I used to love these Nat Geo shows about roller coasters! As a kid these got me super interested in coasters and I remember having a goal to ride all the different "types" ie: inverted, suspended, floorless etc
Thanks for posting this. Considering everything going on with the Internet Archive, you never know how long access will exist for media classics like this. Appreciate you helping decentralize history!
National Geographic: talks about top fuel dragsters * shows an F1 car instead Quite the historical gem of a video, showing how one of the all-time greatest coasters was built.
This shows how difficult constructing and engineering a roller coaster can be. Especially ones like Kingda Ka, which is super high off the ground and is very complex in terms of the technology.
You’re scaring me with all the kingda ka post’s. Literally going to book a trip next summer. I’ve changed all my plans around. I hope the ride stays around.
this unlocked A MEMORY WOW thank you. I distinctly remember as a kid, watching this video made me realise how much engineering and planning goes into making rollercoasters. I was already a thoosie back then but I wasn't really interested in the whole building process of it until this video (and the other video natgeo did for formula rossa)
I watched this documentary religiously growing up. It took 17 years for me to finally ride in 2022. Walking through the golden kingdom and walking up to it felt like dream. While it’s not my favorite coaster ive never been more satisfied after a ride on a coaster that this one. It was a long awaited childhood wish and sometimes it’s hard for me to believe it actually happened. I went through so many emotions on that launch track for the first to waiting to go then it was all a blur😂
Yeah I saw that too. I guess they didn't know that Six Flags can, and will, use the same name and theme for as many coasters as they can. But like, did they run this whole documentary by approximately zero (0) professionals in the field? Rocket coasters???
They also say Top Thrill Dragster is "the closest thing on wheels to a real top fuel dragster." Then they immediately show an open wheel race car (possibly an F1 car but I'm not 100% sure). Also the closest thing on wheels to a top fuel dragster is probably a top fuel dragster considering they have wheels...
"This is Ground Zero of the coaster wars" I thought that was at Magnum at Cedar Point? Speaking of which, wow, there's a lot of old Cedar Point footage in this documentary, especially for one that has nothing to do with Cedar Point.
The innovation of coasters in the early 2000s was unreal. Intamin really was out of their minds. Inspired so many like new Vekoma and RMC. I was spoiled to grow up in an era where these rides were the big new thing, felt like the future of coasters would be incredible… bring back the coaster wars!!
Sadly, with so many regional parks under one brand and so few that have direct competition, the coaster wars will likely never return, at least not in our lifetime. I expect innovation to continue and the occasional mega-coaster to be built, but it won't be as rapid or frequent as what we saw during the coaster war era.
I remember watching this documentary as a kid. Crazy that they even showed this documentary in Finland but it really sparked my interest to ride it one day. 240p gang!
At this point kingda ka has operated in this configuration for 19 seasons, which is one more than top thrill dragster in its original configuration, it will be interesting to see what rumors end up being true about this ride. It’s also so bizarre to see great American scream machine in the foreground though
Crazy enough, I haven't been back since the park looked like this, so this is my most current memory of how the park looks. Believe it or not, GASM was actually one of my favorite rides in the park! I liked it more than all the B&M's, except maybe Nitro. I probably would have loved the Chiller, but I visited on one of the many days that Chiller was not operating either side.
I think they might need more speed but less power if that makes sense. The launch system needs more power to launch a full train up to the same speed as a empty one, but empty ones need a little more speed
I still don't understand how that works... Correction... maybe something to do with momentum... and the way max force from rolling friction (which allows it to roll forwards) is linearly dependent upon weight. Edit: reread the above commwnt... this makes sense. Less weight means lower momentum... means it's easier to stop with wind. So need to go even faster than the 128 to launch an empty car.
@CoasterCam-k3x is Correct. it takes more power to bring a full train to speed. it requires noticeably less power to bring an empty train to speed, even if that speed is a bit higher. The higher speed in the empty train is required due to the lesser amount of inertia. With less inertia, the empty train will lose speed more quickly and be more likely to roll back.
Back in 2010, my mom was skeptical on how safe Kingda Ka was since it was so tall and fast so she thought it was hastily built like those fairground rollercoasters. She didn't know it was built and tested vigorously and was standing through all the rainstorms and snowstorms. We felt the engineer's success and failure as if we were one of them.
I actually remember seeing this documentary before. It’s good stuff but I think we all know why you posted this. The tower needs to stay at all costs to keep it short. Ka has been rolling back a lot recently and I don’t know if that has anything to do with the rumored closing. Like them not maintaining it well enough.
