Floorless Coaster
Type of roller coaster
title: "Floorless Coaster" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["floorless-coaster-roller-coasters", "roller-coasters-manufactured-by-bolliger-&-mabillard"] description: "Type of roller coaster" topic_path: "general/floorless-coaster-roller-coasters" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floorless_Coaster" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Type of roller coaster ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox attraction model"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Floorless Roller Coaster |
| logo | |
| logo_width | |
| image | Dominator (Kings Dominion) 13 Descente finale (crop).jpg |
| caption | Dominator at Kings Dominion |
| status | in production |
| first_produced | 1999 |
| No. of installations | 14 |
| manufacturer | Bolliger & Mabillard |
| manufacturer2 | |
| designer | |
| height_ft | |
| height_m | |
| drop_ft | |
| drop_m | |
| length_ft | |
| length_m | |
| speed_mph | |
| speed_km/h | |
| vehicle_type | Floorless seats located above the track |
| vehicles | 6-8-car Floorless Coaster trains |
| riders_per_vehicle | |
| riders_per_row | 4 |
| participants_per_group | |
| audience_capacity | |
| restraint | Over-the-shoulder harness |
| rcdb_number | 6713 |
| :: |
| name = Floorless Roller Coaster | logo = | logo_width = | image = Dominator (Kings Dominion) 13 Descente finale (crop).jpg | imaged imensions = | caption = Dominator at Kings Dominion | status = in production | first_produced = 1999 | No. of installations = 14 | manufacturer = Bolliger & Mabillard | manufacturer2 = | designer = | height_ft = | height_m = | drop_ft = | drop_m = | length_ft = | length_m = | speed_mph = | speed_km/h = | gforce = | capacity = | vehicle_type = Floorless seats located above the track | vehicles = 6-8-car Floorless Coaster trains | riders_per_vehicle = | rows = | riders_per_row = 4 | participants_per_group= | audience_capacity = | duration = | restraint = Over-the-shoulder harness | custom_label_1 = | custom_value_1 = | custom_label_2 = | custom_value_2 = | custom_label_3 = | custom_value_3 = | custom_label_4 = | custom_value_4 = | custom_label_5 = | custom_value_5 = | custom_label_6 = | custom_value_6 = | custom_label_7 = | custom_value_7 = | custom_label_8 = | custom_value_8 = | rcdb_number = 6713 A Floorless Coaster is a type of steel roller coaster manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard where riders sit with no floor underneath them, allowing their feet to swing freely just above the track. Development of the Floorless Coaster model began between 1995 and 1996 with Medusa at Six Flags Great Adventure, which opened on April 2, 1999, as world's first Floorless Coaster. Floorless Coasters typically feature between three and seven inversions in the layout of the coaster.
Since 2007, Bolliger & Mabillard have used floorless trains on their Dive Coasters, such as Griffon and SheiKra. Though they contain floorless trains, the coasters are still not considered Floorless Coasters, as the company classifies them as another model. Maurer Söhne has designed their own version of the Floorless Coaster, a variant of their X-Car model called X-Car Floorless, but currently do not have any installations.
History
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e3/Medusa_East.jpg" caption="cobra roll]] at [[Six Flags Great Adventure"] ::
According to Walter Bolliger, development of the Floorless Coaster began between 1995 and 1996. In 1999, the world's first Floorless Coaster opened at Six Flags Great Adventure as Medusa. With the success of Medusa, SeaWorld, Cedar Fair, Six Flags, and independent parks, Janfusun Fancyworld, Parque Warner Madrid, Tivoli Gardens, and Ocean Park Hong Kong have built other coasters of this model at their parks. B&M has built 13 Floorless Coasters from the ground up, with Dominator at Kings Dominion being the only one relocated to another park. They have also converted three of their stand-up roller coasters to Floorless Coasters: Rougarou at Cedar Point, Patriot at California's Great America, and Firebird at Six Flags America.
Design
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/42/Hydra_the_Revenge_(Dorney_Park_&_Wildwater_Kingdom)_02.JPG" caption="[[Hydra the Revenge]]'s first drop at [[Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom"] ::
The design of a Floorless Coaster has one main difference from traditional steel roller coasters around the world: there is no floor under the seats. While a train is parked in the station, a floor is used only for loading and unloading purposes. Because the front row has nothing in front of it to stop riders from walking over the edge of the station, a gate is placed in front of the train to prevent this from happening. Once all the over-the-shoulder restraints are locked, the floor separates into several pieces and retracts underneath the station. The gate then opens, allowing the train to move forward. When the train returns to the station, the floor is brought back up and the gate is closed for the next group of riders to load and unload. Aside from the station, Floorless Coasters have similar layouts to B&M's sit-down coasters.
Installations
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2e/Kraken_(SeaWorld_Orlando)_01.jpg" caption="Orlando]], [[Florida]]."] ::
Bolliger & Mabillard has built thirteen Floorless Coasters from the ground up, with three additional that were converted from stand-up roller coasters. The roller coasters are listed in order of opening dates.
::data[format=table]
Note: Although nearly all Dive Coasters (such as SheiKra, Griffon, Valravn and Yukon Striker) feature floorless trains, they are not considered Floorless Coasters.
Similar rides
Maurer Söhne, a German roller coaster and steel manufacturer, has developed their own version of the Floorless Coaster called the X-Car Floorless. The car is the same as the original X-Car with the only difference being that there is no floor during the ride. As of 2019, no X-Car Floorless roller coasters have been manufactured.
Notes
References
References
- (November 16, 2012). "IAAPA 2011 Trade Show Part 4 Theme Park Review Fishpipe Water Ride B&M Zamperla". YouTube.
- {{Cite RCDB. link
- Niles, Robert. (November 14, 2002). "Scream leaves you dangling". Los Angeles Times.
- (September 4, 2012). "Dominator at Kings Dominion". woodencoasterfan (YouTube).
- link
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- "X-Car Floorless". Maurer Söhne.
- "X-Car". Maurer Söhne.
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