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A top hat (sometimes called a top cap) is an element most often used on launched roller coasters. It consists of an ascent at a 90 degree angle immediately followed by a 90-degree descent. Often, vertical twists precede and follow the top hat element.
Both Kingda Ka and Top Thrill Dragster feature a giant top hat.
The inside top hat (also known as a top hat inversion) is a different type of top hat, that features an inversion. When the train approaches the top of the "hat", it makes a 90 degree lateral twist so that it is on the inside of the element (hence the name), and once it reaches the top hat's apex the train is upside down under the track.
Examples[edit | edit source]
Below is a list of all the roller coasters with a top hat element. All of them are steel sit-down roller coasters.
Outside top hat[edit | edit source]
Inside top hat[edit | edit source]
| Name | Amusement park | Manufacturer | Opened | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dragon Legend | Romon U-Park | Maurer AG | 2015 | Operating |
| Freischütz | Bayern Park | Maurer AG | 2011 | Operating |
| Helix | Liseberg | Mack Rides | 2014 | Operating |
| Junker | PowerLand | Gerstlauer | 2015 | Operating |
| Mr. Freeze: Reverse Blast | Six Flags Over Texas | Premier Rides | 1998 | Operating |
| Mr. Freeze: Reverse Blast | Six Flags St. Louis | Premier Rides | 1998 | Operating |
| Soaring with Dragon | Hefei Wanda Theme Park | Intamin | 2016 | Operating |
| Takabisha | Fuji-Q Highland | Gerstlauer | 2011 | Operating |
| Yamaha Racing Coaster | Trans Studio Indoor Theme Park | Premier Rides | 2011 | Operating |
| unknown Formerly Batman and Robin: The Chiller |
Beto Carrero World Six Flags Great Adventure |
Premier Rides | 2013 1998 |
In storage Closed 2006 |
| Thrill elements | |||||||||
| Inverting | Banana roll • Batwing • Bent cuban eight • Bowtie • Butterfly • Cobra loop • Cobra roll • Corkscrew • Cutback • Dive drop • Dive loop • Diving turn • Double dip • Fly to lie / Lie to fly • Flying snake dive • Heartline roll • Immelman • Inclined dive loop • Inclined loop • In-line twist • Interlocking corkscrews • Interlocking loops • Lagoon roll • Norwegian loop • Pretzel knot • Pretzel loop • Raven turn • Reverse cobra roll • Reverse sidewinder • Roll over • Saxophone • Scorpion tail • Sea Serpent • Sidewinder • SkyLoop • Step-up under flip • Tongue • Top-Gun stall • Twisted horseshoe roll • Vertical loop • Zero-g roll • Zero-g stall | ||||||||
| Non-inverting | Hammerhead turn • Helix • High five • Non-inverted loop • Splashdown • Stengel dive • Tilt section • Trick track • Triple dip • Tunnel • Turntable • Vertical drop track • Water brakes • Wave turn | ||||||||
| Variable | Top hat | ||||||||