Melissa Braves Holiday World’s Newest Roller Coaster – The Thunderbird! [VIDEO]

Melissa and Chad from WBKR, our sister station in Owensboro, KY, rode the Thunderbird on media day. They have go-pro mounts on the ride so you can capture your ride. I'm the video editor so I rode twice, got a little sick and came back to the media room to edit and post video - those two are STILL up there riding it! It was crazy fun - you feel like a hawk soaring through the open air! Even though it was 30 degrees outside, it was totally worth the frozen fingers and toes. See our footage below and make your plans to get to Holiday World this summer to ride The Thunderbird!

From the Holiday World website:

DESCRIPTION: Thunderbird is the nation’s first launched wing coaster. It is Holiday World’s first major steel roller coaster, with a 0-60mph launch in 3.5 seconds, followed by multiple inversions – including a 14-story Immelmann loop, Zero-g roll, barrel roll, and loop. Continuing Holiday World’s tradition of sending roller coasters through thickly wooded and hilly terrain, Thunderbird at first soars and loops high in the air and then hugs the ground, surprising riders with rapid-fire “near misses” such as keyholes, themed elements, other rides, trees, and even the ground. TRACK LENGTH: 3,035 feet RIDE HEIGHT: 140 feet at Immelmann loop’s peak RIDE ELEMENTS: From start to finish: Launch, using LSM technology Immelmann loop Loop Horseshoe Elevated Spiral Zero-G roll S curve 2 “headchopper” keyholes Carousel 360 in-line twist (barrel roll) 2 Crossovers with The Voyage SPEED: Thunderbird’s top speed is 60 miles per hour RIDE TIME: 1 minute, 18 seconds (station to station)