The Troubled History of Hypersonic XLC: The Failed S&S Air Powered Prototype | Expedition Extinct
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- Опубліковано 29 сер 2024
- Join us on a new Expedition Extinct looking at Thrust Air 2000 and the S&S record breaking coaster Hypersonic XLC. Located a Kings Dominion, this Paramount attraction opened in 2001 and suffered many issues over its years, leaving it to be closed and scrapped just a few years later.
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Credits -
Special thanks to / paramount_parks
Looping Lee - • Kings Dominion theme p...
Coaster Jeff - • Hypersonic XLC at Para...
Sean Flaharty - • Demon Drop - Cedar Poi...
Menachem Piekarski - • hellevator six flags k...
lalo navarro - • REINO AVENTURA '96
MrRToni - • 1996 - Big Shot in Las...
Flying Elvi - • Flying Elvi Stratosphe...
Menachem Piekarski - • 1996 video detonator w...
Themeparkfanatic - • Dr Doom's Fearfall
Theme Park Overload - • Turbo Drop (HD POV) Bu...
themaxx69 - • turbo drop Primm, NV (...
Themeparkfanatic - • Power Tower at Cedar P...
talen crandall - • Video \
Sean Flaharty - • Video
JED LEA - • Paramount's Great Amer...
Kevin Hulme - • Dateline NBC - Stealth...
Coaster Jeff - • Hypersonic XLC at Para...
dvdmc7 - • King's Dominion - May ...
cOASTER jEFF - • Hypersonic XLC at King...
Reggie Duke - • Kings Dominion 2007
Theme Park Review - / themeparkreview
#expeditionthemepark #rollercoaster #kingsdominion
Follow me on Instagram to get sneak peaks of the next Expedition? Will Lance be back! instagram.com/expeditionthemepark
What expedition do you want to see?
Geauga lake (I know I already asked I’m just looking for an update on the video)
Shockwave at six flags great America
Tomb raider the ride at kings island just waiting for an update
Wipeout the world's first vekoma waikiki wave super flip at dreamword Australia
@@BYTEXX. I have students that live in Aurora. Don't know if you've been there, but the town is a shell of itsself now.
“Lance” is the best recurring bit on UA-cam.
He controls where he appears
😂😂😂😂
@@ExpeditionThemePark I read that in your voice lol
What is the back story on that?
Sam's playing the greatest hits in this video: Desperado AND Face/Off, all in one expedition!
Aha it's true 😁
@@ExpeditionThemePark more face/off please! i forget what video it was, i think your son of beast video, but the face/off jokes in that video are what made me decide to subscribe to your channel. keep it up bro
The same pun TWICE
Desperado AND Face Off
It's gonna be interesting to see how the young man tops that
And the concern has to be that he's peaked too soon and he'll burn himself out
idk why but "Playstation: THE RIDE" is one of the funniest things I've seen all day
I lol’d too
Playstation: The Ride is now sponsered by Tango Drinks and is now called the Tango: Ice Blast
I don’t think I ever want to “feel like my skin is going to rip off my face.”
right?!
Absolutely wild they included that in promo material.
You're single-handedly the biggest force on UA-cam for a specific thing. You're the best at converting the GP, who would never otherwise think about roller coasters, into enthusiasts. These videos spark curiosity like crazy. You lure them in with an interesting documentary, and those same people are on /r/rollercoasters three months later talking about their favorite Schwarzkopf after watching an ElToroRyan video on the topic.
This series is a perfect segue to convert an average UA-cam viewer into one of us. You're doing a good thing for the coaster community, man. Thank you!
Thank you that means alot. I try and make my videos accessable to all and not just enthusiasts!
Back in 2003 when I was a kid we went to King's Dominion, and I remember being too afraid to ride this, the Volcano Blast coaster, and the Anaconda. I still remember these and any video that brings them up is a funny mix of nostalgia and frustration.
YES!!! 2 appearances by Lance in one video!!! How can anyone dislike this!!!
If I can link him in some way to a video, Lance will make an appearance!
I can remember as a kid, being there the year it opened, watching the ride being tested all day, and my brother suddenly saying "There's people on it!" We ran so fast to get to ride it. I can remember the line being 3 hours long and we felt lucky we only waited 90 minutes. It was nothing I had experienced before.
This is one of those coasters that NEEDS a redo.
