Mindbender (Galaxyland) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mindbender |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
The Mindbender with the Galaxy Orbiter roller coaster in the foreground
|
|
| Galaxyland | |
| Location | Galaxyland |
| Coordinates | 53°31′25″N 113°37′13″W / 53.52361°N 113.62028°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | December 20, 1985 |
| Cost | $6,000,000 |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Steel – Twister |
| Manufacturer | Anton Schwarzkopf |
| Designer | Werner Stengel |
| Model | Sitting Coaster |
| Track layout | Indoor Twister |
| Lift/launch system | Wheel lift lift hill |
| Height | 44.2 m (145 ft) |
| Drop | 38.7 m (127 ft) |
| Length | 1,279.5 m (4,198 ft) |
| Speed | 96.5 km/h (60.0 mph) |
| Inversions | 3 |
| Duration | 1:13 |
| Capacity | 430 riders per hour |
| G-force | 5.2 |
| Height restriction | 59–77 in (150–196 cm) |
| Trains | 4 trains with 3 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 12 riders per train. |
| Mindbender at RCDB | |
The Mindbender is a super exciting roller coaster found at Galaxyland Amusement Park. This park is inside the West Edmonton Mall in Alberta, Canada. The ride first opened on December 20, 1985. It cost about $6 million to build! At 44.2 m (145 ft) tall, it's one of the tallest indoor roller coasters in the world.
Contents
Designing the Mindbender Roller Coaster
The Mindbender was designed by Werner Stengel from Germany. It was built by a company called Anton Schwarzkopf. This team also designed another famous coaster called Dreier Looping. That coaster used to travel around German funfairs.
The Mindbender is like a mirror image of Dreier Looping. But it's a bit taller! It also has extra twists at the end. Mindbender uses shorter trains with three cars. Dreier Looping usually had five or even seven cars.
Twists and Turns of the Track
The Mindbender track has many exciting features. It includes lots of twisting drops. There are also three big vertical loops! The ride ends with a double upward helix. This is where the track goes up in a spiral.
The coaster twists and turns all around its supports. It even goes under where the UFO Maze used to be. That area is now home to another roller coaster, Gerstlauer's Galaxy Orbiter.
Sometimes, during busy times, the last car on one of the trains is turned around. This lets people ride the coaster facing backward! It's a totally different experience because you can't see where you're going.
Riding the Mindbender: What to Expect
When you get on the Mindbender, you first put on your seatbelt. Then, a lap restraint comes down. After that, large shoulder restraints are lowered over you. All these restraints keep you super safe in your seat.
The Thrilling Ride Path
- The train goes up a curving lift hill using wheels.
- Then, it drops sharply to the left. This is sometimes called a "Traver drop."
- The train climbs back up to the first of four "block brakes." These help control the speed.
- Next, there's another left-hand drop. Right after that, you go through the first two vertical loops!
- The train then goes up to the third block brake.
- After that, there's another twisting drop and climb. It hits the fourth block brake.
- The track then drops to the left again. It goes down to the ground.
- Then, you hit the third vertical loop!
After the third loop, the coaster goes under the block brakes again. It then speeds along a two-layered upward spiral. Finally, it goes behind the Galaxy Quest 7D theater. This leads to the final brakes and the exit area.
Speed and G-Forces
A normal ride on the Mindbender lasts about one minute and five seconds. It can go up to one minute and twenty-five seconds. If the track is waxed a lot, the ride can be as fast as 59 seconds. But this super-fast speed isn't allowed for public rides. The forces on riders would be too strong!
During testing in 1987, the maximum g-force was measured at 5.5 G's. This happens in the second loop. G-force is a measure of how much force is pushing on your body. It's what makes you feel pushed back into your seat or pulled down.
Images for kids
-
The Mindbender with the Galaxy Orbiter roller coaster in the foreground