Gonna miss this legendary ride. I first rode this ride back in 2010 when I was getting into roller coasters. My second time was in 2016, and my third and last ride was in 2022. I wish I could experience this legend one last time before the day of its retirement, that in which I believed wouldn’t be for another 10 years, but here we are. I really do hope that whatever the new Six Flags replaces it with in 2026, they stay true to their word in it being a record-breaking launch coaster. Hopefully one that is taller and faster, and much longer as well, seeing as Green Lantern is also going to get axed (hopefully not scrapped though, I’m hoping they relocate it to another park and convert it into a floorless).
3:09 So like... how does this mistake even happen? Did they have a collection of stock footage and search "Superman"? Like thats obviosly not Superman: The Escape. Its one of the Ultimate Flights.
Yo bro , we need a problematic video on voltron especially explaining the booster launch and what happens if another train doesnt clear a block zone in time and a train stops in the booster section of the ride
@@ElToroRyan see the thing is, cedar fair is still mad about six flags stealing the record. if dragster still had the hydro launch it wouldn’t be AS bad, it would still be terrible. and with formula rossa just doing nothing, kingda ka is the last man standing. cedar fair wants to make the six flags parks secondary attractions, and make the original cedar fair parks more popular, even though they would be losing money from the six flags parks. LEAVE OUR PARKS ALONE!!!!!!
I’ve never been on Kingda Ka, but it looks like a mighty impressive sight. I can’t imagine how fun it is to ride, and it would feel wrong if they just removed it one day.
I remember waiting for dial up to load the updated photos of King da ka as a new track piece was added. A few people were uploading to those vlog sites before facebook was a thing. Man I miss that train horn. Could hear it from across he park. =)
I got to ride it in 2007 during a school trip. fun, but way too short of a ride. even just 2 years after completion, the wear and tear were becoming evident; fading and chipping paint, rust stains. winters in NJ are tough on coasters.... 2007... i feel old now.
Even though el toro is my favorite roller coaster of all time next to steel vengeance Gonna miss ka man i love this coaster one of my favorites even though it's a short ride man this sucks and knowing it's gonna be gone forever is just gut wrenching
I understood that the cable slack/tension would be a problem in the beginning of testing but what did the catch have to do with keeping the cars from cresting the top? Ryan, did you pick up the reason from the documentary? They just blew by that section of issues ... very interesting doc regardless, thanks!
Wdym they didn't discuss what a block zone is? My disappointment is immeasurable.... and my day is ruined. In all seriousness, it's really interesting to see this brilliant documentary, thank you! I don't think this or a similar documentary about this coaster aired in germany, so it's the first time for me seeing this.
Millennium force is such a great coaster I have dorney park gold passes and can use it their since their both cedar fair love cedar point prob my fav park
I actually watched this episode on natural geographic 10 years ago it's 1 hour and 14 minutes and their is more about rollercoasters one episode is about formula rossa
Question was 2006 Six Flags Great Adventures best coaster year with El Toro, Kingda Ka, Nitro, Medusa, Batman and Robin the Chiller, Great American Scream Machine, Rollin Thunder and Batman the Rids staring in its lineup
I remember watching this religiously as a kid. It’s so surreal seeing Ryan post it now
I watched it religiously also!
I also have been watching this a lot since I first became an enthusiast at 7.
Same memory here, but in another country 😂 So happy to watch this again here thx Ryan!
Same in Germany. Maybe I still have the recording on VHS.
Love a good ElToroRyan documentary on a Tuesday afternoon
Edit: Wait Ryan isn't even in this 🤣
Sorry mang! Will have my own documentaries coming soon along with an update video on Kingda Ka!
@@ElToroRyan ayy lets go thats great to hear. I missed the: "A block zone is a..."
@@ElToroRyanmy baby ElToroRyan always comes thru
If that's him, his British accent is spot on. 🤣
@ElToroRyan when's the next problematic coaster video!? I love listing to them on long car rides
I used to love these Nat Geo shows about roller coasters! As a kid these got me super interested in coasters and I remember having a goal to ride all the different "types" ie: inverted, suspended, floorless etc
Thanks for posting this. Considering everything going on with the Internet Archive, you never know how long access will exist for media classics like this. Appreciate you helping decentralize history!
what's going on?
@@puggersss it crashed a few weeks ago
Watching this after riding Kingda Ka on (most likely) its final day. It was great seeing you there!
Long Live the King!!!
After nearly 20 years of marveling at this coaster, I finally got the chance to ride it this year. 12 times in two days. I got my flash pass worth!
