Griffon is a roller coaster, announced on August 23, 2006, at Busch Gardens Europe, located in Williamsburg, Virginia. The coaster, a Bolliger & Mabillard diving machine, now reigns as tallest and fastest dive machine coaster surpassing its sister, SheiKra, at Busch Gardens Africa in Tampa, Florida. Griffon originally had two other names — "IronEagle" and "Volture" — before Busch Gardens decided on the name "Griffon". Griffon will notably replace The LeMans Raceway, one of the park's original rides. Griffon will be the fourth diving machine coaster ever created worldwide, and the second ever constructed in the United States. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Busch Gardens Europe is a theme park located in James City County, Virginia about 3 miles (5 km) southeast of Williamsburg. ... Busch Gardens Europe is a theme park located in James City County, Virginia about 3 miles (5 km) southeast of Williamsburg. ... The Dueling Dragons, the worlds only Dueling Steel-Inverted roller coaster located at Islands of Adventure in Universal Orlando Resort, Orlando, Florida. ... SheiKra, a 200-foot dive coaster, which opened at Busch Gardens Africa (Tampa, FL) in 2005. ... Superman la Atracción de Acero Movie World Madrid The floorless roller coaster design is a modification of the standard multiple-inversion steel coaster that features cars with no floors for foot placement. ... May 18 is the 138th day of the year (139th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the CE era. ... Bolliger and Mabillard (B&M) is a roller coaster manufacturer based in Monthey, Switzerland. ... A lift hill, or chain hill, is often the initial upward section of track on a typical roller coaster that initially transports the roller coaster train to an elevated point. ... The term g force or gee force refers to the symbol g, the force of acceleration due to gravity at the earths surface. ... An inch (plural: inches; symbol or abbreviation: in or, sometimes, ″ - a double prime) is the name of a unit of length in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... A centimetre (American spelling centimeter, symbol cm) is a unit of length that is equal to one hundredth of a metre, the current SI base unit of length. ... August 23 is the 235th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (236th in leap years), with 130 days remaining. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Busch Gardens Europe is a theme park located in James City County, Virginia about 3 miles (5 km) southeast of Williamsburg. ... Location in the Commonwealth of Virginia. ... Bolliger and Mabillard (B&M) is a roller coaster manufacturer based in Monthey, Switzerland. ... SheiKra, a 200-foot dive coaster, which opened at Busch Gardens Africa (Tampa, FL) in 2005. ... SheiKra (pronounced shee-krah) is a vertical drop roller coaster in Tampa, Florida. ... Busch Gardens Africa (formerly known as Busch Gardens Tampa Bay) is a 335-acre 19th century African-themed park located in Tampa, Florida. ... Nickname: Location in Hillsborough County and the state of Florida. ...

Griffon is themed as a mythological creature who is half lion and half eagle and he is ravaging a small French Village. It features several new shops located in a new islet area located to the left of the park's Left Bank Portrait shop, and the right of the Grande Gourmet ice cream and dessert shop. The ride will maneuver through the new section, including a water splash zone near the new "Bistro 205," and a first drop that dives under a bridge that will be built up over the existing ground level.

Ride Layout

Before even riding, guests will be able to join in the experience as they watch the fantastic ride all around them. The first drop and immelman turns are right on top of the queue line, and the train finally pulls in on the right side. Guests will also be able to get a shower by walking down to the fence around the pool area. Once the Griffon races by, it will create a roostertail like fountain of water from its two tailends.

Once strapped in, riders will climb a 45 degree lift hill running about 10 feet per second, 205 feet up. Then it will make a turn to the right and face the Royal Palace Theatre. The trains will be held at a holding brake for several seconds and then let go dropping 205 feet at 90° hitting 71 mph. The ride will then go into a 146 foot Immelman inversion and then make a sweeping turn to the left into the block brake. Riders will then drop 130 feet down at 87° towards The Rhine River and into another 100 foot Immelman inversion. Finally riders will exit a bunny hop into a water splash and make the final carousel turn then a small dip into the brakes and station. Many enthusiasts believe that Griffon, like SheiKra, is 3 minutes long. This is not true. SheiKra is 2:25 minutes long, and Griffon is only about 1:50 minutes long, both because of their high speeds and shorter-than-average courses. SheiKra (pronounced shee-krah) is a vertical drop roller coaster in Tampa, Florida. ...

The ride is noticeably smooth, the turns are abrupt but do not jar and jerk the rider. The lift hill is fast and not jerky like some of the other coasters at the park. Unlike on the other coasters, they DO NOT allow you to wear hats. You MUST sit on them or hand them to an attendant to place in a cubby on the exit side of the ride. Unlike Alpengeist where 3 rows are designated for larger riders, each row has a seat for a large rider, usually the 5th or 6th.

Ride Elements

• 205 foot 90° drop
• 146 foot Immelmann
• 130 foot 87° drop
• 100 foot Immelmann
• Water splash finale
• 360° climbing carousel turn
• Camera under the bridge, right after the 90° drop

Griffon's first Immelmann inversion.

Griffon's vertical drop.

// Immelmann An Immelmann loop is a popular inversion found on many roller coasters. ... // Immelmann An Immelmann loop is a popular inversion found on many roller coasters. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixels Full resolution (2736 × 3648 pixel, file size: 2. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixels Full resolution (2736 × 3648 pixel, file size: 2. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixels Full resolution (2736 × 3648 pixel, file size: 2. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixels Full resolution (2736 × 3648 pixel, file size: 2. ...

Records

• The world's tallest dive machine coaster (205 ft)
• The world's fastest dive machine coaster (71 mph)
• The world's only multi-inversion dive machine coaster.
• The world's first floorless diving machine coaster.
• The world's first and only coaster to feature 10 across seating
• The world's first dive coaster to include two Immelmann inversions

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Opening Date

Griffon was officially opened on Friday, May 25, 2007. A special employee first ride event took place on May 1, 2, and 3rd. A second special VIP event took place on May 18th. There was a "soft opening" on May 13th. The roller coaster ran all day May 13th with just a few stops. Lines were very short at first, then became packed later in the day.[3]Griffon opened on May 18 until May 25 for a "preview week." The official opening was on May 25, 2007. The ribbon was cut by no other than a kid that shares his name with the incredible coaster.

External links

• A Ride on Griffon
• Griffon's Official Page
• BGEscape Griffon Construction Gallery
• Interview With Construction Site Supervisor