[coasterbruh]

I call bs Jon. Famousamos has on video the parks explanation. Not to mention roller backed it up with confirming that's what the park officials said.

[chknwing]

what about las vegas where the airport is basically beside the strip and there are huge casinos as well as the stratosphere. Pretty sure you could throw a rock from the airport and hit a hotel.

[uscbandfan]

Probably outside the ILS cone from the end of the runway. The Stratosphere is at least 3 miles from the airport at probably a 15 or more degree angle from the runway. Any jet coming over the stratosphere wouldn't be able to land at that angle.
Remember, while Carowinds is about 5 miles away, it is in direct line of the runway.

[FamousAmos]

*senses sarcasm*

I will believe more on what Jonathan has said (since he has information to back up his claims).

[Jarsh]

I don't see the airport as a real deal breaker. An extra regulatory hurdle? Probably. But I'm sure if Carowinds really wanted to go higher than the Skytower they could get it done.

Not disagreeing, but I seem to remember Steve Jackson mentioning at C3 in 2014 that the FAA originally denied the park the application for Fury 325 because it was too high, but the park pushed back and pointed out that they already had an exemption for the SkyTower which was taller so the FAA changed their minds and approved it.

This leads me to believe that anything taller than the SkyTower would have a real hard time getting approved (if at all).

[Jonathan]

I don't doubt that it was said and I'm sure the folks who did the planning and engineering for this ride know more than me. Maybe they're having a laugh at these posts.

That said, these regulations are not secret, nor are they frivolous. Maybe the FAA did give them a hard time. Maybe they give everyone trying to build tall things within a flight path a hard time. I have no idea. But there does not appear to be an actual regulatory reason they could not build higher. Also if a plane is flying below 500 feet 6 miles from the airport it's already doomed.

[jeffdavis]

I don't know how high the planes are as they pass over Carowinds, but on one of my first rides on Fury325 I remember going up the lift hill near the top and getting the perception that we were close to a plane passing over at that instant and I thought that was really cool. It certainly felt a lot closer than it was, I'm sure.

With the cost, space, height (FAA), downtime, and (lack of) capacity of Top Thrill Dragster I just simply cannot imagine Carowinds seriously considering building a similar ride. It's a great ride and a unique experience but not a fit for Carowinds. But that's my opinion and I've never been accused of having a good imagination.

[dabrian]

I'm probably the least knowledgeable person on this forum when it comes to coasters but in my opinion I don't think there will be another TTD or Kingda Ka built unless someone (B&M) can build one that doesn't go down every half hour. If and when a 400ft coaster is built I believe it will be a traditional lift hill coaster.

[arby]

I really don't think there's any 'if' about a 400' coaster, the real question is when. I don't think we'll ever see another TTD or Kinda Ka style 400'+ coaster, but with continual improvements in technology, there will be another style or two of a 400' coaster.

Technically a polarcoaster is one style of 400+' coaster although if it fits in that category or not is highly debatable. I have no doubt that someone will eventually find a way to make a quality 400' coaster cost effectively.

Just remember, it wasn't all that long ago in terms of history that people couldn't fathom a coaster over 200' and that was in my lifetime. Computers back then took up an entire floor of an office building.

[mark40511]

I agree about there not being another strata coaster like KDK or TTD..I've heard both Cedar Point and Great Adventure regret getting them...I was more curious if another type of ride or coaster would be allowed to go 400 feet at Carowinds. What is the total height of skytower?

[RollerBee]

Total height of Skytower is 340 feet.

[arby]

I agree with what Jonathan said. When Windseeker came out, the park said there would never be a ride taller than Windseeker....

Right now the limiting factor for a Strata Coaster is cost in my opinion. If it can be done affordably, I have little doubt that the park could get clearance for a 400' coaster.

[uscbandfan]

I may have mentioned this before but somewhere I heard that Led Zepplin at Hard Rock Park (now the defunct Freestyle park) at Myrtle Beach was something like 14 inches below the maximum build height in the flight path. That's a mile from the airport and if that coaster is in the way of a plane, the plane is destined for a crash anyway. I guess they have to limit things somewhere but they're VERY MUCH erroring on the side of caution in my opinion.

[fishels]

Very fascinating thread! Thanks guys. I know it's a bit redundant to say this as you already know my opinion. But I do hope we get one someday. Whether that be in 5 years or 30. Or longer. Not that height is everything, because it definitely isn't.

I guess I should probably go down and ride one but my health is getting in the way.