based solely on the weight of the gondola. So for example the towers of Superman at SF Over Texas are compared to the towers of Dominator at Dorney. They both use the same amount of air pressure to complete the cycle, but the taller towers just dissipate the air slower since they have to go higher whereas the smaller towers hit the maximum end of each tower quicker, resulting in a more punchy G force. If that makes sense? Just my theory though.
(Edit note: That theory is most likely not correct due to Power Tower (50mph), Superman at Over Texas (55mph), and Sasquatch (45mph) all having different advertised speeds along with their different heights.)
@CoasterBen So each tower has a "Down" button to lower the gondola while in the weighing position. This brings the gondola back down and ends the cycle before the drop/launch cycle begins. Cases to use this is for a cell phone being out, seatbelt unbuckles, scared guest, or weather. Once the gondola leaves the weighing position the only way to bring the gondola back to its home position is to hit the E-stop. After doing so the air pressure cylinders match air pressure with one another and then begin to slowly, very very slowly lower the gondola. Takes a couple minutes for the gondola to reach its home position. No tower (launch nor drop) can get "stuck" and become stationary on the tower at any point in time during the cycle, they'll always return home. Due to hitting the down button, E-stop, or even power outage, in all scenarios the tower will slowly slowly descend. Unless for some outstanding circumstance like a mechanical failure with a cable or such that would cause it to get physically stuck.
Hope this helps!
Honestly, if you want the best Combo Tower experience at a Six Flags park, go to Kilauea at Six Flags Mexico. It replaced S&S's very first Space Shot ride, and to this day is still intense. It shoots down pretty quickly, and it bounces up faster and higher than most towers today. Also I'm kinda surprised none of the Six Flags parks have Double Shots.
That's a very good combo tower, especially with the view. Loved it in 2018.
@@CanobieCoaster They repainted it this year. It's now all green with orange and blue at the crown.
That sums up my feelings on it. I've called it a glorified elevator. If only it had more power. I skip it on many of my visits, but I'll go for it if the single rider line is very short.
That's sort of how I feel.
I love this drop tower. I always ride it when I go to Six Flags Over Texas.
Nice!
This was my first big boy Drop Tower, I was scared af but it was super fun. Id do it again 🤣
Nice!
So this my most ridden drop tower and I gotta say the best part of it are the views. Love seeing the park and the nearby attractions
The views are amazing.
You Should Review Power Tower At Valleyfair
I don't have immediate plans to.
Love this drop tower! All other ones I’ve ridden have been weak. Blue tower is the best! I love this ride at night
I have only done this one during the day.
These rides are mixed bags
They can be.
Can't believe this is actually taller than Cedar Point's, this feels like/rides like a mid-sized one
It isn't super strong, but it is very tall.
This is my favorite of all of them with the combo.
I like combo mode for sure.
They are great skyline rides and are fun
They are.
My thoughts mirror yours exactly. I was underwhelmed, mildly disappointed even.
At least it's still fairly fun, albeit not super intense.
@@CanobieCoaster it's still fun. Plus we also have Zumanjaro etc.
I could spend a whole day on Zumanjaro, Acrophobia, etc
I don’t really like drops yet ( I might get used to it)
So this seems really fun cause you said you don’t really feel the drop
Glad it's good in your case.
Shockwave review 👀
Soon
Hey Canobie Coaster. Will you be able to try and go to Holiwood Nights next year?
I do not think I'll make it there next year, sorry!
@@CanobieCoaster Ah man! That's a bummer. :( I've only been there for the first time this past summer and going forward, I already am going to do my very best to make it to that event every single summer for the rest of my life. I hope that you can make it when they do it again in 2025 bro!
I should try this model one day.
You should.
This is kinda unrelated to the video, but I'm trying to rank my credits but don't wanna do it on paper because I will have to remake it every time I add new credits. Is there a software you use to rank coasters where the numbers change when you add new ones? Nice video!
Try Captain Coaster 😁
Captain Coaster or Microsoft Excel
I use Excel.
Excel
alright, thanks!@@CanobieCoaster
Will you do a review of shockwave?
Later this week.
Are there any S&S towers that aren't completely forceless? I'm curious because I never experienced the Reese's tower until after they toned it down
The older style Space Shots have fantastic ejector. Examples include Big Shot, Orbite, and Detonator. On these ones, you are shot above the cylinders and yanked downwards.
The old drop towers were better..The one they had there was called texas cliffhanger..It dropped you then you laid on your back..Those were from the 80s and they were alot better..Then in the 90s you had the updated version as they had one at Astroworld called Dungeon Drop and those were also very good..Now theese towers are high but they suck...Yes the one in kemah is way,way better.. That one leaves your stomach way up there..
Those first gen drop towers were powerful.
the launch is fine
It can be fun.
Something I’ve realized is that S&S Towers at Six Flags parks are super weak for some reason.
Scream at Six Flags New England is good. The one in Mexico is great. I also love the one at La Ronde.
These S&S towers are pretty slow
Other drop towers definitely have more force.
So true when I ride power tower at valley fair it doesn't even have the drop in your stomach feeling.