Huracan (Belantis)

Huracan is a steel roller coaster at Belantis amusement park in Leipzig, Germany. Huracan is one of two Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter model roller coasters in Germany, the other being Fluch von Novgorod.

Huracan
Belantis
LocationBelantis
Coordinates51.253122°N 12.312455°E / 51.253122; 12.312455
StatusOperating
Opening date26 June 2010 (2010-06-26)
Cost€5,000,000
General statistics
TypeSteel – Euro-Fighter
ManufacturerGerstlauer
DesignerWerner Stengel
Height32 m (105 ft)
Length560 m (1,840 ft)
Speed85 km/h (53 mph)
Inversions5
Duration1:30
Max vertical angle97°
Capacity800 riders per hour
G-force4.3
Height restriction130 cm (4 ft 3 in)
Huracan at RCDB
Pictures of Huracan at RCDB

History

Huracan was originally intended to be delivered to the proposed F1-X Dubai amusement park in Dubai,[1] but the Financial crisis of 2007–08 and the Great Recession led to the cancellation of the coaster's installation in Dubai.[2] Instead, the coaster was acquired by Belantis amusement park for €5,000,000[3] and the coaster was opened on 26 June 2010.[4] Nikolaus Job, the CEO of Belantis has stated he expected the installation of Huracan would lead to a 10 to 15 percent growth in visitor volume.[3]

The installation of Huracan has also led to other rides at Belantis being themed to match Huracan. For example, a kiddie coaster—and one of the smallest kiddie coasters in the world[5]—was built to match Huracan.[6] This coaster was built in 2014, is only 23 metres (75 ft) in length, and is named Huracanito.[7]

Layout and theme

As with all Euro-Fighters, Huracan's most noteworthy feature is its steeper-than-vertical first hill, which falls at an angle of 97 degrees.[4] The coaster has a total of five inversions, including a cobra roll, zero-g roll, and interlocking corkscrews.[4] Although the coaster has a Mayan theme to it,[2] the coaster structure's red paint job reflects its former destination at a Formula One-themed amusement park.[1] The coaster is unusual for a Euro-Fighter in that its cars have three rows of two seats per car, instead of the more traditional two rows of four seats per car.[4]

References
  1. Lanfer, Frank. "Huracan" (PDF). Kirmes & Park Revue (in German). Retrieved 23 August 2014.
  2. Seitz, Kerstin (2 July 2010). "Die härteste Achterbahn Europas" [The hardest rollercoaster in Europe]. T Online (in German). Deutsche Telekom AG. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
  3. "Freier Fall und fünf Loopings: Start für neue Riesen-Achterbahn im Freizeitpark Belantis" [Freefall and five loops: Start of new giant roller coaster at the amusement park Belantis]. LVZ Online (in German). Leipzig: Leipziger Volkszeitung. 26 June 2010. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
  4. Marden, Duane. "Huracan  (Belantis)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
  5. Marden, Duane. "List of roller coasters by length in reverse order". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
  6. "Achterbahn für Kinder: Belantis baut Mini-Huracan" [Roller coaster for children: Belantis builds mini-Huracan]. Bild (in German). Leipzig. 8 March 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
  7. Marden, Duane. "Huracanito  (Belantis)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
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