
Inside top hat on Mr. Freeze: Reverse Blast

Outside top hat on Kingda Ka, the world's tallest roller coaster
A top hat (sometimes called a top cap) is an element common in launched roller coasters. It consists of an ascent at a 90 degree angle, with a 90 degree lateral twist. It then levels out, and descents in the same way. The train exits the element in the same direction as it entered. Both Kingda Ka and Top Thrill Dragster feature a giant top hat.
The inside top hat (also known as a top hat inversion) is a different type of top hat, that features an inversion. When the train approaches the top of the "hat", it makes a 90 degree lateral twist so that it is on the inside of the element (hence the name), and once it reaches top hat's apex the train is upside down under the track.
Examples[]
Below is a list of all the roller coasters with a 'top hat' element. All of them are steel sit-down roller coasters.
Outside top hat[]
Name | Park | Manufacturer | Opened | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|
iSpeed | Mirabilandia | Intamin AG | 2009 | Operating |
Kanonen | Liseberg | Intamin AG | 2005 | Operating |
Kingda Ka | Six Flags Great Adventure | Intamin AG | 2005 | Operating |
Rage[1] | Adventure Island | Gerstlauer | 2007 | Operating |
Skycar | Mysterious Island | Intamin AG | 2005 | Operating |
Sky Rocket | Kennywood | Premier Rides | 2010 | Operating |
Stealth | Thorpe Park | Intamin AG | 2006 | Operating |
Storm Runner | Hersheypark | Intamin AG | 2004 | Operating |
Superman Escape | Warner Bros. Movie World | Intamin AG | 2005 | Operating |
Top Thrill Dragster | Cedar Point | Intamin AG | 2003 | Operating |
Xcelerator | Knott's Berry Farm | Intamin AG | 2002 | Operating |
Zaturn | Space World | Intamin AG | 2006 | Operating |
unknown | Vialand | Intamin AG | 2013 | Under construction |
Inside top hat[]
Name | Park | Manufacturer | Opened | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|
Freischütz | Bayern Park | Maurer Söhne | 2011 | Operating |
Mr. Freeze: Reverse Blast | Six Flags Over Texas | Premier Rides | 1998 | Operating |
Mr. Freeze: Reverse Blast | Six Flags St. Louis | Premier Rides | 1998 | Operating |
Takabisha | Fuji-Q Highland | Gerstlauer | 2011 | Operating |
Yamaha Racing Coaster | Trans Studio Indoor Theme Park | Premier Rides | 2011 | Operating |
unknown | Romon World | Maurer Söhne | 2013 | Under construction |
unknown Formerly Batman and Robin: The Chiller |
Beto Carrero World | Premier Rides | 2013
1998 |
Under construction
Closed 2006 |
References[]
Thrill elements | |
Banana Roll • Batwing • Bent Cuban Eight • Bowtie • Butterfly • Cobra Loop • Cobra Roll • Corkscrew • Cutback • Dive Drop • Dive Loop • Diving Turn • Double Dip • Fly to Lie / Lie to Fly • Flying Snake Dive • Helix • Immelman • Inclined Dive Loop • Inclined Loop • In-Line Twist • Interlocking Corkscrews • Interlocking Loops • Non Inverted Loop • Norwegian Loop • Pretzel Knot • Pretzel Loop • Raven Turn • Reverse Sidewinder • Roll Out • Roll Over / Sea Serpent • Saxophone • Sidewinder • SkyLoop • Splashdown • Top hat • Trick Track • Tounge • Triple Dip • Tunnel • Turntable • Twisted Horseshoe Roll • Zero-G Roll |