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Unfortunately Will is not around to see Thunderbird as he passed on way too soon in 2010 at the age of 48.



So much of Holiday World and Splashin' Safari came from Will and it is nice that there is a little bit more of his magic to add to the park that his children now run as the planning and design of Thunderbird was the last thing he worked on for the park.



As this visit was for the Thunderbird Media Preview after a few words from Lauren and Leigh officially opening the ride it was time for Thunderbird to take flight.



The first two trains on Thunderbird were full of those who bid on the seats in a charity auction.  Holiday World donated all of the proceeds to Give Kids The World which is my favorite charity.



Thunderbird's launch which rockets you to sixty miles per hour in 3.5 seconds is not mechanical like the old Schwarzkopf Shuttle Loops and it is not hydraulic like Intamin uses for Top Thrill Dragster.  Instead Bolliger and Mabillard uses magnets to pull the train down the track faster and faster with a linear synchronous motor.



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Paul B. Drabek