Airtime

Airtime describes the sensation of weightlessness — negative G-forces — that roller coaster riders experience when the train crests a hill or valley faster than gravitational free fall. There are two main varieties: floater airtime, characterised by mild negative Gs and a gentle floating sensation where you rise slightly from the seat; and ejector airtime, characterised by intense negative Gs where the lap bar becomes the only thing keeping you in the vehicle.

Airtime is widely considered the defining quality of great coaster design, particularly for steel hyper coasters, giga coasters, and wooden coasters. Dedicated airtime hills (also called camelbacks) are engineered to follow a parabolic trajectory that maximises the negative G phase. Some of the most celebrated airtime coasters in Europe include Shambhala at PortAventura, Goliath at Walibi Holland, Balder at Liseberg, and Untamed at Walibi Holland — all consistently ranked at the top of enthusiast polls for the intensity and quality of their airtime.