Compressed air launch

HyperSonic XLC at Kings Dominion

A compressed air launch uses compressed air to launch the train. The first roller coaster with a compressed air launch was the now defunct HyperSonic XLC at Kings Dominion, opened in 2001. Maxx Force, which is located at Six Flags Great America, opened later in 2019, has one of the fastest launch accelerations of any coaster in the world. Several launch coasters in China, including Extreme Rusher at Happy Valley Beijing and Bullet Coaster at Happy Valley Shenzhen, also use compressed air. This propulsion system is most commonly used on S&S Worldwide's launched coasters.

See also

• 

  Compressed air launch on the Roller Coaster DataBase.

Roller coaster descriptions

Basic elements

Brake runStation

Advanced elements

HillHeadchopperInversionsPre-DropTunnel

Propulsion

Lift hill(CableCatch carChainElectricElevatorFerris wheelFriction wheelSpiral)Powered launch( CounterweightFriction wheelFlywheelCompressed air launchElectric winch launchHydraulicLIMLSM)

Technology

Block brakesOn-ride cameraOn-ride soundtrackTest seat TrainTrackTransfer trackWheel assembly

Other

Chicken exitExclusive ride timePOVQueue lineRollbackTheming