MaxForce was kinda a modern version of it
@@ExpeditionThemePark I hope more rides like Maxx come along. I preferred that launch on Maxx's to Dragster's, just because of its more violent acceleration. Most launches just don't feel the same after that.
I was fortunate enough to ride this coaster. I remember it fondly as I rode it with one of my best friends, Stevie, for the first time. He unfortunately passed away in 2020 but these sort of memories make me grateful for all the times we had.
4:28 the official running gag of ETP and Hypersonic is one of my most cherished credits i have obtained.
Glad you got to ride it! Lance controls when he appears not me.
It's definitely my most cherished defunct credit - so I'm right there with you.
The launch was incredible - while MaxxForce is similar by the numbers I remember Hypersonic's as being more sudden and violent. The tower was also excellent - still haven't found a top hat that gives quite the same sensation.
Unfortunately I remember the transitions into and out of each turn to be brutally rough. Thank god it had lapbars and not the OTSRs from the space shots - because the headbanging would've caused concussions. Just watch people's heads in the transitions in the video - it's pretty obvious.
Makes me hope and pray that Do-dodonpa will continue to operate. The S&S Axis is coming out...but it's not the same. I really hope someone from S&S revives this stellar idea of a coaster.
I imagine so with it redone not so long ago!
@@ExpeditionThemePark Though it doesn’t ride the same without the top hat. We do get a great trade off though, the speed being increased due to the loop.
Same thing with 4D coasters and Eejenaika
Do-dodonpa is no more.
Do-dodonpa is forever gone
You did it. You made a vid with both references to Face/Off and Desperado. You total mad lad.
it has been a goal of mine for some time! :P
Another great video! I really enjoyed the first version of Hypersonic. The "updated" version with the different trains wasn't as fun in my opinion.
Thanks Sean!
Sean,
Did Hypersonic XLC ever have any rollbacks?
@@Jason_Maier yes it did
@@Jason_Maier there were many of them I operated the ride until it closed, it was an absolute maintenance nightmare, me and the workers in the station would make bets and I lost some but mostly won them as I knew much more about the coaster than they did.
Sometimes the gamble on new rides doesn't pay off - Laughs in Kennywood
too real
Hypersonic XLC was an Super Underrated launching roller coaster from S&S when it first opened in 2001. Sadly it shut down in 2007 due to technical difficulties, but still very underrated roller coaster from the 2000s though.
A great launch
RCT music takes me back ;)
great music isn't it?
Ive been meaning to learn way more about the XLC
now I can have all the knowledge I need in one video, thanks
thanks for watching!
I'm so glad I picked up this credit back in college while it still existed. It was a short ride, but that launch was absolutely wild.
"Playstation the Ride" may be the laziest ride/product tie in I've ever seen.
Last time I went there it was know as Tango Ice Blast and now known as just Ice Blast
I love everything you cover. I will never stop giving at least a chuckle to the Desperado "escape" sequence in every video. Don't stop.
Immediate like for mentioning Reino Aventura. I always thought Cornelio (its mascot) was our very own Figment.
I would like to cover more on it!
@@ExpeditionThemePark I might have some footage from '94 or '95. I'll have a look for old tapes in my parents' house.
I am glad to say that I have this credit!! I rode it on it's opening year! Also glad I got Volcano too because 2001 was the only time I visited Kings Dominion! I need to go back!
You visited at a good time!
Okay but that advert with the stomach in the mouth was amazing haha!!
I definitely thought the anatomy picture was a weird Facebook ad. I got confused when the skip ad option didn't pop up. Love the videos!
Thank you for watching!
Fun fact! One of my close friends went on this during its first month of operation BEFORE they installed padding on the shin guards, causing him to get off the ride with massive cuts on his legs!
Ouch!
A friend of mine at school was a child actor and played the role of John Travolta’s kid who gets shot in the head at the beginning of Face/Off. He had a lot of fun filming that.
That's amazing haha does he still act
I just watched Face/Off this morning
@@ExpeditionThemePark He doesn’t act anymore. He’s in a phd program now.
Travolta was filming in Baltimore once (pretty sure it was Ladder 49). I went to dinner with my wife at a steakhouse and on the way out he was walking in. I said "Good evening Mr. Travolta" and he replied the same kindly. As we walked away my wife says "do you work with him."
