Re: New "world's first" coaster at Alton Towers 2013
^No, Thirteen is a fully controlled drop. The amount of airtime (or the rate at which it falls) is irrelevant, it's still a controlled drop. In the same way the drops on the ToT rides are controlled, they're pulled downwards. You could change the speed it drops. True 'freefall' as you put it isn't this. True freefall is like the Intamin drop towers where the carriage is completely disconnected and falls under gravity alone.
^No, Thirteen is a fully controlled drop. The amount of airtime (or the rate at which it falls) is irrelevant, it's still a controlled drop. In the same way the drops on the ToT rides are controlled, they're pulled downwards. You could change the speed it drops. True 'freefall' as you put it isn't this. True freefall is like the Intamin drop towers where the carriage is completely disconnected and falls under gravity alone.