Bolliger and Mabillard
Walter Bolliger and Claude Mabillard were originally part of Intamin. They eventually parted ways and B&M was formed. This coaster company seemed like the wave of the future with coaster manufacturer Giovanola supplying the coaster track. After seeing their previous work Six Flags contacted them to build a stand-up style coaster for Great America. B&M took the job and in 1991 Iron Wolf opened. Several other stand-ups followed, Vortex at Great America and Paramount's Carowinds.
Sadly Vortex was kind of a flop., but B&M redeemed themselves when they invented the inverted coaster. Batman The Ride opened at Six Flags Great America and was an instant hit, but everyone asked themselves, " what's next from B&M?". The answer came in 1992 when they unwrapped Kumba at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.
B&M have since built different coasters, but the floorless has remained popular with many parks. In 1998 B&M took on a project from Alton Towers. John Wardley of Alton Towers had developed a dive machine coasters that plunges you 180 feet straight towards the ground and into a mist filled tunnel. B&M took on the project and Oblivion was born. B&M just recently constructed G5 another dive machine at Janfusun Fancyworld.
In 1998 B&M also released their "speed coaster". These coasters each stand 200 feet tall and reach speeds of 72 mph. They come in two forms out and back and the ever popular twister. Since B&M introduced their "speed coaster" many have been built. Apollo's Cheriot and Raging Bull in 1999, Nitro in 2001, and Silverstar in 2002.
B&M inverted design has remained famous, but their newest design is taking flight. This was another coaster design that B&M worked with John Wardly of Alton Towers. It's a flying coaster. The seats recline and the rider is flipped upside down by a 180 degree twist in the track. AIR was constructed and opened in 2002 to be a big hit. Six Flags also contacted B&M to build a flyer. Superman's Ultimate Flight opened this year at Six Flags over Georgia.
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AIR