X-Flight at Six Flags Great America. It’s fast. It’s smooth. It’s intense.
I had the opportunity to ride X-Flight today at the media event for the coaster and was blown away by the ride.
X-Flight may not be the tallest or fastest coaster at the park, but its smaller size and unassuming appearance from afar really make the experience even better.
Let’s get started. The coaster dominates the County Fair section of the park. The trees hide the coaster until you’re almost at the coaster. But when you do see it, it’s towering over everything else (except American Eagle!).
The queue line for the ride is situated for the most part underneath the coaster, so guests will have ample opportunity to see the coaster up-close before boarding. The misting effects on various sections of the coaster should also provide some mid-summer relief once the temperatures warm up. From the setup today, it appears as though the line will spit towards the end of the queue, similar to American Eagle’s queue divide.
The control tower room is equipped with two mannequins. At first it looked like real people!
Seen here is the secret ladder leading up to the control tower room. This view will soon be blocked as the queue coverings are added.
The station is rather simple with a tarp-like roof. Although it does look similar to an airplane hanger, I found it to be somewhat temporary looking. Hopefully the cover doesn’t tear or rip easily. Only time will tell.
I found the actual station setup to be very open and, although guests enter and exit on the same side, I don’t think this will cause that much of a delay once the ride opens.
The lift hill seemed much faster than other B&M coasters, although it could just be that the shorter lift hill doesn’t take as long to ascend.
The “each seat provides a different ride experience” statement is especially true when the train maneuvers the first drop. Right-side riders dip down, and left-side riders dip up as the train slowly travels through the twist into the dive drop.
Both sides experience the actual drop of the dive similarly, of course, though, the back few rows of seats are pulled down the drop much faster than the first few front rows.
The zero-G roll and immelman elements are both taken with great speed.
I have a thing for smaller-sized immelmann loops.
They’re incredibly photogenic.
This concrete slab currently furnished with picnic tables provides some great shots of the coaster, including the immelmann. I have a feeling it may become something later down the road.
The turn into the second rollover is very intense, especially for the riders on the right side of the train.
The second rollover as seen from Buccaneer Battle.
The turn taken into the inline twist is not as intense as the turn before the second rollover inversion, but it does provide riders a glimpse of what’s to come: the keyhole through the control tower.
The keyhole makes even the bravest scream and close their eyes. I know it’s all an illusion, but it’s a very terrifying illusion.
The second head/foot chopper element provides a similar effect, only with mist added.
The entire inline twist is taken much quicker than I had imagined.
The helix is small and intense. Very forceful compared to some other tamer B&Ms that I’ve experienced in the past. It’s especially intense for those sitting on the right side of the train.
The entire X-Flight area is beautiful. It’s very open and X-Flight draws your attention.
I cannot thank the Six Flags Great America staff enough for such a spectacular media day. From my great media escort, to the free food, everything was top-notch and every staff member was friendly and helpful. Also on hand at the event were several industry big names, including Mr. Walter Bolliger himself! I have to admit I did feel somewhat star struck when I met him, although he was a joy to talk with.
From talking with some Six Flags officials at the event, I think we’ll be seeing more wing coasters appear at Six Flags parks in the future. I think a wing coaster would make a great addition to any of the other Six Flags parks.
Want to see more pictures of X-Flight? See our gallery on Facebook here. Check out our onride video of X-Flight below:
Have you ridden X-Flight? What are your thoughts on the coaster? Share them below!
i rode x-flight for the first time today.. i was on the left side. i thought it was amazing. the first drop is the best first drop of any roller coaster ive ever been on. even 14 hours after i rode it i can still feel that drop in my body even though all it is is pure weightlessness. the whole roller coaster looks very slow and not very intense, but the look of it does not show the true side. every second of the ride is intense, smooth, and it feels like you’re going faster than you actually are. the keyhole was amazing, as well. i dont even know what to say about the keyhole, just that it was awesome. you spin slowly so you feel like you’re not spinning fast enough to get through the hole. i cant wait to go back sometime this summer and go on it again!
I’m with you jake. I went on it opening day on left side and it looks really slow and boring from outside but once your on the amount of time in weightlessness is so fun and it may not be so intense but what it all comes down to is how much fun are you having? And my answer is definetly ALOT and it is now my favorite ride in the park.
I can’t wait to go in August, I go every August. Great review!
Im with both of you guys i rode it twice yesterday on both sides and it was amazing on both! If you dont want to wait in the long lines get there right when the park opens and go on it. The line wasn’t even 5 minutes! It is my favorite ride there!
oh my collar bones ouch
note to self: dont sit on the right side> i havent riden it yet but i hope i find the courage to!
This ride ROCKS! It’s one of my 2 favorites at the park, along with Raging Bull. Yes, I even like it better than Goliath. The X Flight has so many maneuvers it pulls off and there’s no wasted track. I wish Superman had one or two more inversions, like X Flight has. The restraints are so comfortable. This ride is a fun machine! It’s definitely re-rideable. We hit it 4x in a row towards the end of the night. Great ride!
Simply put, X-Flight made me fall in love again with roller coasters.
The climb is fast and I love the rotation before the first drop; the rotation is like a kiss on the cheek before your first beautiful and intense inversion.
This is the smoothest roller coaster I have ever experienced. It’s like you are actually flying through the clouds. Floater after floater after floater. My cheeks barely touch the seat in the front row on the right side.
I consider it a joy machine; I never leave without a huge smile on my face.
X-Flight is exactly what a wing coaster should be.
Also, no complaints about the restraints because they are never too tight on me and I feel incredibly safe wearing it. I actually wish those restraints were more common.