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As a victim of Bond's "elbows of steel" where he likes to jam his elbow into my ribs out of the blue on various coaster rides I had hoped that I could get the inside seat for a little fun revenge but as he isn't quite a big as I am so I had to sit on the outside and got smooshed.



The Thunderbolt began its life in 1924 as the John Miller designed Pippin coaster.



In 1968 Kennywood brought in coaster designer Andy Vettel to spruce up The Pippin.  He took the four dips into the ravine of The Pippin and added the double helix that wraps around the station.



With the airtime of The Pippin and one of the most insane helices a legend was born.
 


After a violent (in a good way) run through Thunderbolt's helix it is time to head back into the ravine.



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Paul B. Drabek