Rocket (Furuvik)

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Rocket

Rocket in 2013

Furuvik
Location	Gävle, Gävleborgs, Sweden
Coordinates	60°39′12″N 17°20′29″E / 60.653342°N 17.341354°E / 60.653342; 17.341354
Status	Defunct
Operated	21 May 2011 to 2021
Replaced by	Lightning

Alton Towers
Name	Black Hole
Location	Alton, Staffordshire, England, UK
Coordinates	52°59′14″N 1°53′44″W / 52.987305°N 1.895633°W / 52.987305; -1.895633
Park section	X-Sector
Operated	1983 to 5 March 2005
Replaced by	Smiler

Statistics

Manufacturer

Schwarzkopf

Product

Jet Star II

Designer / calculations

Ing.-Büro Stengel GmbH

Type

Steel

Riders per train

6

Hourly capacity

900

Propulsion

Electric spiral lift

Area

25 metres × 46.5 metres

Height

13.5 metres

Length

585 metres

Inversions

0

Duration

1:50

G-Force

2.5

Rocket was a steel roller coaster previously located at Furuvik in Gävle, Gävleborgs, Sweden. The ride was a Schwarzkopf Jet Star II, and it previously operated at Alton Towers from 1983 to 5 March 2005 as the Black Hole.

History

When the ride was at Alton Towers, it was located in a giant canvas-covered building. In 1988, it was modified by BHS to run two-car trains. Previously it ran single cars.^[1] It closed on 5 March 2005^[2] and was removed the following year,^[3] however the building containing the ride wasn't removed until 2012, to make way for The Smiler.^[4]

Black Hole station
Black Hole tent in 2010, four years after the coaster was removed

After a renovation from Gerstlauer,^[5] the ride reopened at Furuvik on 21 May 2011.

Rocket was put up for sale in late 2021.^[6]

Design

Elements
Electric spiral lift Helix Helix

Colour scheme

Red track and blue supports, used to have black track with track when at Alton Towers.

Trains

2 cars per train. In each car, riders are arranged inline in 3 rows, for a total of 6 riders per train. The ride was modified in 1988 by BHS to support trains with multiple cars. Normally Jet Star II models can only support single car trains.