Thrill seekers wear face masks as they ride the “Oblivion” rollercoaster at Alton Towers on the first day opening after after lockdown restriction were eased on April 12, 2021 in Alton, United Kingdom.
Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
While you may not be a fan of the heart pumping, adrenaline boosting feeling of a roller coaster’s twists and turns, for others, it’s the best part of the warmer months or even a core memory of their childhood.
But recently, two roller coasters hit the headlines for less than awesome reasons. Riders at a Wisconsin festival were stuck upside down for around three hours after a mechanical failure. And a North Carolina man spotted a massive crack in a coaster support beam after his family had been on the ride.
So how safe are roller coasters? What makes us love them or hate them? And what’s next for coaster engineering?
Thrill Engineer and Director of Studio Go Go Brendan Walker, Chair of ASTM International Committee on Amusement Rides and Devices Franceen Gonzales and The Gravity Group’s Jonathan Wocher join us for the conversation.
Like what you hear? Find more of our programs online….
Read the full article here
Leave a Reply