Blue Fire Europa Park: What makes this roller coaster so special

From 0 to 100 km/h in just 2,5 seconds – the Blue Fire Europa Park shoots off like a catapult! This roller coaster is definitely one of the most exciting attractions I have ever been on Europa Park I've experienced it. A truly amazing mix of speed and thrills awaits you on a track stretching over 1000 meters.

It features the highest loop of a catapult ride in Europe, along with a daredevil 360° twist and two other overhead elements. Located in the Icelandic themed area since 2009, the attraction, with its maximum height of 38 meters, focuses on fun rather than discomfort – the vertical acceleration is only 3,8g. The entire project cost approximately €20 million, and with a capacity of 1720 people per hour, the Blue Fire is not only technically impressive but also an absolute must-see for any Europa-Park visit.

What makes Blue Fire at Europa-Park so special

The Blue Fire is truly something special among Europa-Park's attractions. For the first time since the park opened in 1975, visitors can ride upside down on a roller coaster at Europa-Park. What makes this marine steel roller coaster so unique? Its special features are quickly explained.

First launch coaster with inversions in the park

April 4, 2009 It was a historic day for Europa-Park. For the first time ever, there was a roller coaster with inversions – that is, overhead elements. Concerns about having overlooked the target audience were quickly forgotten. Today, the attraction is one of the park's most popular highlights.

But the Blue Fire isn't just another thrill ride. It's a deliberately subdued looping coaster that appeals to virtually all park visitors. This makes Blue Fire a family adventure with a thrill rather than a pure adrenaline rush.

Unique combination of dark ride and roller coaster

Particularly clever: Blue Fire combines dark ride elements with a launch coaster. Before the actual catapult launch, guests first experience a short dark ride section. In an underground cave, scientists are working on a secret energy generation system that suddenly goes out of control.

Steam billows from every crack, the cavern is bathed in red light, and without warning, the train shoots out into the open. This blend of history and pure rollercoaster thrills makes the ride a multisensory experience.

Four overhead elements for maximum thrills

The absolute highlight are the four spectacular overhead elements:

• A 32-meter-high loop – the highest catapult track in Europe
• A daring 360° screw (Twisted Horseshoe Roll)
• A breathtaking Heartline Roll, where you would literally be thrown out of the car, were it not for the safety bars
• An exciting fourth overhead element

There's also a so-called "hump" – a small elevation that runs right through the loop, providing a slight airtime sensation. The track winds repeatedly through rugged rock landscapes and fights its way underground through the rock.

The high-tech seating system ensures maximum riding pleasure with optimal safety. With a total capacity of 1720 passengers per hour, up to 20.000 people can experience the fascination of the Blue Fire every day.

All these elements together make the blue fire Megacoaster an incomparable adventure that is unique in its form worldwide.

Technical highlights of the roller coaster

The technology behind the Blue Fire is quite impressive. The technical specifications show why this roller coaster is one of the modern masterpieces in the amusement park sector.

Acceleration: 0–100 km/h in 2,5 seconds

The heart of the Blue Fire is definitely its acceleration. It goes from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2,5 seconds – you'll really feel it! During the ride, acceleration forces of up to 3,8 G act on your body, meaning you feel 3,8 times your own body weight. The explosive takeoff takes place on an approximately 80-meter acceleration track at around 1 G.

Overview of the fastest roller coasters in the world

Name	Location	acceleration	Max km/h	Length
Red Formula	Abu Dhabi (UAE)	0-240 km/h in 4,9 s	240 km/h	2.200 m
Kingda Ka	New Jersey (USA)	0-206 km/h in 3,5 s	206 km/h	1.206 m
Top Thrill Dragster	Ohio (USA)	0-193 km/h in 4 s	193 km/h	1.200 m
Do-Dodonpa	Japan	0-180 km/h in 1,8 s	180 km/h	1.076 m
Blue Fire	Germany	0-100 km/h in 2,5 s	100 km/h	1.050 m

Length, height and speed at a glance

The entire route of the Blue Fire measures 1056 Meters and overcomes a height difference of 38 meters. The four overhead elements – including the highest loop of a catapult ride in Europe and the spectacular 360° twist – provide serious adrenaline rushes. The entire ride lasts approximately 2 minutes and 20 seconds.

Special features of the LSM drive

Blue Fire uses a linear synchronous motor (LSM) from Intrasys. Unlike conventional drives, this one operates contactlessly using electromagnetic fields, meaning no mechanical power is transmitted via chains or cables. Acceleration is achieved through the interaction of stators in the track and permanent magnets on the train.

