431:
36:
458:
Thunderbird is a Wing
Coaster model manufactured by Swiss roller coaster firm Bolliger & Mabillard. It is Holiday World & Splashin' Safaris first major steel roller coaster. Thunderbird is the eighth Wing Coaster to be built and the fourth in the United States, the others being
503:
Thunderbird operates with two open-air steel and fiberglass trains, each with five cars of four seats each, with two on each side of the track. Each train holds 20 riders and the ride has a capacity of about 1,140 riders per hour. Because the seats are on the side of the track, a
449:
PGAV Destinations is the theming designer for
Thunderbird. The designers took the Thunderbird name and coaster design and created a visual theme of the legendary bird’s powerful flight through farms and forests of southern Indiana.
605:
356:
Thunderbird officially opened to the public on April 25, 2015. It has been marketed by the park has having the tallest vertical loop of any wing coaster in the world, and the first launched wing coaster in the United States.
945:
322:
in the world and the fourth in the United States. Thunderbird reaches a maximum speed of 60 mph (97 km/h) in 3.5 seconds and features a 125-foot-tall (38 m) vertical loop.
346:. Another notable aspect mentioned during the unveiling was the pre-show that happens prior to launch, which consists of fog, lighting, and sound effects to simulate a thunderstorm.
1350:
1054:
854:
385:. After the first element, the train then goes down its first drop into a 125 feet (38 m) vertical loop. After the vertical loop, the train crosses over the valley between
904:
767:
645:
536:
assemblies. The launch system mechanics are located in a separate building known as Will Power. The name came from the park's former president Will Koch, who died in 2010.
350:
349:
The track and supports began arriving at the park the following week. By
October, the first two inversions were topped off. The new trains were on display during the
727:
417:. From the brake run, the track makes a right turn to another set of brakes before entering the station. One cycle of the ride lasts about 1 minute and 18 seconds.
377:
moves forward and stops. Mist blows in front of the train and thunder sounds as the train launches from 0 to 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) in 3.5 seconds by
1047:
334:
model, to be called
Thunderbird, would become the park's first major steel coaster, as well as the first launched coaster with a wing design in the
1355:
1040:
361:
released an ice cream flavor called "Thunderbird" to advertise the new ride, consisting of vanilla ice cream with caramel and roasted pecans.
338:. It was described as having four inversions including a 140-foot-tall (43 m) Immelmann loop, 125-foot-tall (38 m) vertical loop, a
609:
439:
303:
64:
330:
On July 24, 2014, Holiday World unveiled that a new steel roller coaster would be added to the park's ride lineup for the 2015 season. The
1330:
821:
862:
79:
799:
914:
777:
635:
1063:
307:
53:
43:
1340:
569:
556:
484:
1360:
709:
681:
1325:
460:
695:
516:
Thunderbird's steel track is 3,035 feet (925 m) long and the tallest part of the ride is the first inversion, an
1345:
749:
483:. Thunderbird is the first Bolliger & Mabillard coaster to utilize an LSM launch. An earlier launched coaster,
406:
398:
967:
495:, utilizes a pinch-wheel drive system that was designed exclusively for Universal Studios by Universal Creative.
394:
390:
517:
382:
1335:
446:
and it runs parallel and crosses over The Voyage twice: after the vertical loop and during the inline twist.
410:
1220:
1121:
476:
443:
402:
386:
169:
1116:
282:
2 trains with 5 cars. Riders are arranged 4 across in a single row for a total of 20 riders per train.
1032:
378:
370:
234:
203:
72:
413:, crossing over The Voyage's underground tunnels. Once the inline twist ends the train enters the
1027:
464:
315:
183:
173:
20:
667:
374:
831:
937:
984:
532:
of power, with the energy being stored in electric generators with two massive 24,000-pound
565:
552:
488:
311:
299:
165:
8:
358:
1235:
884:
Seifert, Jeffrey (2015). "Willpower brings B&M launched coaster to
Holiday World".
