The Official Sky Rocket 2010 Coaster Discussion thread

It's official. Kennywood is getting a new coaster for 2010:
http://www.palaceentertainment.com/kennywood/NEWfor2010.html

Here are some key facts:
- 50 mph launch
- 95 foot top hat
- inverted top hat
-barrel roll
- twist up to an MCBR
-second drop
- highly banked fan curve
- corkscrew
- zero gravity hill
- a series of wave turns
- returns to the station

The Turnpike will close August 16, 2009, but will return in the future in Kennywood-style at a different location in the park.
Here's the press release:
http://www.kennywood.com/docs/KennywoodCoasterRelease081209.pdf

This sounds like Kennywood is trying to build a remake of Maverick at CP. The coaster will be manufactured by Premier Rides which sounds interesting since they haven't built a new launched coaster lately that I know of.

The name hasn't been announced yet either, but more info is expected to be released in the coming weeks.

Update:
Somone at TPR has posted two videos of the park's press confrence and a POV of the Turnpike.
There's also news of where the station and queue will be. It seems the station will be built near the Gran Prix bumper cars causing a path to be removed and it would need to go over the park entrance tunnel. Luckly the are won't loose too many trees.
http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=40437&start=350
I wish I could see the drawings on how everything will work and be laid out. .
Here's a NL rendering of the coaster made by a member:

The coaster supposedly will hold you at the top of the top hat for a few seconds before you drop 90 degrees.

Yesterday was the last day of operation for the Turnpike and now you know what this means! Break out the jackhammer, shovels, and construction walls, time to build a coaster! lol. Thankfully they plan on bringing the ride back in the future.

Word has it that most of the center rails have been removed and are going to be scrapped. The cars will be kept and when they rebuild the Turnpike they will buy a new center rail.

After seeing animations and pictures this looks awsome! This looks like you get a lot of bang for your buck and this is what Kennywood needs.

That looks like a good ride. Can't wait until they release the name! Too bad they didn't go with Intamin to do more of a Maverick-style of a ride. Maverick was really worth the ride all the way when I rode it.

It looks like it would be a good ride. My only problem with it is that it looks like it has low capacidy. It is also placed in the historical part of Kennywood that I dont think that they should be messing around with. Again, it looks like it would be a good ride, but not right for Kennywood.

At least they are going to preserve some trees in this project. I also kind of felt like the park needed a brand new steel coaster to make it a mix of old and new rides.

We now have a name...
In 2010 get ready for...

Decent name, but I just wish the track was a little more curvy and the top hat to look like one.
Here are some photos taken by someone over at KPConnection:






Looks like terraforming the land and pouring footers is next.

The name isnt that impressive, but its ok. I wonder if they plan on theming it at all. They have another space themed ride, Cosmic Chaos, that they did a good job theming.

I know we already knew the name of Kennywoods new coaster. I found out yesterday that the park officially annouced it.
http://www.vindy.com/news/2009/dec/10/kennywood-unveils-coaster-name/

Word has it that since Phantom's re-tracking is finished, work is supposed to restart on Sky Rocket. At this point, it seems like it might not open until the middle or end of the 2010 season.

Check out Screamscape for some pictures of the Sky Rocket track on site.

I was out in the Pittsburgh area on Friday and along the turnpike I saw a billboard advertising Sky Rocket. I've also heard that vertical construction could start as early as this week.

According to another site (KPConnection) vertical construction has started.

From what I saw from the pictures, it seems like the section that have added is the part right after the corkscrew.

I heard that Sky Rocket will be opening in June.

Any idea when in June?? I haven't seen or heard anything in a while I'm anxious to see this thing running!

^I've heard that they got the trains a few weeks ago, but I haven't heard any word on testing. Most likely it will open towards the end of the month.

Better late then never! With the Intimidators this coaster has honestly been wayyy under the radar, but I think it's the most unique looking coaster coming out in the states this year and will give an awesome ride!

https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=581708734222&comments

Link to a POV of Sky Rocket! Looks like a nice addition to the park.

what a sweet looking ride this is, definitely excited to hear reviews once it's finally open, its such a unique layout and the transitions between elements look solid and smooth, Kennywood is definitely back on the radar with this one!

For anyone who has missed it, Sky Rocket is now open.

Old news....I've already heard about it at various places.

Kenny wood is an old park. They dont realy put anything big or extremly huge in. This coaster looks like something I would ride.