Shuttle Loop

Shuttle Loop
Kentucky Kingdom's Greezed Lightnin' before it closed in 2009
Status	Discontinued
First manufactured	1977
No. of installations	12
Manufacturer	Anton Schwarzkopf
Designer	Werner Stengel & Reinhold Spieldiener
Capacity	1300 riders per hour
Vehicle type	Roller coaster train
Vehicles	1
Riders per vehicle	28
Rows	14
Riders per row	2
Inversions	2
Shuttle Loop at RCDB

A Shuttle Loop is a type of steel launched shuttle roller coaster designed by Reinhold Spieldiener of Intamin and manufactured by Anton Schwarzkopf. A total of 12 installations were produced between 1977 and 1982. These 12 installations have been located in a total of 22 different amusement parks.

The first installation of a Shuttle Loop dates back to 1977 when King Kobra opened at Kings Dominion. Two other rides were also installed that year: White Lightnin' at Carowinds and Tidal Wave at Marriott's Great America (California). Tidal Wave at Marriott's Great America (Illinois) opened in 1978 and was the last to feature the Weight Drop launch system. Also that year, Knott's Berry Farm opened Montezooma's Revenge and Six Flags AstroWorld opened Greezed Lightnin' as the first installations to feature the Flywheel launch system. A number of installations followed across the world.

Twenty-two theme parks have operated Shuttle Loops, with half of the twelve original installations being relocated at some time. As of September 2013^[update], only six installations are operating, with another one in storage. The remaining Shuttle Loops were either demolished or used for replacement parts on other installations.

The train is launched out of the station at a speed of between 53 and 60 miles per hour (85 and 97 km/h) before passing through a vertical loop and up a 138-foot-tall spike (42 m). Once the momentum of the train run outs on the 70° spike, it begins to traverse the track backwards. Upon reaching the station, it passes through it and goes up another 70° steep spike which stands at 105 feet (32 m) tall until it stalls again and rolls forward back into the brake run and station.