405:'s triple-down drop and spaghetti bowl, the train dips down into a barn (which is the
19:"Thunderbird (roller coaster)" redirects here. For the roller coaster in Finland, see
1290:
1185:
826:
640:
492:
1111:
1225:
989:
546:
35:
430:
1298:
723:
1319:
682:"Two Inversions Now Complete on Holiday World's Thunderbird Launched Coaster"
343:
335:
94:
81:
1230:
1106:
1016:
505:
331:
319:
193:
1160:
480:
339:
636:"Holiday World adds a steel beast to its renowned wooden coaster lineup"
1174:
1126:
768:"Holiday World announces new $ 22 million roller coaster 'Thunderbird'"
468:
353:. The track layout construction was completed by early December 2014.
1062:
696:"Scott And Carol Present - Holiday World Unveils Thunderbird's Train"
529:
472:
414:
1193:
533:
318:, the ride opened to the public on April 25, 2015, as the eighth
606:"Holiday World takes flight with $ 22M Thunderbird wing coaster"
905:"Holiday World unveils park's first major steel roller coaster"
800:"Thunderbird: Holiday World Reveals New Launched Wing Coaster"
1023:
710:"Holiday World Completes Thunderbird's Track - NewsPlusNotes"
668:""Orange is the New Track!..." - Holiday World Facebook post"
287:
909:
772:
409:) where it then curves left back into the barn by doing an
397:
in the mirrored direction. The train then goes through a
381:. The train immediately goes into a 140 feet (43 m)
1351:
Roller coasters manufactured by
Bolliger & Mabillard
936:
Weatherwax, Dave; Streetman, Jonathan (April 25, 2015).
559:
of 2015 with 9.5% of the vote, to come in fifth place.
401:
parallel to The Voyage. After several curves next to
935:
1317:
929:
822:"Recap of Cedar Point's GateKeeper announcement"
716:
629:
627:
855:"Six Flags gets in line for more thrill rides"
1048:
750:"Holiday World launches new ice cream flavor"
624:
389:'s second and third hills, goes through an
1055:
1041:
814:
599:
597:
968:"Thunderbird: All it takes is Will Power"
633:
603:
508:steel arm is used to support the wings.
429:
979:
977:
883:
846:
594:
1318:
1036:
852:
761:
759:
648:from the original on February 5, 2016
634:MacDonald, Brady (November 6, 2014).
442:theme section of the park along with
1356:Holiday World & Splashin' Safari
1064:Holiday World & Splashin' Safari
974:
948:from the original on August 11, 2024
896:
730:from the original on August 11, 2024
308:Holiday World & Splashin' Safari
54:Holiday World & Splashin' Safari
44:Holiday World & Splashin' Safari
724:"Thunderbird Launched Wing Coaster"
608:. Indianapolis Star. Archived from
434:Thunderbird's first two inversions.
13:
1331:Roller coasters introduced in 2015
756:
485:The Incredible Hulk roller coaster
420:
364:
14:
1372:
1008:
853:Black, Lisa (September 3, 2011).
830:. August 14, 2012. Archived from
765:
902:
604:McCleery, Bill (July 24, 2014).
523:
34:
1165:Raging Rapids in Boulder Canyon
1086:Dancer's Thunder Bumpers Junior
960:
877:
792:
453:
274:52–78 in (132–198 cm)
742:
702:
688:
674:
660:
544:Thunderbird was ranked in the
438:Thunderbird is located in the
1:
588:
1341:Wing Coaster roller coasters
938:"Thunderbird: Out To Launch"
539:
7:
564:
425:
263:0 to 60 mph (0 to 97 km/h)
10:
1377:
1361:Roller coasters in Indiana
528:Every launch requires 2.5
395:overbanked elevated spiral
325:
229:60 mph (97 km/h)
221:3,035 ft (925 m)
18:
1326:Operating roller coasters
1244:
1205:
1135:
1099:
1070:
802:. Blooloop. July 25, 2014
520:at 140 feet (43 m).