@@ExpeditionThemePark Travolta? Not much, and only in B-level films.
You should do some historical stuff covering Silver Dollar City in Missouri or Sliver Dollar City Tennessee (aka modern day “Dollywood”).
I will
The S&S drop towers that take you up slow, pause, then shoot you down are the BEST. Much better than the ones that launch up. Also S&S swings are awesome.
I like the Roller Coaster Tycoon 3 musik in the background at the beginning, brings back so many memories
the best !
@@ExpeditionThemePark if you ever need help with german names or some translations from german things feel free to hit me up :)
HYPERSONIC AND SON OF BEAST WERE BOTH AWESOME RIDES.
I MISS BOTH OF THEM ALOT.
GREAT VID BRAH.
thank you!
The fact that you got “Lance” in their us honestly impressive. Great video as always.
haha thank you
One of the best part of Sunday’s!
Thank you!
I rode Hypersonic in 2002, and once was enough. The launch was pretty amazing and the airtime at the top of the hill was intense. But the trip back to the station was really uncomfortable. They never should have used pneumatic tires. The car would bounce through the entire route, as if it had octagonal wheels. If they had used large-diameter solid tires, I bet the ride would have been much more stable and comfortable.
Something they should have changed if they didn't purchase the prototype directly from S & S I imagine.
I hated that they lost the Wayne’s World section of King’s Dominion. The donut shop, the Hurler, the music shop; all bangers. I miss it. ☹️
My favorite coaster there from memory is still the Flight of Fear. Volcano is great, but the Outer Limits just has a better atmosphere overall.
I miss that area too.
It is a shame that it was replaced
Yeah I really miss it too
The hurler was turned into twisted Timbers and it’s one of my all time favorite rides now. That thing is sick and zooming in and out of the old hurler track is crazy nostalgic
Always so much fun to see how you work good old Lance into the video!😂
This coaster still stands out in my mind till this day. I miss it so much but was glad I was able to experience it first hand. Thanks for posting this. :)
Kings Dominion was my "local park." (Well, Six Flags America was closer, but given that working there was one of my first jobs, I didn't want to spend a day off there.) I remember when XLC opened. I was stoked. My first trip to KD after it opened was a bust as it was down. On my second trip it started out working, but after waiting over 90 minutes they shut it down for the day. Third time was the charm! I LOVED that crush of the launch. I was there on a day that wasn't too crowded and was able to ride it several times. The ride in the front seat was such a rush. Don't get me started about Volcano - the most underrated coaster of all time.
Every time I hear that a park buys a "first of its kind prototype" to save money, I just have to laugh. I have seen too many of these prototype horror stories. I do wonder though is they struck a deal with S&S with a maintenance contract to help cover the cost of working out the kinks in S&S's new design.
I rode this coaster back in 2001, it was the third rollercoaster I'd ever been on in my life, and I really think it's the reason I love rollercoasters now! I'm so sad it's gone, but it's impression hasn't been lost!
Once again, fantastic work my friend. Cheers 🍻
This was my second or third ever launch coaster. First I think was rock n roll at Disney world and then volcano at this same park(RIP). This ride was really really fun.
I got on Volcano the last weekend it took guests
Some good first launch coasters you have there!
Stunning
Absolutely stunning
The same pun TWICE in the same EPISODE
Ambassador, with these Ferrero Roche of puns you're really spoiling us 😂
You said a Kings Dominion video was coming and you didn't disappoint!
Gosh. I remember riding this when it first opened. Good memories.
My dream came true today! I always hoped one Sunday I'd see this was the coaster covered on your channel. Loved it! great video!
Thank you!
Proud to say that I've ridden this ride twice during my two vacations to KD. Made an impact on my young coaster days...as evident in my user name.
I adored this coaster. I rode it multiple times when I was in middle school.
Can’t wait to watch because I know it’s going to be good!!!!
Hope you enjoy!
@@ExpeditionThemePark just finished and I sure did!!!
Yo u just saved my sunday, always wanted a ETP video on the Hypersonic XLC, tks mate keep the great job!
Greetings from Brasília, Brazil
Hello in Brazil! Hope you enjoy it!
