The launched inverting Gerstlauer Infinity Coaster at PowerPark...
The launched inverting Gerstlauer Infinity Coaster at PowerPark...
| Theme Park | PowerPark |
|---|---|
| Type | Rollercoaster |
| Audience | Thrillseekers |
| Opened | 30 May 2015 |
| Manufacturer | Gerstlauer |
| Model | Infinity Coaster |
| Height | 131 ft |
| Length | 2822 ft |
| Inversions | 3 |
| Max Speed | 65 mph |
Upside down on Junker
Junker is the first of two aeroplane themed Gerstlauer Infinity Coasters to be installed at PowerPark in Finland.
The ride begins as the train exits the station into a rolling launch which accelerates riders up to 100km/h in 1.9 seconds and pushes the train skyward in a 40 metre vertical climb to the summit of Junker's top hat. After dropping down the other side, they float across a large airtime hill before turning upside down into a huge vertical loop which has been dubbed a Finnish Loop. This inversion gives a remarkable amount of hang time.
The high level mid-course brakes come next. Junker changes character markably from this point, with much of the train's momentum being stolen meaning a lot of the initial energy and pacing is lost in the second half of the circuit.
From the brakes, the train climbs into a big 180 degree turn, before riders find themselves flipped over once more in a dive loop straight downwards into a tunnel in the middle of a lake. This effect unfortunately doesn't work nearly as well as the superb tunnel dive on Tripsdrill's Karacho. Junker's tunnel is too short, and feels like the train is just going through a concrete underpass. The fact that it is underwater in the middle of a lake is somewhat lost on riders.
The final inversion is a corkscrew, which is followed by a 360 degree turn that exits with a short straight back into the station.
Junker is a great ride, but doesn't quite deliver on the same level as the top set of Gerstlauer Infinity Coasters, mainly due to its slower second half. It was a fantastic success for the park though, to the point where five years after it opened it was joined by Pitts Special, a second Gerstlauer Infinity which has a track that intertwines with Junker.
Junker's station building
In the station
Launch
Top hat
Dropping down
Airtime hill
Hangtime
Inversion over the bridge
One of PowerPark's two Gerstlauer Infinity coasters
Dive loop
Underwater tunnel
Final inversion
Eight seater cars
Finale helix
Back to the station
Aeroplane theming