498:
379:linear synchronous motors
286:
278:
270:
259:
251:
243:
233:
225:
217:
209:
199:
189:
179:
161:
156:
148:
133:
118:
110:
71:
59:
49:
42:
33:
28:
16:Steel wing roller coaster
1346:Launched roller coasters
1083:Prancer's Merry-Go-Round
511:
316:Bolliger & Mabillard
184:Bolliger & Mabillard
137:April 25, 2015
122:April 24, 2015
1295:Safari Sam's SplashLand
1154:Lewis & Clark Trail
1028:Roller Coaster DataBase
985:"Park and ride winners"
465:Six Flags Great America
213:140 ft (43 m)
95:38.124246°N 86.908957°W
21:Thunderbird (PowerPark)
1194:Star Spangled Carousel
435:
1336:Steel roller coasters
433:
369:After loading in the
100:38.124246; -86.908957
942:Dubois County Herald
865:on September 3, 2011
566:Golden Ticket Awards
553:Golden Ticket Awards
489:Islands of Adventure
312:Santa Claus, Indiana
300:steel roller coaster
255:1140 riders per hour
1168:Holidog's Treehouse
1145:Indian River Canoes
359:Prairie Farms Dairy
288:Thunderbird at RCDB
91: /
1107:Scarecrow Scramber
1092:Rudolph's Round-Up
1080:Dasher's Seahorses
436:
310:amusement park in
271:Height restriction
200:Lift/launch system
157:General statistics
1313:
1312:
1198:Kitty's Tea Party
917:on August 4, 2014
834:on August 2, 2014
827:Sandusky Register
780:on August 2, 2014
726:. Holiday World.
641:Los Angeles Times
612:on August 2, 2014
586:
585:
493:Universal Orlando
293:
292:
119:Soft opening date
1368:
1278:Bahari Wave Pool
1245:Splashin' Safari
1057:
1050:
1043:
1034:
1033:
1020:
1019:
1017:Official website
1003:
1002:
1000:
998:
993:. September 2015
981:
972:
971:
964:
958:
957:
955:
953:
933:
927:
926:
924:
922:
913:. Archived from
900:
894:
893:
881:
875:
874:
872:
870:
861:. Archived from
850:
844:
843:
841:
839:
818:
812:
811:
809:
807:
796:
790:
789:
787:
785:
776:. Archived from
763:
754:
753:
746:
740:
739:
737:
735:
720:
714:
713:
706:
700:
699:
692:
686:
685:
678:
672:
671:
664:
658:
657:
655:
653:
631:
622:
621:
619:
617:
601:
562:
561:
266:
144:
142:
129:
127:
106:
105:
103:
102:
101:
96:
92:
89:
88:
87:
84:
67:
38:
26:
25:
1376:
1375:
1371:
1370:
1369:
1367:
1366:
1365:
1316:
1315:
1314:
1309:
1240:
1226:Gobbler Getaway
1201:
1142:Holidog Express
1131:
1112:Frightful Falls
1095:
1077:Comet's Rockets
1066:
1061:
1015:
1014:
1011:
1006:
996:
994:
990:Amusement Today
983:
982:
975:
966:
965:
961:
951:
949:
934:
930:
920:
918:
901:
897:
886:Amusement Today
882:
878:
868:
866:
859:Chicago Tribune
851:
847:
837:
835:
820:
819:
815:
805:
803:
798:
797:
793:
783:
781:
764:
757:
748:
747:
743:
733:
731:
722:
721:
717:
708:
707:
703:
694:
693:
689:
680:
679:
675:
666:
665:
661:
651:
649:
632:
625:
615:
613:
602:
595:
591:
582:
547:Amusement Today
542:
526:
514:
501:
456:
428:
423:
421:Characteristics
391:overbanked turn
367:
365:Ride experience
351:2014 IAAPA Expo
328:
302:located in the
264:
140:
138:
125:
123:
99:
97:
93:
90:
85:
82:
80:
78:
77:
63:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1374:
1364:
1363:
1358:
1353:
1348:
1343:
1338:
1333:
1328:
1311:
1310:
1308:
1307:
1304:
1301:
1296:
1293:
1288:
1285:
1282:
1279:
1276:
1273:
1270:
1267:
1266:Monsoon Lagoon
1264:
1261:
1258:
1255:
1252:
1248:
1246:
1242:
1241:
1239:
1238:
1233:
1228:
1223:
1218:
1213:
1209:
1207:
1203:
1202:
1200:
1199:
1196:
1191:
1188:
1186:Liberty Launch
1183:
1180:
1177:
1172:
1169:
1166:
1163:
1158:
1157:Liberty Launch
1155:
1152:
1151:Eagle's Flight
1149:
1146:
1143:
1139:
1137:
1136:Fourth of July
1133:
1132:
1130:
1129:
1124:
1119:
1114:
1109:
1103:
1101:
1097:
1096:
1094:
1093:
1090:
1089:Reindeer Games
1087:
1084:
1081:
1078:
1074:
1072:
1068:
1067:
1060:
1059:
1052:
1045:
1037:
1031:
1030:
1021:
1010:
1009:External links
1007:
1005:
1004:
973:
959:
928:
903:Main, Dalton.
