When tussauds bought Alton Towers they planned to build a major new rollercoaster every 4 years with thrill rides in the years in between. All these Rollercoasters has a project name SW (Secret Weapon).

The first 2 designs didn't actually get built. These were called SW1 and SW2 and were believed to be arrow coasters.

The next Secret Weapon was SW3. A suspended rollercoaster which really gave Alton Towers it's reputation. Designed by B&M and John Wardley , Nemesis was born. It is themed around a big alien which covers the station and with blood rivers near by it makes it one of the best themed in the world. 

Next up was SW4 even more exciting than SW3. It was promised be a world first. Many enthusiasts from all over the country came to Alton Towers only to discover a huge hole with large steel fencing surrounding the area. It was revealed as the worlds first vertical rollercoaster in 1998 as Oblivion.

Now the hype continues for SW5(Now known as "AIR") which was confirmed by John Wardley at the EEC trip to CWOA that you will notice the world first element when your on the ride. On the Alton Towers official site it has "new generation coaste for 2002" and is situated in Forbidden Valley next to the nemesis on the old beast site.