The
Coaster
Soon after the construction of Nemesis in 1994, work began
between Alton Towers and Bolliger & Mabillard, to create
the rollercoaster that everyone thought impossible. Originally
conceived to be unveiled at Alton Towers in 1998, the design
of the ride became so complex, that it was postponed, and
Oblivion was designed and built ready for the 1998 season
instead.
Over the past few years, the designers have been continuing
to develop and enhance the ride, and now, in 2002, it is
ready to be unleashed onto the public. Things may not have
gone exactly to plan, as other manufacturers have released
their own versions of a similar concept, but air will be
the first in the UK and the first for B&M, although
a similar coaster has also been built in the USA.
So now, we can all experience the sensation of flight,
as Alton Towers and B&M promise a ride like no other
on the planet.
The Site
The site for the coaster occupies the site previously held
by the New Beast ride, which was removed in the late nineties
in preparation for site works to begin. Helium filled balloons
were then tied to strings, and flown at various pre-determined
heights at key places around the site, to determine the
maximum height the ride could go without becoming an eye-sore.
Once this was done the design for the new ride could be
finalised with B&M and John Wardley ready for construction
to begin.
The Layout
It is believed that the design for the new coaster was meant
to be kept a secret by Alton Towers, however during the
planning application stage the designs were on view and
various websites made copies of the plans and published
them on the internet. What appeared was a rather basic and
bland layout which had many people worrying that the ride
was not going to be what they were hoping for.
Construction
Construction work began during the 2000/2001 closed season
with basic ground work being done with the wet weather turning
it into a large area of mud. The first photos on the internet
were from a special RCCGB trip to Alton for Comic Relief
where photos of a large 90 degree trench being dug emerged.
Construction steadily continued throughout the season with
a second tunnel emerging, as stated on the leaked layout
of the ride. With most footers being completed by August,
it was only a matter of time before some steelwork arrived
on site. By mid August turquoise blue coloured track appeared
in an adjacent car park, this sent internet discussion boards
into overdrive mode as people either loved or hated the
colour chosen for the track and this "airy" coloured
track sent military themes or any ordinary Forbidden Valley
themed coaster out of the window. By the closed season the
coaster was nearly complete, the inline twist was constructed
in time to dash anybody's hopes of a world first flying
corkscrew, as shown on a model of the ride in Towers Trading.
By December pictures were on the internet of the completed
ride circuit and the trains - although covered in a plastic
wrapping so fine details could not be seen.
On January 10th John Wardley announced on Rideas that air
had made its first test successfully, it would now be only
a matter of time before people were riding air.
The Marketing
Air's marketing was different from the top secretness of
both Nemesis and Oblivion, with large posters in the park
announcing the imminent arrival of a "new generation
flying coaster." By August and the summer holiday peak
period many more posters were around the park, warning people
to "prepare for air" with the large blue air swirl
above as well as one poster in Forbidden Valley showing
people an artists impression of the flying coaster carriages.
Also, in Towers Trading a scale model of air arrived showing
accurately - bar the corkscrew that is an inline twist -
the layout and area landscaping of air's area. This in park
marketing was there to drum up excitement for the new coaster
arriving next year.
Since the beginning of 2002 air has been popping up in various
publications and other sources, articles in the Daily Express,
Sunday Times, Funday Times, Staffordshire Short Breaks,
Alton's local newspaper, the Sky Digital magazine as well
as Kellogg's Cornflakes packets.
At the beginning of March air's official £4.5 million
marketing campaign kicked off, with 10 second adverts on
television, followed by 30 second adverts on the nights
leading up to the 16th as well as lengthy adverts in the
cinema. Air has also made appearances on X-Change on the
CBBC Channel and Blue Peter and is likely to appear on many
holiday programmes throughout the year, air may also feature
on a documentary being made for Channel 5 due to be shown
in August.
The Theme
During 2001 people are the internet had many different ideas
for themes, military attacks on Nemesis, another alien that
could fly, the fear of drowning or the feeling of flight,
but by the beginning 2002 the theme of an "Oasis"
at the end of the valley where any goodness that was in
the Forbidden Valley can retreat and experience the exhilarating
and liberating feeling of true flight.
Due to this theming being quite unique for any rollercoaster
at Alton Towers, theme park enthusiasts have been quite
negative over the whole minimalistic theming of air and
would probably have preferred more extravagant theming with
a "you are not going to take another breath once you've
been on air" rather than a "enjoy air and have
fun, this ride isn't scary" approach to the ride.
Conclusion
Overall air has provided a year and a half's worth of entertainment
for anyone following the construction of it. Alton Tower's
will almost undoubtedly have themselves yet another winning
coaster on their hands that is a little different to their
other two intense coasters. The future is looking rather
bright for Alton Towers, with the high chance of another
family coaster before the next Secret Weapon, presumably
in 2006. With a £40 million hotel and water park opening
in 2003 Alton Towers appears to be expanding into becoming
a "destination" as well as strengthening its position
as the UK's Number 1 Theme Park.
article by Chris Keating & Steve Taylor
|
