Silver Bullet up-front Info
- Thrill Scale (0=Wimpy!, 10=Yikes!): 7
Powerful positive G-forces, lots of inversions. - Coaster type: Inverted
- Top speed: 55 mph
- Height restriction: 54 inches
- Height: 146 feet
- Drop: 109 feet
- Ride time: 2 minute, 30 seconds
- Silver Bullet Photo Gallery
- Silver Bullet Video
G-Whiz
For the uninitiated, the train of an inverted coaster hangs beneath the track and has no floor. Like a ski lift gone haywire, it navigates its dips and turns while leaving passengers' feet dangling. It also soars through inversions, such as Silver Bullet's 105-foot vertical loop, on the outside of the track. It's a wild sight to see 32 pairs of legs flailing upside down as the ride reaches the loop's apex.
The first drop is a satisfying 109 feet. Instead of hitting a second hill and delivering a dose of airtime, Silver Bullet goes into its vertical loop and lays on some rib-crushing positive Gs. In fact, I didn't experience any discernible negative G-forces (also known as airtime) throughout the entire ride--a coaster no-no in my estimation. The over-the-shoulder harnesses momentarily squeeze riders, who are all the more disoriented in the head-over-heels loop.
This Bullet Spends a Lot of Time Upside Down
From there, Silver Bullet throws all kinds of inverted elements at riders, including a Cobra Roll and a corkscrew. At one point, the ride makes a dramatic swoop down close to the ground near the front entrance of the park. For its finale, it performs a double spiral over a lagoon. The first overbanked spin sends passengers skimming just above the surface of the water; while it's an illusion, riders instinctively pull up their feet to avoid being submerged. Even though the ride is nearly over, the second spin still manages to deliver a surprisingly potent dose of positive Gs.
To its credit, Silver Bullet manages to avoid the head banging that plagues many inverted coasters (such as the Mind Eraser clones at some Six Flags parks). And if you like intense positive G-forces, you'll like this coaster. But its lack of airtime, plus its lack of anything especially noteworthy takes it down a notch. For a great inverted coaster experience, head over to Raptor at Cedar Point in Ohio or try out Dueling Dragons at Islands of Adventure in Florida.
