Griffon (roller coaster)

Infobox roller coaster
name=Griffon

---

caption="Griffon's" Splashdown element
location=Busch Gardens Europe
section=Aquitaine (France)
type=Steel
type2=Dive
type3=Floorless
status= Open
opened= May 18 2007
manufacturer=Bolliger & Mabillard
designer=
model=Floorless Diving Machine
track=
lift=Chain lift hill
height=205
drop=205
length=3108
speed=71
inversions=2
duration=3:00
angle=90
capacity=1,400
cost= $15,600,000 USD
acceleration=
gforce=4
restriction=54
rcdb_number=3631

Griffon is a roller coaster, announced on August 23, 2006, at Busch Gardens Europe, located in Williamsburg, Virginia. The coaster, a Bolliger & Mabillard diving machine, now reigns as tallest and fastest dive machine coaster surpassing its sister, "SheiKra", at Busch Gardens Africa in Tampa, Florida. "Griffon" originally had two other names — "IronEagle" and "Volture" — before Busch Gardens decided on the name "Griffon". "Griffon" has notably replaced The LeMans Raceway, one of the park's original rides. "Griffon" is the fourth diving machine coaster ever created worldwide, and the second ever constructed in the United States.

"Griffon" is themed after a griffin, the half-lion/half-eagle mythological creature, and not a griffon, which is a breed of dog. It is believed that the spelling used is the French version of the word. The ride features several new shops located in a new inlet area located behind the former Left Bank Portrait shop (now "Griffon" Gifts), near the Grande Gourmet ice cream and dessert shop. The ride maneuvers through this new section, including a water splash zone near the new "Bistro 205," and a first drop that dives under a bridge that is built up over the existing ground level.

Ride Layout

Park guests waiting in queue are able to see the first drop and Immelmann loop directly above, as well as the roostertail-like fountain of water from the train's two tailends as it dips into a nearby pool of water.

Each train consists of three rows of ten seats. Once strapped in, the loading platform floor drops and guests hear, "Now, prepare to enjoy the power and speed of the mythical "Griffon"." After a right turn out of the station, riders climb a 45 degree lift hill running about 10 feet per second, 205 feet up. Then they make another turn to the right and face the Royal Palace Theatre. The trains pause on a holding brake for five seconds, before dropping 205 feet at 90° hitting 75 mph. The ride will then go into a 146 foot Immelmann loop before making a sweeping turn to the left into the block brake. Riders will then drop 130 feet down at 87° towards The Rhine River and into another 100 foot Immelmann inversion. Finally, riders will exit a bunny hop into a water splash pool. Each of the three trains produces a different water spray pattern up to 45 feet high. Riders then encounter a small dip just before the final brake run and station.

Ride Elements

*205 foot 90° drop
*146 foot Immelmann
*130 foot 87° drop
*100 foot Immelmann
*Splashdown finale
*360°Climbing carousel turn
*On-ride camera section (located under the bridge)

Records

*The world's tallest dive machine coaster (205 ft)
*The world's fastest dive machine coaster (71 mph) [ [http://rcdb.com/id3631.htm Roller Coaster Database] ]
*The world's only multi-inversion dive machine coaster.
*The world's first floorless diving machine coaster.
*The world's first roller coaster to feature 10 across seating.
*The world's first dive coaster to include two Immelmann inversions. [ [http://www.buschgardens.com/bgw/ftp_press_releases_details.aspx?ID=76 Press release] - Busch Gardens] [ [http://bgescape.com/index.php?page=Project2007 Busch Garden Escape] ]

Opening Date

"Griffon" officially opened on Friday, May 25, 2007. A special employee first ride event took place on May 1, 2, and 3rd. A second special VIP event took place on May 17th following the May 16th media day event. There was a "soft opening" on May 13th. The roller coaster ran all day May 13th with just a few stops. Lines were very short at first, then became packed later in the day. [http://buschgardens.com/bgw/special_offers_home.aspx] "Griffon" opened on May 18 until May 25 for a "preview week." The official opening was on May 25, 2007. The ribbon was cut by a child who shares his name with the coaster. The lines for "Griffon" on opening day hit a wait time of approximately five hours, but the single riders line took approximately 1 hour.The wait was mostly due to technical problems stopping the ride as similar sized lines in the following weeks only took an hour to an hour and a half.

Gallery

"Griffon" in the Media

"Griffon" was featured on the Discovery Channel show "Build It Bigger". The show followed the construction of the second Immelmann loop on the coaster and also featured its sister coaster, "SheiKra".

See also

* "SheiKra"
* Diving Machine
* Floorless roller coaster

Notes

External links

* [http://www.griffoncoaster.com/ "Griffon's" Official Page]
* [http://www.bgescape.com/Gallery/index.php?cat=8 BGEscape "Griffon" Construction Gallery]
* [http://www.dailypress.com/features/dp-griffon-nov7story,1,2220409.story?coll=dp-features-utility&ctrack=1&cset=true Interview With Construction Site Supervisor]