Jumbo Jet (Cedar Point)
Encyclopedia
Jumbo Jet was a steel
roller coaster
that operated from 1972 to 1978 at Cedar Point
in Sandusky
, Ohio
. The coaster was a prefabricated roller coaster with an electric spiral lift mechanism. It was one of the first coasters in the world to utilize this particular lift mechanism, and the coaster was also the first of its model type. The Jumbo Jet, like all electric spiral lift roller coasters, reached the top of its lift hill by way of a gently-graded spiraling helix
, before beginning its first drop. Unlike many roller coasters, which utilize a chain lift or launch
, the Jumbo Jet was propelled with small wheel motors up the incline of the helix. These sort of coasters soon became a very common type of steel roller coaster in the 1970s, and were distinguished from later steel roller coaster designs that were characterized by their thicker, tubular-steel tracks.
, and was the first of the Jet Star 3 / Jumbo Jet model line. The coaster stood in the same beach-front location where the wooden roller coaster
Cyclone stood before, and where the indoor roller coaster Disaster Transport
stands today. Jumbo Jet was known for its views of Lake Erie
and steeply banked turns (some at up to 70 degrees). While at Cedar Point, Jumbo Jet carried between 1.6 and 1.8 million passengers every year. Jumbo Jet was finally replaced in 1979 by the new WildCat
coaster. Although Jumbo Jet was only at Cedar Point for a total of 6 years, the coaster subsequently moved to a large number of different amusement parks, including Palace Playland
in Old Orchard Beach
, Maine
; Malmö Folkets Park in Malmö
, Skåne, Sweden
; Beoland in Nizhny Novgorod
, Russia
; and finally Dreamland in Minsk
, Belarus
.
Steel roller coaster
A steel roller coaster is a roller coaster that is defined by having a track made of steel. Steel coasters have earned immense popularity in the past 50 years throughout the world...
roller coaster
Roller coaster
The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
that operated from 1972 to 1978 at Cedar Point
Cedar Point
Cedar Point is a 364 acre amusement park located in Sandusky, Ohio, United States on a narrow peninsula jutting into Lake Erie. Cedar Point is the only amusement park with four roller coasters that are taller than...
in Sandusky
Sandusky, Ohio
Sandusky is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Erie County. It is located in northern Ohio and is situated on the shores of Lake Erie, almost exactly half-way between Toledo to the west and Cleveland to the east....
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. The coaster was a prefabricated roller coaster with an electric spiral lift mechanism. It was one of the first coasters in the world to utilize this particular lift mechanism, and the coaster was also the first of its model type. The Jumbo Jet, like all electric spiral lift roller coasters, reached the top of its lift hill by way of a gently-graded spiraling helix
Helix
A helix is a type of smooth space curve, i.e. a curve in three-dimensional space. It has the property that the tangent line at any point makes a constant angle with a fixed line called the axis. Examples of helixes are coil springs and the handrails of spiral staircases. A "filled-in" helix – for...
, before beginning its first drop. Unlike many roller coasters, which utilize a chain lift or launch
Launched roller coaster
The launched roller coaster is a modern form of roller coaster which has increased in use in the last decade. In place of a traditional chain lift, the launched coaster initiates a ride with high amounts of acceleration via one or series of Linear Induction Motors , Linear Synchronous Motors ,...
, the Jumbo Jet was propelled with small wheel motors up the incline of the helix. These sort of coasters soon became a very common type of steel roller coaster in the 1970s, and were distinguished from later steel roller coaster designs that were characterized by their thicker, tubular-steel tracks.
History
Jumbo Jet was manufactured by noted roller coaster designer Anton SchwarzkopfAnton Schwarzkopf
Anton Schwarzkopf was a German engineer of amusement rides, and founder of the Schwarzkopf Industries company, which built numerous rides and large roller coasters for both amusement parks and travelling funfairs....
, and was the first of the Jet Star 3 / Jumbo Jet model line. The coaster stood in the same beach-front location where the wooden roller coaster
Wooden roller coaster
A wooden roller coaster is most often classified as a roller coaster with laminated steel running rails overlaid upon a wooden track. Occasionally, the structure may be made out of a steel lattice or truss, but the ride remains classified as a wooden roller coaster due to the track design...
Cyclone stood before, and where the indoor roller coaster Disaster Transport
Disaster Transport
Disaster Transport is an enclosed steel bobsled roller coaster located at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. The name of the ride stems from "Dispatch Master Transport", a name which was initially explained during a pre-ride show that has since been removed...
stands today. Jumbo Jet was known for its views of Lake Erie
Lake Erie
Lake Erie is the fourth largest lake of the five Great Lakes in North America, and the tenth largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also has the shortest average water residence time. It is bounded on the north by the...
and steeply banked turns (some at up to 70 degrees). While at Cedar Point, Jumbo Jet carried between 1.6 and 1.8 million passengers every year. Jumbo Jet was finally replaced in 1979 by the new WildCat
WildCat (Cedar Point)
WildCat, designed by Anton Schwarzkopf, is a roller coaster located at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. It is an Anton Schwarzkopf Wildcat model where small cars take many tight turns and small hills that produce negative g-forces as well as strong lateral forces...
coaster. Although Jumbo Jet was only at Cedar Point for a total of 6 years, the coaster subsequently moved to a large number of different amusement parks, including Palace Playland
Palace Playland
Palace Playland is a seasonal amusement park located in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. It has operated on the same site since 1902.-History:In the 1900s, Palace Playland's startup decade, the then-small amusement park centered on a roller skating rink and adjacent merry-go-round...
in Old Orchard Beach
Old Orchard Beach, Maine
Old Orchard Beach is a town and census-designated place in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 8,856 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
; Malmö Folkets Park in Malmö
Malmö
Malmö , in the southernmost province of Scania, is the third most populous city in Sweden, after Stockholm and Gothenburg.Malmö is the seat of Malmö Municipality and the capital of Skåne County...
, Skåne, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
; Beoland in Nizhny Novgorod
Nizhny Novgorod
Nizhny Novgorod , colloquially shortened to Nizhny, is, with the population of 1,250,615, the fifth largest city in Russia, ranking after Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, and Yekaterinburg...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
; and finally Dreamland in Minsk
Minsk
- Ecological situation :The ecological situation is monitored by Republican Center of Radioactive and Environmental Control .During 2003–2008 the overall weight of contaminants increased from 186,000 to 247,400 tons. The change of gas as industrial fuel to mazut for financial reasons has worsened...
, Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
.