Oktoberfest - Another Worlds First

Not content with showing off the Worlds first steel roller coaster, Oktoberfest was home to the first true suspended coaster. In 1975 Germand aircraft manufacturer Messerschmidt Bolkow Blohm supplied showman Max Zierer Jnr. with Alpenflug a 2706 foot long suspended coaster. Alpenflug had a top speed of 39mph and 5 six car trains.


Although there had been crude suspended coasters at the beginning of the last century their basic designs involved a lift hill and a long downward spiral. For many these aren't regarded as true suspended coasters.


Alpenflug is the first true contemporary suspended coaster. Sadly it only lasted for the 16 days of the Oktoberfest before it was scrapped. Due to the lack of banking on the turns the track and train wheel assemblies were subjected to high levels of wear and tear. The trains could swing out to over 80degrees. It would seem nothing was learnt from this suspended coaster because Arrow made the same mistake with the illfated Bat that was built at Paramount Kings Island in 1981 as the first non travelling suspended coaster. Like Alpenflug, The Bat suffered from excessive wear and tear due to the lack of banked turns and was removed in 1983.

I wonder what the next Worlds firsts will appear at Oktoberfest?

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