The i360 says it is still on track to open this summer despite a two month delay in its test flights starting.
The attraction announced last month it was planning on attaching a spire to the top of the tower, which will make it the tallest observation tower outside London, with only the Shard outreaching it in the UK.
However, people eager to see the glass donut in action have begun to ask when the test flights – which the i360 said in January would be starting in March – will be happening.
This has prompted rumours the opening date may have slipped – and reports it could be open as soon as June seem unlikely as ticket sales have not yet started.
@BA_i360 @Eleanor_Harris Come on. When’s lift off. I thought it was meant to be March for testing.
— Paul Zara (@paulzara) May 10, 2016
But the i360 says the spire will not delay its summer opening, and test flights should be starting imminently – and an opening date will be announced nearer the time.
Chief executive Eleanor Harris said: “British Airways i360 is on track to open this summer. The beach building is progressing well, the windows and electrics are in and the internal walls are up. The main structures of the toll booths have been completed.
“We are all very excited about the launch and we will be announcing an opening date nearer the time.
“We plan to open ticket sales around four weeks beforehand.”
In the meantime, anyone keen to see the test flight will have to make do with this “secret” version posted on YouTube:
A planning application for the spire, which will add 11.45m to the height of the tower, taking it to 173.45m above sea level, was made in March and also includes the addition of a children’s play zone inside the beach building and a proposal for the eastern West Pier toll booth to become a tea room.
West Pier Trust chief executive Rachel Clark said: “We are thrilled that the original toll booths from the West Pier are being rebuilt and returned to public use; and the West Pier Trust hopes that in due course they may be joined by a rebuilt octagonal kiosk.”
Funny that they couldn’t put the wind turbine on the top but it’s still OK to put another 11m spire on?
I’m not sure what word would suit it better but “flight” gives me a vision of the doughnut thingy accelerating up the tube and then disappearing out to sea when it reaches the top – or is that just wishful thinking!
OH! If only!
In the era of drones taking photos from great heights, skyscrapers to live in if you like that sort of viewing practice, this throw-back ‘attraction’ is redundant junk. And its hideous appearance upsets the entire seafront and its views. A huge pity.
And as summer official runs from 21st June to 21st September so a 3 month delay could still be ‘on schedule’.
I wonder what the problem is?
Considering the amount of testing required to obtain a safety certificate to operate this ‘attraction’ it would seem highly unlikely that it will up and running this summer. Are there perhaps problems with it we have not been told about? Personally i would be delighted if its maiden’flight’ resulted in the whole sorry structure toppling seawards and demolishing the rusting remnants of the west pier thereby ridding us of both eyesores in one foul swoop!!!
Fell swoop.