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ANGLAIR
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PUTTING THE AIR INTO 'AIR'
Powering some of the all-important safety systems on Alton Towers' newest and most ambitious ride to-date is a compressed air system designed by Adrian Raynor, who works at Anglair Nottingham.
The system plays a key role in the safe operation of the braking system on 'Air', a ride designed to simulate flight in its most exhilarating form. Developed at a cost of £12 million, 'Air' was designed by Swiss company, Bolliger and Mabillard, the world's leading bespoke roller coaster designers. The riders are harnessed in a horizontal position, dangling underneath the track, to experience the feeling of flying freely through the air, at speeds reaching 75 kph, with a total G-force of 3.5.
The function of the Compair compressor used in the system is to provide a constant and reliable source of compressed air to the braking system, which is obviously a critical requirement. Initial discussions were cloaked in secrecy when Anglair was first approached in June last year. The brief was given to design a compressed air system suitable for the supply and distribution of air to the braking and track switching systems on a proposed new ride. At that time, all Adrian was told about the ride itself was its code name, SW5 and as the ride cannot function without compressed air, reliability was the key factor.
The installation and performance of the compressed air system
underwent rigorous inspection and testing by the manufacturers'
commissioning engineers and Alton Towers' own technical staff.
Final approval was given by an independent inspection body prior
to the launch of the ride to the public in spring this year.
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