Stealth (roller coaster)

This article is about the launched roller coaster located in Thorpe Park. For the flying roller coaster formerly at Paramount's Great America, see Nighthawk (roller coaster).

Stealth
Stealth in 2024
Thorpe Park
Location	Thorpe Park
Park section	Amity Speedway
Coordinates	51.405°N 0.515278°W / 51.405; -0.515278
Status	Operating
Opening date	15 March 2006 (2006-03-15)
Cost	£12 Million
General statistics
Type	Steel – Launched
Manufacturer	Intamin
Designer	Werner Stengel
Model	Accelerator Coaster
Lift/launch system	Hydraulic launch track
Height	62.5 m (205 ft)
Length	400.0 m (1,312.3 ft)
Speed	80 mph (129 km/h)
Inversions	0
Max vertical angle	90°
Capacity	1000 riders per hour
G-force	4.7
Height restriction	140–196 cm (4 ft 7 in – 6 ft 5 in)
Trains	3 trains with 5 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 20 riders per train.
Theme	Speedway
Website	Official website
Fastrack available
Wheelchair accessible
Must transfer from wheelchair
Stealth at RCDB

Stealth is a launched roller coaster in the Amity area of Thorpe Park located in Surrey, England. Built and designed by Intamin of Switzerland for £12 million, the Accelerator Coaster model opened in 2006 as the fastest roller coaster in the UK before being passed by Hyperia in 2024. It is also the third tallest in the UK after Hyperia and the Big One at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. It reaches a height of 62.5 metres (205 ft) and accelerates from 0 to 80 mph (129 km/h). Riders experience a maximum of 4.7 g.

Ride experience

After the previous train departs, a pre-boarding announcement plays, the train moves from the unload station to the load station and the gates open.

During boarding, the noise of a car engine revving can be heard in the station audio loop.

Once boarding is complete, the train moves slightly forward and backwards to attach to the catch-car.

The brake fins on the launch track retract, the pre-launch countdown plays, and the set of 5 red traffic lights above the train start illuminating one by one. The traffic lights then turn green and the train is launched, rapidly accelerating to 80 mph (130 km/h).

The train goes up the 62.5-metre (205 ft) top hat, turning 90 degrees to the left. After cresting the top hat, it turns 90 degrees back to the right, before reaching the bottom of the top hat and the final airtime hill. After cresting the airtime hill, the train enters the brake run, slowing down before entering the unload station.

The ride's layout is similar to Kingda Ka, although narrower in scope.

During events a different launch announcements are used:

• During Oktoberfest, the countdown is done in German.
• During Fright Nights, a more spooky announcement is used.

Rollbacks

Rollbacks are considered rare for Stealth, but are more common if the train's lubricating oil is cold or during high winds. This can slow the train down and result in it not being able to crest the top hat, and thus not completing the course.

If this happens, the launch track is equipped with retractable brake fins. They retract before the train launches and re-deploy in stages after it passes over each section of the launch track. When the train rolls back, it will be slowed by the brake fins and come to rest just before the Station. The brake fins are then retracted to reverse the train back into the station and the launch is attempted again.

2024 revamp

For the 2024 season, Stealth's station and entrance areas were completely repainted and the theming has been enhanced as part of the Sparkle Project, an ongoing scheme to give the park a facelift.

Stealth's entrance in 2024

Stealth's entrance in 2009

External links

• Stealth at Thorpe Park