Take a Spin on the Best Roller Coaster in the Carolinas
Due to popular demand, I’m finally getting around to writing my full review of Afterburn; an underrated inverted roller coaster at Carowinds (Charlotte, NC). It was formerly Top Gun: The Jet Coaster until the 2008 season. The movie theming had to go when Paramount sold the park to Cedar Fair. It’s too bad because the ride’s Top Gun theme really added to the experience. I’ll never forget jamming to the Top Gun movie soundtrack in the queue. I wasn’t jamming for too long as the ride’s capacity was spectacular. With two trains that can hold 32 riders each, the line moved quickly.
After boarding the ski-lift style inverted trains, Afterburn lifts riders to its 113′ tall peak. Then, in textbook Bolliger & Mabillard fashion, the train dips into a swooping first drop. The train picks up speed at a rapid pace and before you know it, you’re back in the air for a large vertical loop. The train finishes the loop then races along the ground for a 
moment. Next up, is a smooth Immelmann. It’s a fitting inversion as it’s named after a real fighter jet maneuver. Heading back towards the lift hill the train traverses a sweet zero-g roll (AKA heartline spin). It’s many enthusiasts favorite inversion and always especially fun on an inverted coaster.
For me, Afterburn’s highlight is the batwing inversion. It’s similar to the cobra roll found on the park’s new Carolina Cobra, only it’s upside-down. So on Afterburn, the train dives and inverts downward into a ravine. Montu has a batwing as well, but in the entire coaster world they are not very common. After the subterannean dive and twisting return to the surface, the train swings over pathways and spirals through the final loop; a corkscrew. Your journey ends with a wide, banked helix and then the station brakes.
What Makes Afterburn So Good
As with the best roller coasters, Afterburns pacing and order of inversions is near perfect. They’re not too close together. There’s no wasted areas where you find yourself just waiting for something to happen. And most importantly there’s no break in the action due to a brake run. It’s also super smooth like most B&M 
coasters and encourage re-rides with its quick moving line. Afterburn is an excellent roller coaster that pretty much maxes out the potential of a what an inverted roller coaster can be. It’s a can’t miss coaster if you’re ever in the Carolinas. Final Rating – 9.0 (Excellent)
Afterburn is rated TH for Thrilling. You better be a somewhat of a brave rider to attempt this one. It’s tall, fast, and turns you upside-down six times. Thrilling roller coasters are a 3 out of 5 on my Thrill Scale. See the full scale here.
What’s Your Take?
What do you think of Afterburn at Carowinds? Leave a comment below.
January 13, 2010 at 13:34
Is it just me, or dose the it`s track look a little dirty.
January 13, 2010 at 13:37
Thanks for the info, Quil. I'm still learning about chat rooms and blogs and stuff, so I know I can sometimes sound like an idiot.
I want to start continuing my site, and I will as soon as possible. I got stuck at Michigan's Adventure, and I'm still there.
January 13, 2010 at 13:39
About Afterburn, I think that's the way it's always looked. At least, I've always seen it that way. It's such a good ride, you don't usually criticize it on that.
January 14, 2010 at 03:50
Yeah for some reason at carowinds ever since the parks got taken over by Cedar fair the rides (mainly afterburn) are looking kind of dirty. I rode it when it was raining and I got a little bit of rust on me! But its still a great ride
February 7, 2010 at 12:06
Yuck! You got rust on you? Thank goodness that's never happened to me!
January 16, 2010 at 16:17
Sounds like a sweet ride, then again, All B&Ms do. Haven't been down there yet, but it is a ride that I want to go on. I especially want to go down there now because of the Intimadator coaster going up.
January 16, 2010 at 16:19
Yeah, afterburn looks great.
January 16, 2010 at 17:34
For now, it's the best ride in the Carolinas. Inverted and Flying coasters are my favorite types of coasters. They make you feel like you're in space.
January 24, 2010 at 17:03
actualy, those are my least favorite types of coasters. Flyers make me feel sick, but i`ll try one again soon to see if i`ll like it, and i just havern`t had good e=xpeiriences on inverts (mostly SLC`s).
February 7, 2010 at 18:05
It helps if you go on a B&M flyer instead of either a Volare or a Flying Dutchman.
January 23, 2010 at 14:16
CC, what score would you have given Afterburn if it was still called Top Gun and had the Top Gun theming?
February 5, 2010 at 03:00
good question CFC, CC?
February 5, 2010 at 12:25
I would have given it a 10. Then again, since this is the best steel coaster I've ever ridden, so far I'd give it a 10 anyways.
February 6, 2010 at 03:48
What's the question?
February 6, 2010 at 07:15
#38 CFC says:
January 23rd, 2010 at 6:16 pm
CC, what score would you have given Afterburn if it was still called Top Gun and had the Top Gun theming?
February 6, 2010 at 09:40
Thanks Judy.
February 6, 2010 at 09:48
I actually haven't ridden it since it's been re-themed, but I don't losing the TG name and soundtrack is enough to bump it down any. It's still a great ride. There wasn't that much to the TG theming, I just have a nostalgic connection to that soundtrack. So, looking back at the review I guess the rating is based on it as it was even though I describe how it is now (without the theming).
Does that make sense? Was the station very different in '09?
February 5, 2010 at 17:00
Im just happy cedar fair didn't name it flight deck
February 6, 2010 at 08:12
ilike the name top gun
February 6, 2010 at 10:02
I've been on the flight deck at California's Great america, but I think it is pretty different. But it's very intense. Same here?
February 7, 2010 at 04:56
most people reffered to it as smooth.
February 7, 2010 at 12:02
It's one of the smoothest rides I've ever been on.
February 7, 2010 at 15:51
Yes, but rides can be smooth and intense at the same time.
February 7, 2010 at 16:37
Exactly. And that's why I love Top Gun/Afterburn so much. It's my favorite coaster due to its smoothness and intensity. That is, unless I232 becomes my new favorite this year. But one thing will stay the same: it will remain my favorite coaster with inversions for quite some time.
March 27, 2010 at 07:20
YAHOO! Carowinds is finally open, and the others will soon follow suit!
April 8, 2010 at 16:48
Best coaster in the Carolinas? Sorry, but Afterburn's just been dethroned. Intimidator takes the cake as the best I've ever ridden.