I had this downloaded on my iPod nano, watched in literally hundreds of times as a kid. What a trip!
National Geographic: talks about top fuel dragsters
* shows an F1 car instead
Quite the historical gem of a video, showing how one of the all-time greatest coasters was built.
This shows how difficult constructing and engineering a roller coaster can be. Especially ones like Kingda Ka, which is super high off the ground and is very complex in terms of the technology.
Who needs sleep when you get to watch about coasters from ElToroRyan this is some top tire stuff 💪
you are saying the truth preach it fuck sleep coasters forever
You’re scaring me with all the kingda ka post’s. Literally going to book a trip next summer. I’ve changed all my plans around. I hope the ride stays around.
There were additional rumors saying this year could be the last year. I hope not, give a chance for people to get their last minute rides in
@@Jadenthemanthat’s for green lantern not kingda ka
Well, I got bad news for you..
@@coastingalong This didn't age well.
@@BBROPHOTO nope it did. those were two entirely separate rumors.
THIS! I feel like this documentary was a fever dream. Thanks for preserving this!
Dude, thank you so much for uploading this, I have it on an old VHS and I watched the heck out of it as a kid
Man the 2000’s theme parks and roller coaster videos and episodes were a time to be there
this unlocked A MEMORY WOW thank you.
I distinctly remember as a kid, watching this video made me realise how much engineering and planning goes into making rollercoasters. I was already a thoosie back then but I wasn't really interested in the whole building process of it until this video (and the other video natgeo did for formula rossa)
I watched this documentary religiously growing up. It took 17 years for me to finally ride in 2022. Walking through the golden kingdom and walking up to it felt like dream. While it’s not my favorite coaster ive never been more satisfied after a ride on a coaster that this one. It was a long awaited childhood wish and sometimes it’s hard for me to believe it actually happened. I went through so many emotions on that launch track for the first to waiting to go then it was all a blur😂
The Ka closing stunt to drive doc views slaps!
4:56 “It’s the closest thing on wheels to a real top fuel dragster”
*shows an F1 car*
I was looking for this comment.
It's a bit eerie though. How did they know 20 years ahead that Top Thrill 2's cars would be styled on F1s? Maybe they asked Zoltar.
“Closest thing to a real dragster” continues to show a indy car 4:57
This documentary is what got me interested in coasters when I was a little kid
This was an awesome watch, overly dramatic but great to see the work behind it. Thanks for posting
When I saw you posted a 45 minute video about Kingda Ka, I was really excited you made a 45 minute video about Kingda Ka... I'll watch it anyway
😂 I’ll have my own video on Ka out soon
I watched this so much as a kid
The forces and stresses this coaster develops are amazing.
LOL when they talk about superman the escape they show a superman flying coaster
Yeah I saw that too. I guess they didn't know that Six Flags can, and will, use the same name and theme for as many coasters as they can. But like, did they run this whole documentary by approximately zero (0) professionals in the field? Rocket coasters???
national geographic was like umm I don’t wanna go to California *looks around great adventure* huh this says Superman record it.
They also say Top Thrill Dragster is "the closest thing on wheels to a real top fuel dragster." Then they immediately show an open wheel race car (possibly an F1 car but I'm not 100% sure). Also the closest thing on wheels to a top fuel dragster is probably a top fuel dragster considering they have wheels...
@@frojo9 Ok, but I've heard the term "Rocket Coaster" used before.
also when they show “this empty plot of land” and kingda ka is visible in the background
I used to watch these Theme Park documentaries all the time as a kid.
RIP 2005-2024
I never got to ride it
I remember it was posted on UA-cam before by another channel but this upload is better quality
I had this on video tape when it broke when showing it to my class. Thank you for uploading.
I love how a majority of all roller coasters that they show are at cedar point
Kids will never understand searching through tv guides looking for anything coaster/ amusement park related as a kid.
Dude I literally just went to watch this yesterday😂 one of my all time favorite coaster docs
Love how they used the wrong Superman b roll when talking about breaking the speed record lol
Caught that too! Lol
I'm now trying to imagine a B&M flyer with the stats of Superman:EFC. Maybe keep the superman tower and use it for a swing launch on Tatsu?
"This is Ground Zero of the coaster wars"
I thought that was at Magnum at Cedar Point? Speaking of which, wow, there's a lot of old Cedar Point footage in this documentary, especially for one that has nothing to do with Cedar Point.
