This week’s A-Z Coaster of the Week is X-Flight at Six Flags Great America. This is the newest roller coaster here and was possibly one of the most anticipated roller coasters for Six Flags Great America since it hasn’t received a major new coaster in a few years.
Themed to an experimental aircraft taking its first flight, Six Flags did a good job with the theming, even having the ride operators wear flight suits. Although a few things are a bit on the cheese side, like the hanger facade keyhole element, the keyhole control tower element makes up for it!
This is one of only 6 Winged coasters built in the world and is the newest model designed by Bolliger & Mabillard.
The trains for this model are designed so that the rides sit on the outside of the track, versus above or below the track like most standard roller coasters. Each side offers a different experience, so riding both sides are recommended.
Starting in the station, the train heads up the lift hill and flipped upside-down for its first inversion, the Dive Drop. After reaching the bottom at 55 mph, the train is then flipped into a Zero-G Roll, then propelled into an Immelmann. After a quick turn over a pond with some splash effects, the train travels up into another Zero-G Roll into the hanger facade, then up into another turn to go into what’s possibly the longest Inline Twist on a roller coaster that goes through the control tower and through a near-miss keyhole support.
After a short helix, the train then goes up into the brakes. Somehow Six Flags managed to fit 5 inversions on 3000 feet of track in such a small space, but it’s a perfect addition to the park’s coaster lineup.
See the other “A-Z” coasters here.
– Photos and article by Larry Treece
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