When I was 14 I rode on this with my dad maybe 7 or 8 times. We stopped going on it because even if you put your head all the way back in the headrest you'd still get banged around against the padding. The video mentioned the big woosh sound of the launch, but didn't show the giant plumes of air that shot out of those tanks right before you launched. It sucked to get stuck on the launch for 5-10 mins sometimes before it launched, now I know it was because of the weight calculation. Good memories. Flight of Fear and Volcano were some of my all time favorites.
I'm really thankful I was able to ride Hypersonic XLC back in the day. I305 is the most intense coaster I have been on but Hypersonic had the most intense element and something nobody talks about is if you were sitting on the right side of the train you couldn't hear the air building up or see the stoplight so you had not idea when you were taking off.
I was able to ride this exactly once in 2007. Hell of a ride and a concept, sad that it was plagued by so many issues
glad you got to ride it!
What a great ride. I was so disappointed when they closed it. I don’t remember experiencing any downtime, and I rode it several times.
Yeah a real shame. That launch
So glad Lance made an appearance in this video!
Stan Checkettes is a SERIOUSLY INTERESTING human being and I am glad he is around innovating very INTERESTING ideas!
Agreed
I remember riding that prototype model back when it was testing in Logan. Always wondered what happened to it. Stan's a madman. While he was in some battle with the city council over some permits he said "I could drive down Main Street throwing hundred dollar bills out my window and someone would complain"
That old Demon Drop footage from Cedar Point hit me hard in the Nostalgia.
That was fun.
Hyper Sonic looks awesome, it is a ride I with I could experience for that airtime over the top hat. Like always, I get tons of great information of new rides from your videos.
Thank you for watching!
Can I just say I love the RCT3 music you often use haha! Or the other RCT games
King's Dominion is my home park! I remember seeing this when I went to the first time when my grandparents and I moved in 2006 to Virginia. It must've been around 2007 or 2008 when I saw that type of coaster. I wasn't at the height requirement for it, but seeing it next to Hurler (Twisted Timbers) and Ricochet (Apple Zapple) was very interesting
Kings Dominion added a launched coaster (King Kobra) in the first year of their existence back in 1977. Then, like you mentioned, along with Hypersonic, they had the legendary Volcano, Flight of Fear, AND Backlot Stunt Coaster!
A great selection of coasters that was
I didn't expect so many in-jokes in an amusement park video, but I love it. Even if I don't quite understand where Lance came from.
Just know Lance will always be there if he can be!
I was lucky enough to have ridden this ride a few times and for the most part I liked it. Going over that top hat was a little jerky but still a great ride. I really miss when KD was Paramounts KD. If I may show my age for a bit I also miss when Kings Dominion featured Hanna Barbera characters back in the 80s and was featured in the thriller movie "Rollercoaster"!... Yeah I'm kinda old lol
I am yet to see that movie but keep meaning to get a copy to watch
Yo Smurf Mountain was Awesome!!
@@VADallasCowboysFan so was the haunted river and time shaft👍
I loved hypersonic and still miss it in 2022
I've never clicked on a video so fast. This is the first roller coaster I ever rode.
thanks for watching Taylor
Big up my boi Lance!
That launch was everything, but there was so much speed coming off the top hat that you felt it could’ve last longer. And the brakes were obnoxiously loud.
lovin the steel drum groove in the back
yesss
I went to Worlds of Fun several times in the summer of 1996. I recall walking past the Detonator and the sound of the air as the cars would come down. I honestly expected a proper sonic boom out of something like that, but I don't recall feeling one. I didn't know however that it was a brand new thing or the first in the US. If any of the commercials focused on that, they weren't on during the Olympics. Sometimes it seem like if it wasn't the Timber Wolf, it wasn't worth putting in a commercial.
That drag race coaster looks pretty rad because well drag racing, but Old Town sure ain't like it was when I went there as a kid.
Great to learn about this coaster! Keep up the good work
Thank you so much for watching!
Expedition Theme Park: with Lance Burton!
he controls when he appears.
I would love to have ridden this. I have never ridden on a top hat like this before. Most are set perpendicular to the track, so they act also like turn around. Plus that launch! ❤️
The launch on this coaster was incredible.
it was the best!
Hell's yea
another great one! thanks!
Thank you for watching!
great video ETP
Thanks!
Kings Dominion is my second home park behind Busch Gardens Williamsburg... Hypersonic XLC was an awesome ride... They just rolled it out to quickly. Kings Dominion is in much better hands with Cedar Fair...
