Has a large jump in the track, so the train flies unsupported for some distance. The catching rails would have to be carefully designed to correct for changes in wind direction etc.

I've linked to some related ideas below.
-- Loris, Oct 13 2002

Rickety Roller Coaster http://www.halfbake..._20Roller_20Coaster
Appears to be unsafe, but that's part of the fun [Loris, Oct 13 2002, last modified Oct 05 2004]

"Dangerous" Rollercoaster http://www.halfbake..._22_20Rollercoaster
Make the ride a little scarier. [Loris, Oct 13 2002, last modified Oct 05 2004]

Funland At The Beach http://www.azlyrics...landatthebeach.html
Dead Kennedys lyrics [thumbwax, Oct 14 2002, last modified Oct 05 2004]

.......<looking at all the empty space>.........

.....Well Mr. Jones, looks like we missed one.....
-- hollajam, Oct 14 2002


Fun idea, but... Given the mass and unpredictable actions of the passengers and therefore the probability of their affecting the trajectory of the cars, bad idea (unless you come up with some invisible means of reliably controlling the motion of the coaster cars while mechanically disconnected from the track).
-- half, Oct 14 2002


Ever ride the jackrabbit at Kennywood? Air time!
-- Mr Burns, Oct 14 2002


Having the roller coaster completely leave the track might make for a nice zero-G experience if everything worked out just perfectly, but something would almost certainly go wrong.

On the other hand, it might be interesting to design a suspended roller coaster whose cables would be slack for part of the ride. Some careful engineering would be necessary to ensure that under all scenarios the positions, forces, and accellerations of all parts of the system remained within acceptable limits, but if properly done the overall effect could be really cool.
-- supercat, Oct 14 2002


Hey, the (perceived potential for) things to go wrong is half the fun..

I'm not sure that weight differences would be a problem (all objects accelerate at the same rate - neglecting air friction). If air friction was non-negligable I suppose you could weigh the train and add ballast.

I was imagining some form of 'funnel' to catch the train and re-track the wheels. Alternatively (or possibly in addition) I suppose you could have a sort of catching hook which would reach out and grab the front of the train and lead it to the right place for a gradual contact, while still basically following parabolic flight.

I'm not sure the jump would actually be that noticable, as people say it would be maybe a few seconds of zero-G. I think the main payoff would be actually seeing the train jump while you were queueing and building anticipation.
-- Loris, Oct 15 2002


Are you a punker thumbwax?
-- Gulherme, Oct 16 2002


I don't have a link this time, but I think there is not a coaster, but a water-flume ride in Japan that does this.

It was tried with the Cannon Coaster some 90 years ago on Coney island, but they never managed to make it work.
-- RideMan, Feb 12 2003


My friend Sam and I used to do this on Roller Coaster Tycoon, except that instead of the track, the car would land in a great body of water/fire/what-have-you.

Needless to say, our park was a memorable experience.
-- disbomber, Apr 05 2005


//My friend Sam and I used to do this on Roller Coaster Tycoon, except that instead of the track, the car would land in a great body of water/fire/what-have-you.//

Unfortunately, RTC coasters and related rides tend to explode if they lack downstops and you pull negative G's even if they're otherwise fully enclosed (e.g. bobsled rides). Bummer.

Speaking of RTC, I've found that a great moneymaker is a catapult-launch coaster which has the loading platform built as high as possible on the tallest allowable hill, then goes into the deepest allowable valley, and then climbs to the tallest allowable height. Put two of them next to each other and you'll end up with a very high thrill rating and minimal nausea rating on a ride that is very short and can thus serve a huge number of people.

Another fun little detail of RTC: if a ride exit is underground and there's no tunnel there or underneath it, people exiting the ride will simply disappear. They won't register as dying--they'll just vanish altogether. If one was unscrupulous, one could construct a 'prison' with such a ride in it (ride price: free), and drop unhappy park guests there so as to boost the average happiness rating.
-- supercat, Apr 06 2005



random, halfbakery