Revolution

Revolution is a launched shuttle roller coaster at Blackpool Pleasure Beach in Blackpool, England. It was built in 1979 by Arrow Development and was the first European roller coaster to feature an inversion. Until 2007, it remained the park’s only inverting coaster. The ride is one of just three Arrow Development shuttle coasters still operating today. Diamond Back at Frontier City and Sidewinder at Elitch Gardens Theme Park are the other two. The coaster was originally painted red and white with the Union Jack on the front and back. Revolution introduced Europe to inverted roller coasters when it opened. In the 1990s it was sponsored by Irn-Bru and renamed Irn-Bru Revolution. The sponsorship ended in 2011, and the ride returned to its original name. The coaster has been repainted several times, most recently in grey and white in 2012 and again in 2017. It has also appeared in BBC’s Jim’ll Fix It and an Irn-Bru commercial. The ride experience begins with a launch from a raised platform into a vertical loop. The train climbs a second platform before reversing back through the loop. The coaster reaches speeds of 72 km/h and subjects riders to 4 Gs. Its tallest point is 17 metres, with a drop of 14 metres. The single train has four cars, each seating four riders in two rows. The track’s steepest angle is 52 degrees.