Step into the Danger Zone with Top Gun - 50th Anniversary Archives
Ойын-сауық
Talk to me Goose!
With Top Gun 2 starring Tom Cruise now out in theaters, who remembers when The Bat roller coaster at Kings Island was themed after the original Top Gun movie?
This suspended swinging roller coaster by Arrow Dynamics was cutting-edge technology, as a second-generation coaster. This was the park’s second attempt at a suspended coaster after the original Bat roller coaster opened in 1981.
The Top Gun attraction was announced to members of the media Nov. 11, 1992. As this was then-owner Paramount Park's first major attraction, they wanted riders to feel like they were on the physical set for the movie.
To enhance the experience, John DeCuir Jr., one of the film’s production designers, was hired to design the ride’s loading station platform so that it resembled an actual aircraft carrier. The ride opened with some nice thematic touches, like walking through a traffic control room in the queue, fog coming up from underneath the cars as they took off and associates working the attraction wearing flight suits, who bid riders good luck on their 1:52-second flight at 51 mph.
Top Gun opened to pilots April 9, 1993. When Cedar Fair purchased the Paramount parks, Top Gun was renamed to Flight Deck. For the 2014 season, the ride was then rethemed to The Bat, as an homage to the original suspended coaster that captured riders in the Coney Mall area of the park.
The Bat continues to thrill rides today in Action Zone. Come swing by and take flight during your next visit to Kings Island!
Get the best deal on tickets 🎟 to Kings Island HERE: www.visitkingsisland.com/dail...
#kingsisland
Пікірлер: 69
Have you taken flight on Top Gun/ The Bat? What’s your favorite part?
@MicrowavedBurrito1
2 жыл бұрын
That giant turn after the drop is insane!
@WillyJoeFilms
2 жыл бұрын
Yes! I loveee the speed
@CECFanOffical
2 жыл бұрын
The first drop isn’t that big but it still packs a punch, and all of the turnouts are awesome!!
@CoasterNerd
2 жыл бұрын
I love the part where it swoops by the pathway
@TJ85234
2 жыл бұрын
I like the whole thing! Rode it yesterday and never a long line
“That all clears going to send you Tom Cruseing on out of here. Sit up right hold on tight enjoy that flight on the highway to the danger zone here on TopGun”
@coasterbreakdown
2 жыл бұрын
👏👏👏
@DelBUBLGNG
2 жыл бұрын
Do you work at CCMS
11 year old me waited 4 hours opening summer, no regrets. Miss you PKI.
The steam in the station is no joke amazing
This is the ride that made me the roller coaster enthusiast I am today
@tiffanyhunt4970
2 жыл бұрын
Me too 🥰
Just saw the new film. Just like this coaster it was a solid thrill ride. 10/10. I still remember my first time riding in the 90s with Danger Zone playing over the speakers, all the jet plane adverts everywhere, and the station made to look like an aircraft carrier. And the ride does a solid job making you feel like flying an F-18.
@logo115
2 жыл бұрын
Well more like flying an F-14 since that’s what they flew in the original
My first ride at King’s Island!
This was my first roller coaster I got on
Fond memories of walking through the oark hearing the movie soundtrack blasted by the entrance to this ride.
I rode it so many times over the years I loved that ride !
People were different in the 90s
I was hoping for some footage of the queue under the station, but this is still awesome.
@RavenStation711
2 жыл бұрын
Same! I have been trying so hard to find pictures of the banners in the queue for so long and can't find anything. They're still etched in my head from seeing them as a kid but I want to see them again in some way.
@Deadsphere
Жыл бұрын
I miss the model jet that used to be there.
Im so glad the park has kept and maintained this ride, its my personal favorite. Thank you
That's so cool. I never got to ride it during that version
I wonder why Arrow's suspended coasters are so much smoother than their other ride types. I've ridden this over the years and it's still smooth as butter.
clearing the lift hill and not seeing Great Wolf Lodge.. wow.
I miss seeing that mist/steam in the station. I wished you guys brought that back.
I Feel the need, THE NEEED FOR KINGS ISLAND'S SPEED!
“Dudes, I got the need…the need for speed!” Topgun will always be my all time favorite roller coaster.
I've discussed for years the moment at top of the ride, as you are pulled up, and the moment everything below you disappears and you are just floating there. I rode this a few times in 93 and that moment stuck with me forever. I can not believe there is a video of it! Was so fun to send this to my kids and say 'this is what I was talking about!!' Good times man. Good times. Thanks for uploading this.
Even though paramount used to own this park, cedar fair keeps the history alive! Keep it up ki you guys are great!
I watched the original film today, it was amazing, just like the bat is now.
Brings back good memories of my childhood😄
I rode this in the rain. It felt like it was raining hail. Wish there was a fast lane or single rider que
The coaster always felt too short. I know it’s a clone of Vortex at Canada’s Wonderland, I wish it was longer.
@clairefunnell8481
2 жыл бұрын
Hi from Toronto Canada 🇨🇦. Vortex is a very fast ride. Scenic too.
Feels like I'm looking a Vortex from Canada's Wonderland. I'm sure I would like this ride. Very fast.
Loving these archive videos!
Has just everyone forgotten it’s this rides 30th anniversary in 2023
This flight was the true highway to the danger zone.
My favorite part is the first drop on it. Love that you guys built Orion. Best on front seat.
Did I dream that there used to be fighter jets in the queue in 1999?
@KingsIslandPR
2 жыл бұрын
There were!
cool
I remember the song "Take My Breath Away" by Berlin playing in the background as we waited in line. 🤓🥴
@tiffanyhunt4970
2 жыл бұрын
....from original soundtrack 😄
🤩
Kings island peaked in 2005 it’s not the same it used to be
"I feel the need, The Need for Speed."
It used to be talking but now it's the bad because
I didn't know that you didn't talk to me too
Why do the brakes in the station sound so different now?
This ride triggered my motion sickness so badly I couldn't ride another ride the rest of the day. Why do rides make me so sick all the time? Ugh🤢😖😣😩
I'll call to talk
where am i? earth.
The bat is better though, right!? Like theming wise
@OUTPOST5gaming
2 жыл бұрын
Nah.
@CoasterNerd
2 жыл бұрын
It has no theming
@tiffanyhunt4970
2 жыл бұрын
Nope 😂
@Readyforit7723
2 жыл бұрын
They just painted it orange and slapped “The Bat” on it and called it good :/
@tiffanyhunt4970
2 жыл бұрын
@@Readyforit7723 "slapped" 😂
Hey. I'm not trying to be rude. But you're really gonna have to close down this because me and my dad got stuck on it and we were in the middle of the hill and I was freaked. You guys actually might have to tear it down😢. Sorry, not trying to be rude.