During launch, the system reaches a peak output of approximately 3000 hp. The block brake after the initial run is particularly clever: Instead of mechanical friction brakes or hydraulically lowerable eddy-current brakes, Blue Fire also uses wear-free stators.

Trains, seating system and safety features

Five trains, each with five carriages, are in operation, carrying 20 passengers per train. This means the system can theoretically carry up to 1720 passengers per hour. The specially designed low-floor carriages allow for virtually step-free entry.

The safety system is quite innovative: Instead of conventional shoulder straps, a slim lap strap is used, offering maximum freedom of movement while remaining completely safe. A cool detail is the heart rate monitors with LED displays in the straps, which display your current heart rate during the ride. Additionally, each seat has two stereo speakers that play specially composed music during the ride.

Practical information for visitors

Before you head out on the Blue Fire, there are a few important things you should know. Here are the most important facts for your visit.

Blue Fire Europa Park: What is the minimum age to ride?

There's a strict age limit for the Blue Fire: passengers must be at least seven years old. They also need to be a certain height for the safety systems to function properly. Buy tickets now and save €10!

Minimum height and Big Boy seats

The minimum height is 130 centimeters. For those with a larger body size, there's a practical solution: two special "Big Boy Seats" are located in row 10. At the entrance, you can test the seat to see if you fit in a regular seat. If not, you'll receive a pass for the special seats in the last row.

Waiting times and single-rider line

On busy days, the wait time is around 30-40 minutes. But there are two clever tricks to shorten it:

• Single-Rider Line: Individual riders can use a separate queue
• VirtualLine: You can reserve a time slot via the Europa-Park app

Valuable tips on the Waiting times at Europa-Park We have compiled this in another article.

Photo points and on-ride video

In front of the entrance, a rock terrace along the acceleration track is perfect for companions who want to take photos. Cameras film the reactions during the ride. The video can be purchased as a download afterward.

Accessibility and boarding aids

Europa-Park has done a lot to improve accessibility in recent years. Particularly noteworthy: People with physical disabilities have recently been able to experience the Blue Fire ride thanks to a ceiling hoist system and special lifting slings. The low-floor cars have a virtually seamless floor, making boarding much easier.

Blue Fire in the context of Europa-Park

Since 2009, the blue fire Megacoaster has Europa-Park changed quite a bit. The steel roller coaster has now become one of the park's main attractions.

Significance for the park and visitor numbers

With Blue Fire, Europa-Park increased its visitor numbers by 6,3% to 4,25 million visitors in its opening year. These figures were maintained in 2010, even though visitor numbers at Europe's 20 most visited theme parks declined by an average of 1,8%.

Comparison with other roller coasters in the park

Blue Fire is one of a total of 14 roller coasters at Europa-Park. The WODAN – Timburcoaster impresses with its impressive wooden structure, while Silver Star thrills with its extreme heights. Blue Fire, on the other hand, impresses with its successful blend of family friendliness and thrills, making it one of the main attractions.

International versions of Blue Fire

The success was so great that Mack Rides has now built eight more examples for amusement parks worldwide:

• Battle of Blue Fire (Quancheng Euro Park, China)
• Serpent Dragon (Sochi Park, Russia)
• Velociraptor (IMG Worlds of Adventure, UAE)

Thematization in the Iceland area

The Icelandic themed area expanded Europa-Park from 70 to 85 hectares. A charming fishing village with typical wooden and corrugated iron facades stretches across 2 hectares, surrounded by 5.000 m² of artificial rock. Initially, Blue Fire was the only attraction here; today, the Splash Battle "Whale Adventures" and the wooden roller coaster WODAN complement the themed area.

Conclusion: A must for adrenaline fans and families

The Blue Fire is definitely one of the attractions you shouldn't miss at Europa-Park. The catapult launch, the four overhead elements, and the successful theming make this roller coaster a real highlight. The family-friendly design is particularly clever – despite the considerable thrills, the ride remains enjoyable.

The G-forces are well-controlled at a maximum of 3,8 G, making the Blue Fire perfect for anyone who wants to ride upside down for the first time. It's really well thought out.

If you fancy the 2,5 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h after reading this: Buy tickets now and save €10! Information on waiting times and minimum size will help you plan your visit.

By the way, although Europa-Park now has 14 different roller coasters, the Blue Fire remains an absolute highlight in the Island section. Its success was so great that eight more versions have since been built worldwide. No wonder – this roller coaster has been making hearts race since 2009, and not just because of the pulse-measuring safety bar!

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