The mechanics of how a drop tower works.

For those wondering, "What if the power fails while I'm falling". Ryan explains it well in the videoRyan linked. In short, the brakes don't need electricity input. Due to the Lorentz force, eddy currents are generated by force (in this case, falling gondolas) themselves. So no worries, you won't hit the ground if power fails mid free-fall. Awesome video Ryan!

I recall seeing one of the old amusement park shows on discovery Channel back in the day and they mentioned how the magnetic braking system on the intamin free fall towers work by increasing the amount of copper infused into the steel brake fins that line the tower near the base. This is why during the initial ascent there's more resistance and the lift motor has to work slightly harder to overcome than resistance. Once the cars clear the brake fins the lift speed increases.

My favorite drop towers are the Larson ones. They might not be the biggest ones out there but the drop is far more intense than any of the other makes.

Stay off the air gates!!!!! Lol. Awesome video Ryan. Please keep posting videos.

Nothing comparable to the happiness of receiving the alert saying that you have uploaded a new video😂

On Atmosfear at Liseberg the catch car waits for loading to be done to pick up the gondola. That's a slightly different model though

when I go the my home park six flags great america I make sure to get a ride on giant drop and that ride is awesome I haven't ridden it in ages but this year I did and I just love it going up is the scary part since it pulls you up that fast but the view is great up there

I was spoiwith our Intamin drop. We had the giant gyro drop. We could ride the catch car all of the way up, it had its own standing platform 360 degrees. We also had an elevator inside to tower for motor, shivs and cable inspections! Once I was in the power house up top when the gondola dropped and boy, that was enough to soil your pants! I forget the actual size, but our 4 cables were I think 2" in diameter. They were huge!

How about a video on how a drop track works on something like Haggrids or even more complicated Primordial which does different angles?

At SFA we the electricians did the the inspection in morning. We didn't use the man basket, we climbed the center and checked everything on the inside. We checked the cables as we climed for what we can see and every ladder change platform we checked out all the cables. At the top we checked the motors and the rest of the mechanicals. At we parked the counter weight at the bottom.

Very much off topic- but when you mentioned at 9:33 "how people think rides work" the one that popped into my head was Houdini’s Great Escape. It is such a bizarre ride out of the gate... but when people walk off it what they perceived happened is very different from what actually happened. I remember before riding it someone explaining it as "well its like a room and it moves... you think you went upside down, but you don't really". And after walking off the ride they are kind of confused about what just happened. It would be cool to hear about what maintaining that ride involves. It kind of falls into the same category of an unexplainable magic trick. Sure they could do it by rotating a barrel suspended independently of the seats around the audience... but they would never do that because that would be a ton of work... yet it is how it is done.

Ive been on an Intamin Freefall when Six Flags Over Georgia had one and the Tower Drop Drop Zone from Great America (The same one the kid fell out of) The old Freefalls are a very interesting experience. Dorney Park still has one and even though i don't ride drop towers anymore i will definitely ride that for old times sake

Fascinating. Love the "how it works" videos, Ryan! It always was curious, to me at least, these becoming-rare Intamin free-falls are more intimidating and thrilling than the newer S&S models out there 🤷‍♂Would love to see more of these types of videos - maybe take us on a "virtual tour" and speak to a few if they're pretty simple (ie: a carousel, a Ferris Wheel, a Boomerang coaster). Or by manufacturer. Would love to know how a Huss Condor and Top Spin work! Keep up the great work, and thank you 🎢🎡

These are the only rides that i wont ride lol. I know they're safe. However, i just cant bring myself to ridw these types of rides. Dont get me wrong ive been on them in the past and had a blast. But now, there is no way im getting on one. Great video as always

Adding on to the catch car resing position between cycles, Acrophobia at Six Flags Over Georgia (Intamin stand-up Gyro Drop) keeps its catch car a few feet above the gondola before lowering it into place at dispatch.

Like clockwork, wouldn't ya know it, you posted a video and I'm at Cedar Point, again 😂 look forward to this video tonight when I am winding down for the night

Ive been waiting for this, i love how these towers work. Could sit all day watching them. My all time fav was from my long gone home park. Space Probe 7 at Australia’s wonderland. Glad im not alone here with my love for them. lol thanks for the awesome video.

I'm not a huge fan of drop towers either, but the craziest one I rode was Falcon's Fury at Busch Gardens. It was like Tatsu meets a drop tower.😂

I'd love to see a video like this about the S&S shot/combo towers if you have any experience with those?

You’re the best ride channel ever! Your perspective on things is really amazing