The innovation of coasters in the early 2000s was unreal. Intamin really was out of their minds. Inspired so many like new Vekoma and RMC. I was spoiled to grow up in an era where these rides were the big new thing, felt like the future of coasters would be incredible… bring back the coaster wars!!
Sadly, with so many regional parks under one brand and so few that have direct competition, the coaster wars will likely never return, at least not in our lifetime. I expect innovation to continue and the occasional mega-coaster to be built, but it won't be as rapid or frequent as what we saw during the coaster war era.
I really hope they have documentary crews like this out there filming Falcon's Flight
Ooo wish I could ride it again
I remember watching this documentary as a kid. Crazy that they even showed this documentary in Finland but it really sparked my interest to ride it one day. 240p gang!
At this point kingda ka has operated in this configuration for 19 seasons, which is one more than top thrill dragster in its original configuration, it will be interesting to see what rumors end up being true about this ride. It’s also so bizarre to see great American scream machine in the foreground though
it's also crazy to see Rolling Thunder as well in the video!
Crazy enough, I haven't been back since the park looked like this, so this is my most current memory of how the park looks. Believe it or not, GASM was actually one of my favorite rides in the park! I liked it more than all the B&M's, except maybe Nitro. I probably would have loved the Chiller, but I visited on one of the many days that Chiller was not operating either side.
Who is watching in 2024 hearing that it most likely will be gone next year 😢 I had seriously planned a trip from Denmark with my son 🇩🇰
Omg, thank you for posting this!
Wow, this documentary is wrong at 34:30. I learned from this channel that empty trains need more power instead of fully loaded ones.
I think they might need more speed but less power if that makes sense. The launch system needs more power to launch a full train up to the same speed as a empty one, but empty ones need a little more speed
I still don't understand how that works...
Correction... maybe something to do with momentum... and the way max force from rolling friction (which allows it to roll forwards) is linearly dependent upon weight.
Edit: reread the above commwnt... this makes sense. Less weight means lower momentum... means it's easier to stop with wind. So need to go even faster than the 128 to launch an empty car.
@@DBI2000 yeah
@CoasterCam-k3x is Correct. it takes more power to bring a full train to speed. it requires noticeably less power to bring an empty train to speed, even if that speed is a bit higher. The higher speed in the empty train is required due to the lesser amount of inertia. With less inertia, the empty train will lose speed more quickly and be more likely to roll back.
Back in 2010, my mom was skeptical on how safe Kingda Ka was since it was so tall and fast so she thought it was hastily built like those fairground rollercoasters. She didn't know it was built and tested vigorously and was standing through all the rainstorms and snowstorms. We felt the engineer's success and failure as if we were one of them.
I actually remember seeing this documentary before. It’s good stuff but I think we all know why you posted this. The tower needs to stay at all costs to keep it short. Ka has been rolling back a lot recently and I don’t know if that has anything to do with the rumored closing. Like them not maintaining it well enough.
This is like when the teacher puts on bill nye instead of giving the lesson for the day 😂
I love how they showed the wrong superman
Man that classic horn, sucks they took it away. They should bring it back for it's last hurrah if rumors are true.
Gonna miss this legendary ride. I first rode this ride back in 2010 when I was getting into roller coasters. My second time was in 2016, and my third and last ride was in 2022. I wish I could experience this legend one last time before the day of its retirement, that in which I believed wouldn’t be for another 10 years, but here we are.
I really do hope that whatever the new Six Flags replaces it with in 2026, they stay true to their word in it being a record-breaking launch coaster. Hopefully one that is taller and faster, and much longer as well, seeing as Green Lantern is also going to get axed (hopefully not scrapped though, I’m hoping they relocate it to another park and convert it into a floorless).
I love grainy footage of these old shows
3:09 So like... how does this mistake even happen? Did they have a collection of stock footage and search "Superman"? Like thats obviosly not Superman: The Escape. Its one of the Ultimate Flights.
Yeah, that really confused me...
This makes me miss working coasters so much 💙 I loved the rides, hated the guests sometimes though 😅
Yo bro , we need a problematic video on voltron especially explaining the booster launch and what happens if another train doesnt clear a block zone in time and a train stops in the booster section of the ride
hope they don’t remove it.
Me too mang!
@@ElToroRyan see the thing is, cedar fair is still mad about six flags stealing the record. if dragster still had the hydro launch it wouldn’t be AS bad, it would still be terrible. and with formula rossa just doing nothing, kingda ka is the last man standing. cedar fair wants to make the six flags parks secondary attractions, and make the original cedar fair parks more popular, even though they would be losing money from the six flags parks. LEAVE OUR PARKS ALONE!!!!!!
