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Drakon | Paultons Park | Gerstlauer Eurofighter | 2026
- Thread starter Niles
- Start date
Matt N
CF Legend
If I’m not wrong, I’m not sure if retrofitting retrospectively is possible. I seem to remember hearing somewhere that some sort of part under the car is different between the lap bar and OTSR trains, meaning that they can’t be switched out for one another.
I could be completely wrong there, but I seem to remember it coming up at some point. I think it was with regard to TMNT Shellraiser and why that didn’t have lap bars…
Rob Coasters
Rob Poster
I believe the OTSRs are mainly due to the vertical lift, but then in that case, why even go for a vertical lift in the first place.
Matt N
CF Legend
Other Euro-Fighters have vertical lift hills and lap bars, though, so this wouldn’t have been insurmountable unless this was a Paultons choice rather than an engineering constraint.
Officially, though, I think Paultons’ explanation was that kids and their families would feel safer inverting with OTSRs than lap bars. I’m not sure it’s a sentiment I personally agree with, particularly seeing as Paultons has been a very trend-breaking park in other regards and recent UK installations such as The Wave and Hyperia have challenged the long-standing orthodoxy that people don’t feel safe inverting with lap bars, but the park’s justification is the park’s justification.
Niles
Giga Poster
It is a shame with the OTSR as they really are not needed, kids ride Hyperia they will ride this. Sadly I cannot see them changing them even if they could in the future, hopefully its smooth and the layout is decent. So far my view of euro fighters is bad to ok so my fingers are crossed with this one.
Speaking of, more track is in.
Plus a look at Wild swings seat, never done one and watching on rides im intrigued in the feeling it will give.
Source
Speaking of, more track is in.
Plus a look at Wild swings seat, never done one and watching on rides im intrigued in the feeling it will give.
Source
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Boodangy
Mega Poster
There are multiple Eurofighters with a vertical lift and lapbars (all Eurofighter 380 and 320 models), In Shellraiser/Takabisha's case it's because there isn't space under the gondola for the chain lift parts, the LSM parts and the lapbar parts all at once so it's a lack of space issue, the OTSRs all the restraint mechanism is behind the seat back. The only Eurofighter with lapbars with the mechanism behind the seats is Dare Devil Dive, which doesn't use standard issue Eurofighter trains anyway with them being six seaters. So in a custom eurofighter with only a lift hill it's just park's choice.
Coaster Cam
Roller Poster
The Wild Swing is really fun and a great addition imo, I recently went on one at Plopsland De Panne. It gives negative gs on the way up and positive on the way down, similar to a Nebulaz in that sense but obviously less controlled because it’s a swing and the rocking gondala is really fun on the way down as you get yanked back, which is unexpected.
I would love to see some more flats added to the area for 2027 as with the relocation of The Edge it’s going to be a really coaster heavy area!
Niles
Giga Poster
Animated POV from the park.
Oooo interesting sounds like my cup of tea, should be a fun little flat. I also hope we see another flat come to the park in 2027, another UK first or something with height to look over the park would be cool.
YoshiPoseidon
Roller Poster
The UK was desperately in need of another average euro fighter with ostr’s! What a smart investment for the park. We really get spoilt with the duration of our coasters in this country
Coaster Cam
Roller Poster
Nice sarcasm. But actually it probably makes a lot of sense to Paultons - tried and tested model, affordable, small footprint and probably got deal with refurbing Kobra/Raven.
Do I think they lacked confidence to choose a more exciting model… Yes.
But I can’t wait to see the overall theme, it will be the best in the UK when it opens and the 2027 plot is 4x the size of the Drakon plot so more is yet to come!
JoshC.
Strata Poster
Far be it from me to question the market research of a multi-million pound company, but I very much question Paulton's logic with OTSRs.
They've said it's because people would find the ride intimidating with lap bars, because of the inversions, beyond vertical drop, etc. But psychologically, there's a big difference having an OTSR compared to a lap bar. By having an OTSR, there's a chance you make the ride more intimidating.
Thorpe found in research that people, on paper, weren't bothered by the idea of lap bars on inverting coasters. But they were fully prepared to have to deal with people bolting at the last second when they were sat on the train because of the idea of inverting in lap bars. Yet, they've found that doesn't happen.
