Blue Fire

blue fire (650x488)

Blue Fire is a launch coaster by Mack Rides situated at Europa Park in Germany. The Park is owned and run by Mack and is a showcase for their rides. This being the case it is surprising that there has not been a mad scramble on the part of other theme parks to buy one of these constructions because it is a very special ride!

Blue Fire is situated in the Iceland section of the Park and is themed on natural gas energy. It opened in 2009 when the park was expanded to include the Iceland area and the ride has a blue track with grey uprights. The first part of the queuing area is inside a pavilion dedicated to the ride sponsor Gazprom. The line then moves outside where it winds around the rocky terrain which forms part of the theming for the ride. Although Blue fire can attract enormous queues at peak times the line does keep moving well as the coaster has an impressive capacity of 1720 people per hour.

Once the queue arrives outside of the station there is the option to join the line for the front row and as this is definitely the best seat in the house it is worth enduring the extra wait. The trains seat 20 people and the restraints are only lap bars which is a real plus. The bars include handles which contain heart rate sensors and the rider’s heart rate is displayed in front of them throughout the ride!

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The journey begins with the train entering a tunnel which represents a gas pipeline and then with dry ice effects and a loud claxon the train is launched at 0 to 62 mph via linear induction motors into a 125 ft hill and sweeping turn. Riders are then treated to a fairly lengthy ride with multiple twists and inversions including a 105 ft vertical loop and a horseshoe roll. Maverick at Cedar Point is the only other ride to feature the latter.

 

 

 

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The most striking thing about Blue Fire is the smoothness of the ride. As the train swoops and dives, flying above and through rocky outcrops, there are no jolts or vibrations at all. You can barely sense that you are on a track. There is also the thrill of flying close to neighbouring ride Wodan, which was constructed to intertwine with Blue Fire.

Blue Fire is a fine combination of fun and thrills. The launch isn’t the most dramatic on the planet but it is good enough and the ride layout delivers enough twists, turns and inversions to keep the thrills rolling until the end of the circuit. Having only a lap bar adds to the excitement and the ride is so comfortable there is no need for guests to brace themselves at any point.

After riding Blue Fire visitors are able to enjoy a stroll around the Iceland themed area of the Park which features attractive architecture, a fine coffee bar and some interesting shops offering ride souvenirs, clothing and Nordic homeware. Guests can then experience Wodan, the rather excellent wooden coaster which now stands alongside Blue Fire.

Blue Fire is a truly excellent ride that any coaster enthusiast will want to experience again and again. It is not the fastest or tallest coaster in the world but the combined effect of what it does have is spectacular.

Byline

Article By Sally Stacey who is a frequent visitor to Europa Park