895:
876:
845:
813:
791:
755:
741:
715:
701:
687:
673:
659:
623:
592:
590:
587:
584:
583:
580:
578:
574:
573:
541:
538:
525:
522:
518:Immelmann loop
513:
510:
500:
497:
455:
452:
427:
424:
422:
419:
393:, and then an
383:Immelmann loop
366:
363:
327:
324:
314:. Designed by
291:
290:
284:
283:
280:
276:
275:
272:
268:
267:
265:in 3.5 seconds
261:
257:
256:
253:
249:
248:
245:
241:
240:
237:
231:
230:
227:
223:
222:
219:
215:
214:
211:
207:
206:
201:
197:
196:
191:
187:
186:
181:
177:
176:
163:
159:
158:
154:
153:
150:
146:
145:
135:
131:
130:
120:
116:
115:
112:
108:
107:
75:
69:
68:
61:
57:
56:
51:
47:
46:
40:
39:
31:
30:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1373:
1362:
1359:
1357:
1354:
1352:
1349:
1347:
1344:
1342:
1339:
1337:
1334:
1332:
1329:
1327:
1324:
1323:
1321:
1306:Cheetah Chase
1305:
1302:
1300:
1297:
1294:
1292:
1289:
1286:
1283:
1280:
1277:
1274:
1271:
1268:
1265:
1262:
1259:
1257:Butterfly Bay
1256:
1253:
1251:Hyena Springs
1250:
1249:
1247:
1243:
1237:
1234:
1232:
1229:
1227:
1224:
1222:
1219:
1217:
1214:
1211:
1210:
1208:
1204:
1197:
1195:
1192:
1189:
1187:
1184:
1181:
1179:Doggone Trail
1178:
1176:
1173:
1171:Just for Pups
1170:
1167:
1164:
1162:
1159:
1156:
1153:
1150:
1147:
1144:
1141:
1140:
1138:
1134:
1128:
1125:
1123:
1120:
1118:
1115:
1113:
1110:
1108:
1105:
1104:
1102:
1098:
1091:
1088:
1085:
1082:
1079:
1076:
1075:
1073:
1069:
1065:
1058:
1053:
1051:
1046:
1044:
1039:
1038:
1035:
1029:
1025:
1022:
1018:
1013:
1012:
997:September 13,
992:
991:
986:
980:
978:
969:
963:
947:
943:
939:
932:
916:
912:
911:
906:
899:
891:
887:
880:
864:
860:
856:
849:
833:
829:
828:
823:
817:
801:
795:
779:
775:
774:
769:
766:Adams, Matt.