@@NWPhillyWXi honestly doubt cedar fair cares that much
@@stevenywunfortunately they do
Rocket coaster? Is that a thing??
Man, I loved watching this years ago
20:11 Alton Towers reference lol
"Their nemesis returns with a vengence" wow that sounds familiar
criminally underrated comment
"Rocket Coaster" is a perfect name for these things, I think it should catch on.
I’ve never been on Kingda Ka, but it looks like a mighty impressive sight. I can’t imagine how fun it is to ride, and it would feel wrong if they just removed it one day.
Well they are removing it now...
Rip ka
I remember waiting for dial up to load the updated photos of King da ka as a new track piece was added. A few people were uploading to those vlog sites before facebook was a thing. Man I miss that train horn. Could hear it from across he park. =)
Now just put this in reverse so it’s accurate to real life
This better be staying for a long time
Oh yeah, this getting posted is definitely foreshadowing to the imminent announcement of the removal of Ka 😅
20:10 Nemesis back with a vengeance?! Alton Towers didn’t make that slogan, SFGAdv did!
I got to ride it in 2007 during a school trip. fun, but way too short of a ride. even just 2 years after completion, the wear and tear were becoming evident; fading and chipping paint, rust stains. winters in NJ are tough on coasters.... 2007... i feel old now.
now its one of the most popular rides EVER...
Probably a reason Intamin discontinued the accelerator model
You know, some people say it’s was a horrendous winter that year. It’s as if Lake Erie herself was angry at Dragsters record being taken.
Even though el toro is my favorite roller coaster of all time next to steel vengeance Gonna miss ka man i love this coaster one of my favorites even though it's a short ride man this sucks and knowing it's gonna be gone forever is just gut wrenching
@1:07 its already there
i will miss you kinda ka
thats crazy bro just put a whole ass national geographic documentary
Back then Kieran Burke was a mad mang
please edit in an explanation of block zones im so confused and lost without one
my vision is fading and i can only be brought back with block diagrams
I have e learning today, it’s going to be a good day.
need that awesome eye of the tiger remix in the problematic coasters video!
I can’t believe how it’s so complex
I'm too serious to enjoy this video!
I just can’t believe you just posted it… I love you, here’s a hug 🫂❤️
You find this on VHS?
Do remember on national geographic , they sure want to searches thing apart
I understood that the cable slack/tension would be a problem in the beginning of testing but what did the catch have to do with keeping the cars from cresting the top? Ryan, did you pick up the reason from the documentary? They just blew by that section of issues ... very interesting doc regardless, thanks!
Never rode king da ka Canadas Wonderland is my home park
At the time of posting, there are only 28 shopping days until Christmas
I’m scared that he’s posting so much about king da ka recently 😅
“Will there 25 million dollar gamble pay off?”
Well, considering how deep in debt six flags was in at the time, no
10 minutes in I realize this is not an intro to a video and it’s just straight up the FULL modern marvels or whatever how it’s made show lol
Wdym they didn't discuss what a block zone is? My disappointment is immeasurable.... and my day is ruined.
In all seriousness, it's really interesting to see this brilliant documentary, thank you! I don't think this or a similar documentary about this coaster aired in germany, so it's the first time for me seeing this.
Millennium force is such a great coaster I have dorney park gold passes and can use it their since their both cedar fair love cedar point prob my fav park
Irony that I'm watching this when that coaster was retired.
I actually watched this episode on natural geographic 10 years ago it's 1 hour and 14 minutes and their is more about rollercoasters one episode is about formula rossa
I guess Superman ultimate filght was once the worlds talest coaster structure 😂
Was my first coaster in states so am saddened by its removal.
Question was 2006 Six Flags Great Adventures best coaster year with El Toro, Kingda Ka, Nitro, Medusa, Batman and Robin the Chiller, Great American Scream Machine, Rollin Thunder and Batman the Rids staring in its lineup
3:09
7-yr old me was screaming at the TV like THATS NOT THE RIGHT COASTERRRRR
Yo can you find the Tatsu one at SFMM? I still remember watching it in middle school!
Everyone write this down so we can build ka in our backyards
You know what would be cool? If the replacement for Kingda Ka and Green Lantern is an American version of Formula Rossa.
so what was wrong with the catch car, they kinda glossed over that
Ah hey Ryan you owe us the explanation of what a "Block System" is
We need to hunt down the American English version. I wish it was on some sort of digital store or steaming service.
Where's the block zones speech. WHERE IS IT?