Why did Six Flags mimic the design of the Top Thrill Dragster?

Question

Kingda Ka, at Six Flags Great Adventure has the same structure, same layout as the Top Thrill Dragster only it is slightly faster, taller, and the drop is almost the same height?

Marketing scheme?

Answer 1

its made by the same people who made top thrill dragster. most rollercoaster clones are made by the same people(companys).

Manufacturer Intamin AG

Designer Werner Stengel

--------------------------------------...

Kingda ka stats

Location Six Flags Great Adventure

Park section The Golden Kingdom

Type Steel - Launched

Status Open

Opened May 21, 2005

Manufacturer Intamin AG

Designer Werner Stengel

Model Accelerator Coaster

Lift/launch system Hydraulic launch

Height 456 ft (139 m)

Drop 418 ft (127 m)

Length 3,118 ft (950 m)

Max speed 128 mph (206 km/h)

Duration 28 seconds

Max vertical angle 90°

Capacity 1400 riders per hour

Cost $25,000,000 USD

Acceleration 0 to 128 mph (0 to 206 km/h) in 3.5 seconds

Max g-force approx. 4-5

Height restriction 4 ft 6 in (140 cm)

___________________________________

Top Thrill Dragster

Location Cedar Point

Park section Top Thrill Dragster Midway (near Power Tower)

Type Steel - Launched

Status Open

Opened May 4, 2003

Manufacturer Intamin AG

Designer Werner Stengel

Model Stratacoaster

Track layout square-boxed structure with red and white paint and yellow supports.

Lift/launch system Hydraulic Launch

Height 420 ft (130 m)

Drop 420 ft (130 m)

Length 2,800 ft (850 m)

Max speed 120 mph (190 km/h)

Inversions 0

Duration 17 sec.

Capacity 1,051 riders per hour

Cost US$ 25,000,000

Acceleration 0 to 120 mph (0 to 193 km/h) in under 4 seconds

Height restriction 4 ft 4 in (130 cm)

__________________________________

As you see these two are almost twins in every aspect!

Like these two coasters almost every good coaster has some type of clone or twin.

Answer 2

probably. they want to save people time by going to a local park than all the way to cedar point

Answer 3

they wanted to gain publicity for their park and were too lazy to think of a new type of track layout so they went to the guy who made TTD and said "give us that but bigger and a little bit different". and they added a second hill just so it wouldnt be blatant, but it is. either way id rather sacrifice 30 feet and 1 hill and instead go on 16 other coasters and save money on gas since CP is much closer for me.

Answer 4

Well Kingda Ka , and top thrill Dragster were both manufactured by Intamin AG but six flags had to have told Intamin to build something close to TTD and look what came out an exact clone they just wanted more publicity......,but TTD is better

Answer 5

I saw a documentary on the building of Kingda Ka and I got the impression that they just wanted to beat out Cedar Point.  Top Thrill Dragster would have held the records Kingda Ka earned and gotten all the press that surely surrounded the opening of the coaster.