Superman: Ultimate Flight
Superman: Ultimate Flight | |
---|---|
Status | Operating |
Opening date | May 3, 2003 |
Replaced | Shockwave |
Superman: Ultimate Flight at Six Flags Great America at RCDB | |
General statistics | |
Type | Chain lift hill |
Height | 106 ft (32 m) |
Drop | 100 ft (30 m) |
Length | 2,759–2,798 ft (841–853 m) |
Speed | 51 mph (82 km/h) |
Inversions | 2 (1 non-vertical) |
Capacity | 1100-1500 riders per hour |
G-force | 3 |
Height restriction | 54 in (137 cm) |
Trains | Two (Great America) or three (Over Georgia and Great Adventure) trains, with seven (Over Georgia) or eight (Great America or Great Adventure) cars. Riders are arranged four across in one row for a total of 28 (Over Georgia) or 32 (Great America or Great Adventure) riders per train. |
Flash Pass available |
Superman: Ultimate Flight is the name of three
History
The first flying roller coaster, in which passengers ride parallel with the track,
Six Flags ordered two more versions of the attraction for the 2003 season for
In 2006, a clone of the Superman: Ultimate Flight installations opened as Crystal Wing at the Happy Valley amusement park in Beijing, China.[13]
In 2019, the Great Adventure installation's rails were repainted red.[14]
Characteristics
Whilst all three Superman: Ultimate Flight roller coasters are the same model, there are some differences between them. All three feature a top height of 106 feet (32 m) and a 100-foot (30 m) first drop. They all reach a top speed of 51 miles per hour (82 km/h) and feature two inversions.
The original version at Six Flags Over Georgia features a dual-platform loading station, permitting three trains to operate simultaneously. Each train has seven cars, with each car carrying four riders side-by-side in a single row.[2] The other two versions use a more standard single-platform loading station. While this allows a maximum of only two trains to operate at a time, each train compensates by having one additional row for a total of eight rows per train.[3][4]
The length of the ride also varies between the locations. Both the Georgia and New Jersey installations feature a track length of 2,759 feet (841 m), while the Illinois version features a track length of 2,798 feet (853 m).[2][3][4] The ride reaches its maximum speed of 51 miles per hour (82 km/h) at the bottom of the 78 foot tall (24m) pretzel loop, not on the first drop because the ride dives slightly below ground level.
The New Jersey and Illinois versions were also built on what used to be sections of parking lot. Georgia's version was built on hilly terrain, and hence there is a short tunnel when the track enters the 270 degree helix leading into the heartline roll. All three roller coasters were manufactured by Clermont Steel Fabricators located in Batavia, Ohio.[18]
As its name suggests, Superman: Ultimate Flight is themed after DC Comics' Superman character.[16] The track of all three rides is red, with yellow rails and blue supports.[19] The rides' queues are contained within each ride's footprint and contain various elements of Superman theming.[11] The installations at Six Flags Great America and Six Flag Great Adventure have dedicated gift shops near the ride's exit that sell a variety of DC Comics merchandise.[11]
Experience
Station and loading
Once in the
Layout
Superman: Ultimate Flight begins as the train turns to the right and begins to climb the 106-foot-tall (32 m)
Next, the train passes through two consecutive
Reception
Superman: Ultimate Flight was generally well received. Arthur Levine from
In
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Ranking | 33[27] | 38[28] | 35[25] | 45[29] | 49[30] | N/A[26] |
References
- ^ O'Brien, Tim (December 16, 2002). "Six Flags Ships Schwarzkopf". Amusement Business. 114 (50): 8.
- ^ a b c d e f g Marden, Duane. "Superman - Ultimate Flight (Six Flags Over Georgia)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
- ^ a b c d e f g Marden, Duane. "Superman - Ultimate Flight (Six Flags Great Adventure)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
- ^ a b c d e f g Marden, Duane. "Superman - Ultimate Flight (Six Flags Great America)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Glossary (Flying)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Roller Coaster Search Results (Design = Flying)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
- ^ Koranteng, Juliana (January 14, 2002). "Alton Towers debuts coaster". Amusement Business. 114 (2): 9.
- ^ a b O'Brien, Tim (January 28, 2002). "Superman Coaster Set To Soar". Amusement Business. 114 (4): 10.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Air (Alton Towers)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
- ^ O'Brien, Tim (February 10, 2003). "Superman To Soar At Six Flags". Amusement Business. 115 (6): 8.
- ^ a b c d O'Brien, Tim (April 21, 2003). "New Superman Ride Helps Promo Plans At Six Flags Great America". Amusement Business. 115 (16): 5.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Shockwave (Six Flags Great America)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
- ^ Marden, Duane. "Crystal Wing (Happy Valley)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
- ^ "Six Flags Great Adventure Trip Report - Late April, 2019 - The Coaster Kings".
- ^ a b "The World's Greatest Superhero Emerges at Six Flags Over Georgia" (Press release). Six Flags Over Georgia. January 22, 2002. Archived from the original on December 30, 2011. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
- ^ a b "The world's greatest super hero will take to the skies at Six Flags Great Adventure in 2003" (Press release). Six Flags Great Adventure. October 23, 2002. Archived from the original on March 15, 2012. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
- ^ "Six Flags Great America invites park guests to fly like a super hero in 2003" (Press release). Six Flags Great America. February 5, 2003. Archived from the original on May 8, 2012. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
- ^ Guido, Anna (November 7, 2005). "Steel plant's business on fast track". Cincinnati Enquirer. Archived from the original on January 7, 2006. Retrieved August 14, 2013.
- ^ a b Bove, Alex (2003). "Superman: Ultimate Flight". Ultimate Rollercoaster. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
- ^ a b Bevil, Dewayne (November 17, 2008). "Manta on demand: more details about SeaWorld coaster under construction". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on April 14, 2009. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e "Superman - Ultimate Flight Ride Facts" (Press release). Six Flags Great Adventure. October 23, 2002. Archived from the original on March 15, 2012. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Superman Ultimate Flight Six Flags Great America". Sharp Productions. YouTube. July 30, 2010. Archived from the original on December 19, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
- About.com. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
- ^ Thompson, Jeremy (September 5, 2011). "Six Flags Great America (Part 2)". Roller Coaster Philosophy. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
- ^ a b "Top 50 steel roller coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. September 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 3, 2007. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
- ^ a b "Top 50 steel roller coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. September 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 21, 2013.
- ^ "Top 25 steel roller coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. September 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013.
- ^ "Top 50 steel roller coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. September 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013.
- ^ "Top 50 steel roller coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. September 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013.
- ^ "Top 50 steel roller coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. September 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 5, 2013.
External links
- Superman: Ultimate Flight at Six Flags Over Georgia
- Superman: Ultimate Flight at Six Flags Great Adventure
- Superman: Ultimate Flight at Six Flags Great America