Moonsault Scramble
Encyclopedia
Moonsault Scramble was a steel
shuttle
roller coaster
that operated from 1983 until 2000 at Fuji-Q Highland
amusement park
in Fujiyoshida
, Yamanashi
, Japan
. According to the Guinness Book of Records
, Moonsault Scramble was the tallest roller coaster in the world until 1996 when its record height was surpassed by the roller coaster Fujiyama
, which reached 259 feet in height—also at Fuji-Q Highland. Moonsault Scramble was the first roller coaster to surpass 200 feet in height, and it remains the third tallest shuttle roller coaster ever built, behind Superman: The Escape
at Six Flags Magic Mountain
(tallest) and Tower of Terror at Dreamworld
(second tallest). The coaster was removed from the park to make way for the construction of Dodonpa
in 2001.
Moonsault Scramble was known for producing extremely high g-force
s on its riders. As of 1998, it was cited by some to exert up to 6.5 gs on its riders. It was one of only three roller coasters outside the United States
to exert such extreme forces on its riders (the others being Mindbender
and Dreier Looping Coaster). The pretzel knot element (compromising two inversions) that produced these high g-forces was the only such pretzel knot inversion ever implemented in a roller coaster. The pretzel knot element is different from the much more common pretzel loop element.
Considerable debate exists within the roller coaster enthusiast community whether the height record of Moonsault Scramble was, in fact, legitimate (and if it should, consequently, be given the hypercoaster
designation). As shuttle roller coasters—by definition—do not make a complete circuit, the tallest points of these coasters typically have very few (if any) riders who experience these heights. For this reason, many roller coaster enthusiasts reserve height records for complete circuit roller coasters. If these definitions are taken, the world's tallest roller coasters from 1983 until 1996 were Dragon Mountain
, Magnum XL-200
, Desperado
, Pepsi Max Big One
and finally Fujiyama
.
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...
shuttle
Shuttle roller coaster
A shuttle roller coaster is any roller coaster that ultimately does not make a complete circuit, but rather reverses at some point throughout its course and traverses the same track backwards...
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 1983 until 2000 at Fuji-Q Highland
Fuji-Q Highland
Fuji-Q Highland is an amusement park in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, Japan.The theme park is near the base of Mount Fuji. It has a number of roller coasters, as well as The Haunted Hospital, the world's second largest haunted attraction, and Thomas Land, a children's area with a Thomas the Tank Engine...
amusement park
Amusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
in Fujiyoshida
Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi
is a city located in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, in the center of the Japanese main island of Honshū.-Geography:It is considered a high-elevation city in Japan, at 2,140 to 2,800 feet above sea level. The city is also located between two of the five Fuji Lakes.-Geology:Fujiyoshida was founded on...
, Yamanashi
Yamanashi Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of the island of Honshū. The capital is the city of Kōfu.-Pre-history to the 14th century:People have been living in the Yamanashi area for about 30,000 years...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. According to the Guinness Book of Records
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
, Moonsault Scramble was the tallest roller coaster in the world until 1996 when its record height was surpassed by the roller coaster Fujiyama
Fujiyama (roller coaster)
Fujiyama is a steel roller coaster at Fuji-Q Highland, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, Japan. When Fujiyama opened in 1996 it was the world's tallest roller coaster at , and had the largest drop in the world at . Fujiyama was also the world's fastest roller coaster for a year of its operation, succeeded by...
, which reached 259 feet in height—also at Fuji-Q Highland. Moonsault Scramble was the first roller coaster to surpass 200 feet in height, and it remains the third tallest shuttle roller coaster ever built, behind Superman: The Escape
Superman: The Escape
Superman: Escape from Krypton is a launched steel shuttle roller coaster located in the Samurai Summit area of Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California that opened in 1997. It is similar to Tower of Terror II, which opened two months prior in Dreamworld, Australia...
at Six Flags Magic Mountain
Six Flags Magic Mountain
Six Flags Magic Mountain is a theme park located in Valencia, California north of Los Angeles. It opened on Memorial Day weekend on May 30, 1971 as Magic Mountain, by the Newhall Land and Farming Company. In 1979, Six Flags purchased the park and added the name Six Flags to the park's title. In...
