What is a Floorless Coaster?
Floorless roller coasters first appeared on the scene with Medusa at Six Flags Great Adventure in 1999. The steel seated looping coaster’s seven loops had been seen before, but it’s completely open train design was a first.
Floorless trains (pictured to the right on Hydra) further enhance the rider’s sense of freedom, or fear depending on how you view it. Swiss roller coaster designers Bolliger & Mabillard have designed their train cars in such a way that you’re basically sitting in a chair (with restraints) with your feet dangling above the track. They seldom produce standard seated looping coasters anymore. These days, theme parks opt for the floorless trains more often than not as they add another element to the ride.
There are currently eleven B&M floorless roller coasters in the world. Some of the most notable
floorless coasters include: Kraken at SeaWorld Orlando, Hydra the Revenge at Dorney Park, Medusa at Six Flags Great Adventure, Scream! at Six Flags Magic Mountain, and Superman Krypton Coaster at Six Flags Fiesta Texas.
Check out my other Coasterology 101 posts to learn about other types of roller coasters.
To see an up close look at the cool boarding mechanisms that accompany floorless trains check out this roller coaster video of Hydra the Revenge at Dorney Park. Watch the station floor fold up and move away and check out Hydra’s sick JoJo roll as soon as you exit the station.
Photo 1 courtesy of CoasterImage.com