From: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGHo5f1EQ-g
Some interesting rumours are coming out of this video from El Toro Ryan. It is now suggested that this could have a swing launch, with the second tower that the vehicle will reverse launch up to, being behind the old station. It is also suggested that there is the potential with this to make it taller than Kinda Ka, thus regaining it's height record.
This is all possible, but I feel the final forward launch, if they go after the height record while using a swing launch, would then need to be less powerful than the previous one(s) in order for the train to pass over the top hat at a reasonable speed. That or they use trims to slow the train near the top. Or, they could make the track taller on the new section, but the trains do not go as high, so that the last launch can be full speed without the use of trims. Could you class that as retaking the height record though? Say if the track is taller but the trains do not travel to that height? Sounds a bit like cheating to me. With all this in mind, due to the current design of the top hat, by going after the height record, if that is what they decide, there is the potential to make the ride less thrilling (than what it could be after the refurbishment) if they are not very careful.
The clearance on the ground so far, as is shown in that video, does support the idea that this could be the case. But without actual confirmation it is just speculation at this point, even if there are apparent ̶s̶a̶u̶c̶e̶s̶ 'sources' involved.
Zamperla are still top of the list for the manufacturer, they also do have some swing launches in their product offerings.
Interesting development without a doubt., Interesting discussion points. This is one coaster refurbishment besides Nemesis, that really has caught my attention.
In fact, in the picture in the post above this, you can see the cleared area behind the station, where the rumoured tower for this reverse launch tower spike will go. Surely if they did this, due to the size and length of the ride, they will need the station area to be in a different location, so they can load trains while launching. The fact they have cleared the station almost completely, supports this idea. All should be taken with a pinch of salt at this stage.
If this is Zamperla, this is without a doubt one of their biggest projects to date. All companies need to start somewhere I guess. So far, even when taking things with a pinch a salt, there is a possibility that what is suggested does add up to what we are seeing. These next 12 months will be interesting that is for sure.
I am not sure if these discussion points were mentioned before. But there is certainly more development on these
rumours in the last few days / weeks.