Bill McCleery

bill.mccleery@indystar.com

After months of buildup, Holiday World on Thursday night revealed details of a cutting-edge $22 million ride under construction that is opening in 2015.

"Thunderbird" will become "the nation's first launched wing coaster," according to a Holiday World and Splashin' Safari release. Riders will be situated in wings extending from the central part of the ride that is attached to the track.

The ride, which officials of the 68-year-old amusement park called its "first major steel roller coaster," will feature a zero-to-60-miles-per-hour" launch in 3.5 seconds, followed by multiple inversions," the release said.

Perhaps only roller-coaster enthusiasts will recognize the terms used to describe other features of the ride, such as a "14-story Immelmann loop." An Immelmann loop is a maneuver in which "riders enter a half loop and then go through a half twist and curve out in the opposite direction in which they came."

According to the release, the Immelman, which takes its name from a maneuver by World War I fighter ace Max Immelmann, is similar to a sidewinder ride. While the sidewinder consists of a half loop and half corkscrew and comes out at a near 90-degree angle, the Immelman comes out in more of a straight line back to its start.

The coaster also features a "Zero-g roll, barrel roll and a loop soaring 125 feet in the air," the release states.

"Thunderbird will at first soar and loop high in the air and then hug the ground, surprising riders with rapid-fire 'near misses,' such as keyholes, themed elements, other rides, trees and even the ground," according to the release.

Holiday World President Matt Eckert called the "Thunderbird" a huge milestone for the amusement park.

"A wing coaster creates a feeling of incredible freedom," he said in a prepared statement. "You ride beside the coaster track with nothing above or below you."

Switzerland-based Bolliger & Mabillard is Thunderbird's designer and manufacturer.

The $22 million price tag "is more than twice as much as we've spent on any other ride," park spokeswoman Paula Werne said Thursday.

Located in Santa Claus, Ind., Holiday World is situated in the southern part of the state about midway between Evansville and Louisville, Ky.

In the days leading up to the announcement, Holiday World intentionally stoked speculation about the new ride, with rumors and predictions proliferating on the Internet.

On its website, Holiday World dropped 66 days' worth of hints on a blog at holidayworld.com/66days.

Thursday's entry reads: "Is this a dream? We dare not breathe as our ship flies over the sea at speeds unknown. The only sound we hear is the thundering of wings and the beating of our hearts. Somehow, this creature will carry us back to land. To the New World. To our home."

Thursday night's announcement was held at Hyena Falls in the Splashin' Safari part of the park. After a brief explanation, park officials showed an animated video of the future ride.

Thunderbird will be located in the park's Thanksgiving section, the release stated. Construction is already underway and may be viewed live on Holiday World's ConstructionCam.

The ride will open next spring, officials said. The park is open daily through Aug. 13 and during weekends through October.

Call Star reporter Bill McCleery at (317) 444-6083. Follow him on Twitter: @BillMcCleery01.