Python (roller coaster)

Infobox roller coaster
name=Python


caption=Python's double-corkscrew element (chain lift and first drop in background).
location=Busch Gardens Africa
section=Congo
type=Steel
type2=
type3=
status=Demolished
opened=July 1, 1976
closed=October 31, 2006
demolished= November, 2006
manufacturer=Arrow Dynamics
designer=Ron Toomer
model=Steel Corkscrew coaster
track=Custom
lift=Chain lift hill
height=70
length=1250
speed=50
inversions=2
duration=1:10
capacity=480
restriction=48
rcdb_number=96

Python was a steel corkscrew roller coaster at Busch Gardens Africa in Tampa. Built by Arrow Dynamics in 1976, it opened as the first roller coaster since the park's opening in 1959. At the time of its closing, it was the second smallest roller coaster at Busch Gardens Africa. The smaller coasters are Scorpion and Cheetah Chase. They both have a 45-foot plunge. It was located in the Congo section of the park, nearby Stanley Falls Flume and Congo River Rapids.

The ride received a repaint in 2003, along with the trains repainted with the park's current logo from the classic Python logo.

Python was permanently closed on October 31, 2006, and demolished for scrap shortly after. The removal of Python was necessary to make way for the park's Jungala attraction -- part of the largest renovation in Busch Gardens history.

Along with Python, the area's Tiger's Den gift shop, and Python Soft Serve have been torn down as a part of the Congo renovation.

Layout

Python was a stock model roller coaster made by Arrow Dynamics, which was a clone of Knott's Berry Farm's now defunct Corkscrew roller coaster (which now operates at Silverwood amusement park in Athol, Idaho).

The ride began when the train slithered out of the station into a short U-turn. Following the turn was the seventy foot tall lift hill. Once the train was at the top of the hill, the train dipped down again into a banked turn. The banked turn then took riders down toward the first drop, which gave a sensation of airtime. Following the drop, the train then ascended a small hill and goes down a turn towards the double corkscrew element.

Following the signature double corkscrew element, the train then went through another U-turn into the brake run.

Incidents

Once it opened, Python was promoted with the tagline "I challenged the Python and lived!" A few weeks after it opened, a 6-foot-6, 340 pound, 39-year-old heart patient challenged the Python, and died. The campaign was quickly pulled after the incident.Fact|date=July 2007

ee also

* Busch Gardens Africa

External links

* [http://www.rcdb.com/id96.htm RCDB's entry for Python]
* [http://www.coasterforce.com/index.php?categoryid=454 CoasterForce's article for Python]