Zamperla, a leading ride manufacturer, is celebrating the official launch of Sky Striker, a Discovery Giga 40, at Six Flags Great America in Illinois, US.
The Discovery Giga 40 debuted in 2018 at Six Flags Magic Mountain and has reinvented the thrill experience by raising riders higher and faster than ever before.
Ramon Rosario, Zamperla’s director of sales, says: “This is a further demonstration of the long-standing collaboration between the Six Flags group and Zamperla. This is an exceptional and spectacular ride, capable of attracting the attention of park visitors from afar. We are excited to see the reactions of thrill seekers.”
John Krajnak, park president of Six Flags Great America, comments: “We are thrilled to introduce Sky Striker to our world-class lineup of attractions here at Six Flags Great America. Our ongoing relationship with Zamperla has been instrumental in bringing innovative and exhilarating attractions to our guests.
“The addition of Sky Striker not only exemplifies the quality and excitement that Zamperla attractions are known for, but also reinforces our commitment to delivering unforgettable experiences to our guests.”
Unique ride experience
The new ride will fill visitors with adrenaline as they are launched towards the sky. This is accompanied by the back-and-forth swing of the pendulum, which in turn creates both a feeling of vertigo and amazing freefall. In addition, the ride’s simultaneous spinning intensifies the thrill.
Riders will feel a stomach-drop sensation and a sense of suspension in the air with each fast change in movement and height at the pendulum’s highest points. The dynamic return drop causes a range of sensations in riders based on their position in the anticlockwise spin, resulting in a unique ride experience each time.
Giga Discovery 40 stands at a record-breaking 52.5 metres (172 feet) tall. Its motorised swing with a rotating swivel joint moves riders back and forth at speeds of up to 110 kilometres per hour, providing a stunning view of the landscape beneath them.
The ride has an octagonal rotating centre and eight arms. Each arm carries a group of five seats, for a total capacity of 40 riders and a potential throughput of 600 riders per hour. Each person has their own seat, which is secured with an over-the-shoulder restraint system.
Zamperla recently celebrated the opening of the record-breaking Top Thrill 2 Lightning Triple Launch Coaster at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, US. The ride was a two-year project, and debuts Zamperla’s Lightning roller coaster trains.
