Stealth at 20: Celebrating 20 Years of Thorpe Park’s Iconic Launch Coaster

Few roller coasters in the UK have made an entrance quite like Stealth. When the ride launched at Thorpe Park in 2006, it instantly redefined what British thrill seekers expected from a coaster.

With a blistering 0–80 mph launch in just 1.8 seconds, Stealth didn’t just break speed records — it delivered one of the most intense adrenaline rushes the country had ever seen.

Now, 20 years later, this iconic launch coaster is still firing riders down the track at breathtaking speed, proving that some thrills never go out of style.

The Day the UK Got Its Fastest Launch

When Stealth debuted in March 2006, it instantly became:

• The fastest roller coaster in the UK
• One of the fastest accelerating coasters in Europe
• The first UK ride to deliver a true hydraulic launch experience

Built by legendary coaster manufacturer Intamin, Stealth uses the same hydraulic launch technology that powered some of the world’s fastest coasters at the time.

Here’s what riders experience:

1. The train slowly rolls into position on the launch track
2. A voice counts down like a drag race start
3. 3… 2… 1… GO!
4. In under two seconds, riders blast from 0–80 mph

For a moment, it feels less like a roller coaster and more like being fired out of a cannon.

The Famous Top Hat Moment

After the blistering launch, Stealth shoots riders up its signature 205-foot “top hat” element.

At the peak, the train briefly slows — giving riders a split second to take in the view across the park and the nearby lake.

Then gravity takes over.

The train plummets straight back down the other side before racing through a high-speed turn and into the brake run.

The whole experience lasts around 40 seconds, but the adrenaline rush sticks with you much longer.

A Ride That Still Packs a Punch

Twenty years later, Stealth is still a fan favourite at Thorpe Park.

Despite the arrival of newer rides like Hyperia, Stealth remains one of the park’s most popular attractions, often drawing some of the longest queues.

Why? Because the ride delivers something simple but powerful:

Pure speed.

There are no inversions. No complicated layouts. Just a brutal launch and towering drop that makes riders laugh, scream, and immediately want to ride again.

Fun Stealth Facts You Might Not Know

• Top speed: 80 mph (129 km/h)
• Height: 205 ft
• Launch: 0–80 mph in 1.8 seconds
• Theme: Drag racing / Formula-style speed
• Manufacturer: Intamin

It was also heavily inspired by the famous launch coaster Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point in the United States, though Stealth offers a more compact and re-rideable layout.

Why Stealth Still Matters

Many rides have opened in the UK since 2006, but Stealth still holds a special place in coaster history.

It proved that British parks could deliver world-class thrill rides, helping push the industry forward.

Without Stealth raising the bar, it’s hard to imagine later headline attractions like:

• The Smiler at Alton Towers
• Wicker Man at Alton Towers
• Hyperia at Thorpe Park

Stealth helped prove that big, bold thrills could thrive in UK theme parks.

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20 Years Later… Would You Still Ride?

Two decades after its debut, Stealth still delivers the same moment of anticipation:

The countdown.

The sudden silence.

And then the explosive launch that pins riders to their seats.

For many UK thrill seekers, it’s the ride that turned them into coaster fans in the first place.

And if history is anything to go by, that launch will still be shocking riders for many years to come.

Happy 20th birthday, Stealth.