I rode this after it opened, amazing. I went back years later.. so painful and jarring.
Lol between Lance and the Darren brown you always have me dying
haha thank you
What's the opening intro tune from....
So catchy?
PlayStation: the ride lmfao
my first drop tower! That is me on it in the video.
@@ExpeditionThemePark wow!!
When you drop, the PS2 startup sound plays
**intense fear**
I had no plans to watch your Son of Beast video until I saw this one. So thanks. 😝🍍
S&S is my college town company!
Go Aggies
@@LockeDemosthenes2 yeah!
Hey another great video Sam i love it
thanks for watching Curtis
"Let's install a coaster launched by compressed air in hot, humid central Virginia." Anyone with a basic knowledge of compressed air technology knew this one aspect was going to be a problem from the start and a big reason for the up/down cycle that would last for days at a time. I'm glad I was writing for a roller coaster website at the time and got in on media day, it was a rare occasion where the line was short enough to get on during the times it was running consistently. Even when it was running through the day, capacity was terrible, at best it was under 1000 per hour with two launches per minute. I worked at KD during Halloween for a few seasons, by the time we had cleared out our queue and started walking back to our dressing room, maintenance had already descended on Hypersonic to weld on the structure most every night. The prototype was nothing more than a proof of concept, it was not designed for repeated cycling for weeks at a time. Great concept, but wrong place, wrong park, and they shouldn't have bought the prototype. This was Paramount management at its worst going for a big splash, rather than something reliable with huge throughput.
What I remember most about this ride is the crashing sounds into the brake run that it always made. It sounded like a car accident, every time. Fast and fun launch, but the top hat was so tight, you didn’t really get to enjoy the view, and it didn’t really do anything else with the speed. It’s on the pile of other bad Paramount decisions, like Flying Super Saturator, Tomb Raider The Ride, Stealth, etc.
I got to ride it, launch was crazy, but the whole ride was done in under 20 seconds. I always thought they sold it off but didn't realize they scrapped it
Keep up the great videos
Thanks for watching!
I loved watching that Extreme Rides 2000 Show
As soon as I saw the drop tower at Buffalo Bills I knew we were going to get some Lance footage 😫
right?!
“PlayStation: The Ride” Wow they really did just stick “The Ride” on a lot of attactions the 90s lol
I rode this long before I was big into coasters. It’s by far my favorite credit.
A very nice credit to have
You’re talking to someone who was on it during a roll back… it happened. When the ride was closed, you would see them test running it and it would sometimes have issues getting over the hill. It’s not what killed off the ride but it definitely gave it a lot more down time than other rides. But the roll backs were real and for sure happened… and you didn’t have to wait all day, sometimes it opened sometimes it didn’t… but the only long lines were the first few years
I live like a mile away. From S&S. And this was great. First. Interesting seeing the area with nothing around. They have a launcher and some track parts. Logan is an interesting area. We have or had. 2 Amusement manufacturers. A couple of fireworks companies. And the final resting place of the Apple Lisa. Well when you have a valley of rocket scientists and people that like speed. Things get fun
the reason the location was changed was due to complaints from neighboring businesses, the same businesses that delayed Goldstriker for so many years as it was planned to go in the same area where Goldstriker would eventually be built - I remember the teasers, it was a construction wall listing how fast various things from cars to planes could accelerate to 80 MPH
Yay! Lots of Cedar Point clips
I'm just happy I had the opportunity to ride it😃
Very lucky!
@@ExpeditionThemePark yes! Thank you! I never realized how lucky I was to have ridden it in 2003 with a buddy of mine. Also rode Volcano that day too a couple of times.
KD is my home park and I got to ride this every year it was open and it often was down. Never knew it was a prototype that KD had bought, explains why it was down so often. It was a great ride but honestly the magnetic launch coasters are almost as fast and usually more fun. I was much more disappointed they closed Volcano vs this ride.
Nice you got to go on it so much!
Great video as always . Ohhhh I miss those old intamin free falls! Very few in the US still operational. Never got a chance to ride Hyper Sonic ! Makes me want to go to Japan and ride dudumpadump ( haha no idea how to spell that actual ride ) that sounds like a lil Kim themed ride. Seems like kings dominion liked to buy prototypes. Ala volcano also RIP .PS Gina Gershwin in face off 🔥🔥
Those old freefalls look so unique!