(tallest) and Tower of Terror at Dreamworld
Dreamworld
Dreamworld is a large theme park situated on the Gold Coast in Queensland. It is currently Australia's largest theme park with over 27 rides including 4 roller coasters. The park is made up of several themed lands: Ocean Parade, Kid's World, Wiggles World, Gold Rush Country, Rocky Hollow, Tiger...
(second tallest). The coaster was removed from the park to make way for the construction of Dodonpa
Dodonpa
is a roller coaster at Fuji-Q Highland, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi in Japan. It opened in 2001 and is a steel sit-down roller coaster with a compressed air launch. The ride was built by S&S Power of Utah, U.S.A....
in 2001.
Moonsault Scramble was known for producing extremely high g-force
G-force
The g-force associated with an object is its acceleration relative to free-fall. This acceleration experienced by an object is due to the vector sum of non-gravitational forces acting on an object free to move. The accelerations that are not produced by gravity are termed proper accelerations, and...
s on its riders. As of 1998, it was cited by some to exert up to 6.5 gs on its riders. It was one of only three roller coasters outside the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to exert such extreme forces on its riders (the others being Mindbender
Mindbender (Galaxyland)
The Mindbender is the world's largest indoor triple loop roller coaster. It is located in Galaxyland Amusement Park, a major attraction inside West Edmonton Mall, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada...
and Dreier Looping Coaster). The pretzel knot element (compromising two inversions) that produced these high g-forces was the only such pretzel knot inversion ever implemented in a roller coaster. The pretzel knot element is different from the much more common pretzel loop element.
Considerable debate exists within the roller coaster enthusiast community whether the height record of Moonsault Scramble was, in fact, legitimate (and if it should, consequently, be given the hypercoaster
Hypercoaster
A hypercoaster can mean one of two things:*Any continuous-circuit roller coaster with a height or drop measuring greater than 200 feetOr, more narrowly:*A style or model of roller coaster with three features:**A height of 200–299 feet...
designation). As shuttle roller coasters—by definition—do not make a complete circuit, the tallest points of these coasters typically have very few (if any) riders who experience these heights. For this reason, many roller coaster enthusiasts reserve height records for complete circuit roller coasters. If these definitions are taken, the world's tallest roller coasters from 1983 until 1996 were Dragon Mountain
Dragon Mountain
Dragon Mountain is a steel roller coaster located at Marineland near Niagara Falls, Ontario in Canada Built in 1983 by Arrow Dynamics, it was the tallest roller coaster in the world before the opening of Magnum XL-200 at Cedar Point. It was also the last time that a coaster designated "tallest in...
, Magnum XL-200
Magnum XL-200
Magnum XL-200 is an Arrow Dynamics steel hypercoaster located at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. Built in 1989, it was the first complete circuit roller coaster to break the barrier...
, Desperado
Desperado (roller coaster)
Desperado is a hypercoaster located in Primm, Nevada at the Buffalo Bill's Hotel and Casino a part of the Primm Valley Resorts complex.According to the roller coaster database, Desperado was one of the tallest roller coasters in the world at the time of being built. It features a 60-degree, drop;...
, Pepsi Max Big One
Pepsi Max Big One
The Big One is a steel roller coaster located at Pleasure Beach Blackpool in the United Kingdom. The ride was originally manufactured by Arrow Dynamics, a now defunct steel coaster manufacturer, and was sponsored by the soft drinks firm Pepsi, under their brand of Pepsi Max until 2011...
and finally Fujiyama
Fujiyama (roller coaster)
Fujiyama is a steel roller coaster at Fuji-Q Highland, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, Japan. When Fujiyama opened in 1996 it was the world's tallest roller coaster at , and had the largest drop in the world at . Fujiyama was also the world's fastest roller coaster for a year of its operation, succeeded by...
.