Okay, different rides, different audiences. But really it's still the same. You give people a lap bar and they'll be fine. Parents will be fine. Kids will be fine. People overcomplicate the thought process.
As I say, I do wonder if Paultons really surveyed and sought out the audience's actual thoughts, or just went on vibes and what they wanted / thought would work.
It's also very interesting that they're barely mentioning the beyond vertical drop. Whilst they're common in the UK, it's still a big point which will draw attention. Obviously it makes sense to focus on the inversions, as that's a huge deal for the park.
I again wonder though if they choosing not to because they feel it will be seen as too intimidating, when really it will just add to the ride more.
On another note, it is surprising seeing how many people are hyping this up on social media and saying how amazing it looks. It's a big standard, not exactly long, Eurofighter at a regional park. It'll be nice, but not the second coming of Jesus like some people are acting.
They've said it's because people would find the ride intimidating with lap bars, because of the inversions, beyond vertical drop, etc. But psychologically, there's a big difference having an OTSR compared to a lap bar. By having an OTSR, there's a chance you make the ride more intimidating.
Thorpe found in research that people, on paper, weren't bothered by the idea of lap bars on inverting coasters. But they were fully prepared to have to deal with people bolting at the last second when they were sat on the train because of the idea of inverting in lap bars. Yet, they've found that doesn't happen.
Okay, different rides, different audiences. But really it's still the same. You give people a lap bar and they'll be fine. Parents will be fine. Kids will be fine. People overcomplicate the thought process.
As I say, I do wonder if Paultons really surveyed and sought out the audience's actual thoughts, or just went on vibes and what they wanted / thought would work.
It's also very interesting that they're barely mentioning the beyond vertical drop. Whilst they're common in the UK, it's still a big point which will draw attention. Obviously it makes sense to focus on the inversions, as that's a huge deal for the park.
I again wonder though if they choosing not to because they feel it will be seen as too intimidating, when really it will just add to the ride more.
On another note, it is surprising seeing how many people are hyping this up on social media and saying how amazing it looks. It's a big standard, not exactly long, Eurofighter at a regional park. It'll be nice, but not the second coming of Jesus like some people are acting.
toofpikk
Hyper Poster
Some really excellent points here Josh, quite a lot of open ended discussion points to address.
Really interesting to hear about Thorpe's restraint style research. Had no idea about that. I wonder if it were a choice to make the ride feel more intimidating, especially because as you say, Paulton's is a regional park and an operational choice like this will up the ante for riders who don't go to other parks.
The lack of marketing for the beyond vertical drop may be a symptom of not over saturating the big takeaways from the new zone. Paultons are getting a new coaster, a new themed zone, and their first lot of inversions. If they continued to rattle on about everything else beyond this, it might start sounding like another company who tries to rinse every single possible USP, for the sake of USP...
Finally, I do agree with you on your last point. I'm happy for Paultons as this is a significant step up in their investments and offering. I think a lot of people may be excited for it because we've been waiting for Paultons to enter the more thrilling side of the market for years, and it really opens a door for the future. They have an excellent theming company on side, so the quality of the finished area will be high. I think it marks a glimpse at what's to come, which in turn may be generating some additional hype. It's just nice to see them continue to get these small wins, too (although personally, I did think when I saw the eurofighter reveal 'another one, here?').
WarmishSign
Roller Poster
It honestly looks like a decent layout, just hope it's smooth
jasone
Mega Poster
You could also argue that Paultons should have gone for a lap bar route as its much comfier for children who are always at higher risk of head banging with OTSRs than a fully grown adult is. If the target market is families/kids first inverting coaster, surely the restraint should have taken this into account? Pandering to the odd person thinking its unsafe because its only a lap bar, rather than actually following the facts seems a bit silly to me.
VonRolland
Giga Poster
At the end of the day Paultons have made that decision, it is their park afterall. Whether you like it or not whining isn't gonna change it. We should be happy that they're getting a coaster with an inversion, a first for the park with a UK first flat & rethemed area to match. Not to mention a watercoaster the year after
JoshC.
Strata Poster
Lift/drop in place...