Stealth (roller coaster)

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, and the second tallest after the Big One at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. It reaches a height of and accelerates from 0 to in 1.9 seconds. Riders experience a maximum of 4.7 g. When the passengers board the ride, the noise of a car engine revving can be heard in the station audio loop. This is followed by the sound of tyres screeching. After passengers are securely restrained, the launch sequence begins when the brake fins are retracted. The train moves forward and attaches to the catch car. Sometimes smoke is produced from below the cars, presumably to simulate wheelspin. Overhead, a series of five red lights illuminate one by one in a horizontal row. Shortly after, a second row of green lights begin to illuminate as the train launches, quickly accelerating to in 1.8 seconds into a steep, vertical top hat element with a height of . The train turns 90 degrees to the left as it crests the top hat and makes another 90-degree left turn as it descends the other side of the element. After reaching the bottom, the train enters an airtime hill, which produces a brief sensation of weightlessness before the train enters the magnetic brake run and returns to the station. As with many Intamin Launch Coasters, Stealth experiences occasional rollbacks, which occur when a train is unable to complete the course, specifically failing to make it over the top hat element as a result of energy loss. Occurrences are rare, and there is a braking system in place on the launch side of the track to safely bring the roller coaster back to a complete stop. However rollbacks are safe, and all staff/engineers are trained to safely evacuate guests off the train. Signage posted at the ride's entrance states that Stealth accelerates from 0 to in 2.3 seconds.