762:
760:
751:
745:
729:
725:
719:
711:
705:
697:
691:
683:
677:
669:
663:
647:
643:
642:
637:
630:
628:
611:
607:
600:
598:
593:
579:
576:
575:
571:
570:Best New Ride
567:
563:
560:
558:
557:best new ride
554:
550:
548:
537:
535:
531:
524:Launch system
521:
519:
509:
507:
496:
494:
490:
486:
482:
478:
474:
470:
466:
462:
451:
447:
445:
441:
432:
418:
416:
412:
408:
404:
400:
396:
392:
388:
384:
380:
376:
372:
362:
360:
354:
352:
347:
345:
344:in-line twist
341:
337:
336:United States
333:
323:
321:
317:
313:
309:
305:
301:
297:
289:
285:
281:
277:
273:
269:
262:
258:
254:
250:
246:
242:
238:
236:
232:
228:
224:
220:
216:
212:
208:
205:
202:
198:
195:
192:
188:
185:
182:
178:
175:
171:
167:
164:
160:
155:
151:
147:
136:
132:
121:
117:
113:
109:
104:
76:
74:
70:
66:
62:
58:
55:
52:
48:
45:
41:
37:
32:
27:
22:
1281:Bahari River
1275:Jungle Racer
1231:Turkey Whirl
1215:
1206:Thanksgiving
1182:Magic Waters
1161:Rough Riders
1127:HallowSwings
995:. Retrieved
988:
962:
950:. Retrieved
941:
931:
919:. Retrieved
915:the original
908:
898:
889:
885:
879:
867:. Retrieved
863:the original
858:
848:
836:. Retrieved
832:the original
825:
816:
804:. Retrieved
794:
782:. Retrieved
778:the original
771:
744:
732:. Retrieved
718:
704:
690:
676:
662:
650:. Retrieved
639:
614:. Retrieved
610:the original
545:
543:
527:
515:
506:cantilevered
502:
457:
454:Manufacturer
448:
440:Thanksgiving
437:
411:inline twist
368:
355:
348:
332:Wing Coaster
329:
320:Wing Coaster
304:Thanksgiving
295:
294:
260:Acceleration
194:Wing Coaster
180:Manufacturer
170:Wing Coaster
152:$ 22 million
134:Opening date
65:Thanksgiving
60:Park section
1303:Hyena Falls
1216:Thunderbird
1212:Crow's Nest
1024:Thunderbird
481:Cedar Point
399:zero-g-roll
340:zero-g roll
306:section of
296:Thunderbird
98: /
73:Coordinates
29:Thunderbird
1320:Categories
1291:Wildebeest
1221:The Voyage
1190:Revolution
1175:The Howler
1148:Salmon Run
1122:The Legend
952:August 11,
734:August 11,
652:August 11,
589:References
477:GateKeeper
469:Wild Eagle
444:The Voyage
403:The Voyage
387:The Voyage
235:Inversions
141:2015-04-25
126:2015-04-24
86:86°54′32″W
83:38°07′27″N
1269:ZOOMbabwe
1236:Mayflower
1117:The Raven
1100:Halloween
1071:Christmas
572:for 2015
540:Reception
530:megawatts
473:Dollywood
415:brake run
342:, and an
114:Operating
1287:Kima Bay
1263:Otorongo
1254:The Wave
946:Archived
921:July 30,
892:(3): 30.
869:July 26,
838:July 26,
806:July 26,
784:July 30,
728:Archived
646:Archived
616:July 26,
577:Ranking
534:flywheel
461:X-Flight
426:Location
252:Capacity
244:Duration
174:Launched
172: –
168: –
50:Location
1299:Mammoth
1260:Watubee
1026:at the
407:keyhole
371:station
326:History
139: (
124: (
1284:Bakuli
773:Fox 59
499:Trains
373:, the
279:Trains
218:Length
210:Height
111:Status
1272:Zinga
512:Track
375:train
298:is a
226:Speed
190:Model
166:Steel
999:2015
954:2024
923:2014
910:WDRB
871:2014
840:2014
808:2014
786:2014
736:2024
654:2024
618:2014
555:for
475:and
247:1:18
162:Type
149:Cost
487:at
479:at
471:at
463:at
204:LSM
1322::
987:.
976:^
944:.
940:.
907:.
890:19
888:.
857:.
824:.
770:.
758:^
644:.
638:.
626:^
596:^
568::
551:s
491:,
467:,
1056:e
1049:t
1042:v
1001:.
970:.
956:.
925:.
873:.
842:.
810:.
788:.
752:.
738:.
712:.
698:.
684:.
670:.
656:.
620:.
581:5
549:'
239:4
143:)
128:)
23:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
