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COASTER

Lively and unusual new ride figures characterise this new coaster from Rides

Jorma Lillbacka has been self employed since 1969, and he founded a number of firms that have all been very successful. At the beginning of the new millen- nium he began with the erection of the Power Park Resorts, which in addition to the theme park Ready for Take-off Powerland also contains a hotel, a cinema, a go-kart track, and a Junker The start takes place after the closing of the lap race track. bars. Once out of the station the ride travels slight- ly downwards in a 90° curve onto the relatively illbacka's real passion however goes in a com- short launch track where pilots are accelerated in Lpletely different direction, namely all facets of 1.9 seconds to 100 kilometres per hour, and a dar- Text & Photos: Marc Spies aeroplanes and avionics. Since his early childhood ing flight manoeuvre takes place shortly thereafter: in , , he had spend a lot of time at a vertical climb to the 40 metres high Top-Hat, a the airport there, and so it's no wonder that the new short moment of airtime, and another speedy drop coaster with the unusual inversions from Gerst- towards terra firma. This is followed by an ascent lauer has the name of "Junker" – as homage to the as if a Camelback; at the highest point the car tips plane stemming from Junkers Flugzeug- und to the right into a Dive Drop, similar to the Nor- Motorenwerke. wegian Loop, followed by a ride figure that may And so that the attraction could be presented in well make history as the Finland Loop. This is proper style an aeroplane also stands next to the followed by an ascent such as by a normal loop, station. Although it's not an authentic Junker, which however has not been calculated as a visitors can recognise the theme. And at the very clothoid, but leads passengers upside down latest when taking their place in the cars already slowly and excitingly over the bridge to the known from Erlebnispark Tripsdrill, it becomes restaurant "River Kwai", before travelling steeply obvious to visitors that this will be a very wild flight. downwards. A sharp right curve is followed by a

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short breather in the form of the block brakes – but together with generous freedom of movement, ride not for too long, because there's another drop to fun is guaranteed. Additionally the layout is varied the right immediately, which leads into a Cutback, due to the special features of the bridge and a steep curve with inversion. After a brisk curve travelling through the tunnel, and the extensive lay- combination, there follows a Dive Loop, an inver- out is also a plus for the attraction. Waiting visitors The second outstanding sion that flows downwards into a tunnel, and which also benefit as the construction can be viewed element is a Top Hat Outside travels into a Corkscrew once again. After the almost from all vantage points, and can more or following 270° curve in the final brakes, the 60 less be walked under completely. Summary: "Jun- second ride comes to an end. ker" is without a doubt the current Number 1 among the steel coasters in Finland. Although it is not the Like a Plane Flight highest or the fastest (that is "Ukko" at Linnanmäki, a "SkyWheel" from Maurer Söhne), it is currently the "Junker" is convincing due to the absolute smooth- only Launch Coaster with inversions in Finland, ness and predominantly dynamic track course, and has a really unique characteristic. The coaster which only offers a little time to take a breath. The is a very good extension to the widely diversified element sequences flow, and thanks to the lap bars portfolio of the park, and is a real fun machine.

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FAST FACTS

Opening: 30th May 2015 Track length: 860 m Track height: 33 m Max. height difference: 36 m Max. speed: 95 km/h 5 Inversions: Dive Drop, Loop, Cutback, Dive Loop, Corkscrew Max. acceleration : 4.5 g Ride time: 60 seconds 3 cars, each for 8 pass. Hourly capacity: 600 p.p.h. Manufacturer: Gerstlauer Rides GmbH Operator: PowerPark, Härma, Finland

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COASTER

Junior Manager Veli-Matti Lillbacka (centre) together with the actors from the "Trulon" show

Show Trulon

In addition to the "Junker" there has also been a new stage built up between the new coaster and the water attraction, which features a fantasy show. Particularly special here is that this show is closely tied to the game Trulon – The Shadow Engine that has been pro- grammed by the Kyy Games firm – a software company located in Finland. This in itself is rather remarkable as Johan Veli-Matti Lillbacka, son of the founder Jorma Lill- backa and Entertainment Manager at Power Park, has significantly extended this fantasy world Jak Koke with a lot of expertise, and who amongst others has also written for the well known Shadowrun-series. With this show, the game being particularly popular with teen- agers, a bridge to the real world is built, and naturally also attracts a new public.

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