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Coordinates: 42°21′56″N 87°56′02″W / 42.365628°N 87.933911°W / 42.365628; -87.933911
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| Testing Started || April 12, 2012
| Testing Started || April 12, 2012
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| 2nd Train Assembled on Track || {{N/A|TBD}}
| 2nd Train Assembled on Track || {{N/A|Not Yet Complete}}
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| Opened || {{N/A|Still Under Construction}}
| Opened || {{N/A|Still Under Construction}}

Revision as of 22:20, 12 April 2012

X-Flight
File:X-Flight logo.jpg
Six Flags Great America
LocationSix Flags Great America
Park sectionCounty Fair
Coordinates42°21′56″N 87°56′02″W / 42.365628°N 87.933911°W / 42.365628; -87.933911
StatusUnder construction
Opening dateMay 16, 2012 (2012-05-16) [1]
Cost$12-15 million[2]
ReplacedGreat America Raceway and Splashwater Falls
General statistics
TypeSteel – Wing Coaster
ManufacturerBolliger & Mabillard
ModelWing Coaster
Track layoutCustom
Lift/launch systemChain lift hill
Height120 ft (37 m)
Drop120 ft (37 m)
Length3,000 ft (910 m)
Speed55 mph (89 km/h)
Inversions5
Height restriction54 in (137 cm)
Trains2 trains with 8 cars. Riders are arranged 4 across in a single row for a total of 32 riders per train.
Flash Pass Available
X-Flight at RCDB

X-Flight is a steel Wing Coaster currently under construction at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois.[3] The 3,000-foot (910 m) long ride will feature barrel rolls and high-speed drops when it opens for season passholders on May 12, 2012 and to the public on May 16, 2012.[1][3]

History

File:X-Flight (Great America) - concept.jpg
X-Flight's concept art.

X-Flight was first announced on September 1, 2011. Six Flags Great America was the first park to announce plans for a Wing Coaster in the United States. It will be located in the park’s County Fair section on the former site of Splashwater Falls and Great America Raceway. It is scheduled to open in May 12, 2012. X-Flight will be one of the first of its kind in the United States with no track above or below them. Riders will sit in pairs, suspended on either side of the track with their feet dangling, as they begin climbing 12 stories before a plunge that launches them at speeds of 55 mph. The coaster will twist through 3,000 feet of intense drops and five inversions, including a barrel roll and a zero-g roll.

One of the most adrenaline-pumping moments on the ride will be an extreme fly-through where the coaster speeds straight toward a structure, before making a last-minute vertical flip to fit through a keyhole cutout.

Great America's President, Hank Salemi said, X-Flight will add to the park’s tradition of introducing coasters and other compelling rides.

“The coaster’s train actually looks like a plane with seats suspended on either side of the track,” Salemi said. “It’s like nothing you have ever experienced before.”

Gurnee Mayor Kristina Kovarik said she’s excited about the X-Flight plans and hopes it bolsters village coffers. She said the fact X-Flight would be the second of its kind in the country bodes well for the village’s tourism industry and the tax revenue that comes from it. However, it is not the first of its kind in the United States, Wild Eagle at Dollywood will open before X-Flight.

Gurnee officials noted in the village’s latest budget documents that Great America is one of parent company Six Flags Entertainment Corp.’s most profitable operations, and added new features to its Hurricane Harbor water park this season.

On January 14, 2012, the American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) held a No Coaster Con event at Holiday Inn Willowbrook in Willowbrook, Illinois to discuss about the parks in the area, including with the managers of Six Flags Great America.[4] The park has announced at the event that X-Flight will be scheduled to open May 16, 2012 to the general public and May 12,2012 for season pass holders and Extreme Pass holders. The coaster will have a water element after the immelmann loop and before the 180 degrees right turn. X-Flight will also have a souvenir store located at the exit called X-Gear.[5][6][7]

Construction history

In early September 2011, land was getting cleared for the new ride, where the former Splashwater Falls and the Great America Raceway used to be located.[8] Pieces of the coaster track arrived in early October, to be ready to get assembled.[8] Then on November 10, 2011, the park added a webcam of the ride construction on their official website to allow park fans and roller coaster enthusiasts to watch the progress. More track has shown up in late November 2011, in the parking lot of the park. The park is finishing pouring 127 Caissons (footers) for the coaster, that can range from 30-foot (9.1 m)-80-foot (24 m) into the ground. As of January, most of the supports are in place. The station is yet to be constructed.[8][9]

Milestone Date Completed
Station Track January 11, 2012
Lift Hill January 27, 2012
First Drop February 1, 2012
First Zero-G Roll February 2, 2012
Immelmann February 7, 2012
180 Degree Right Curve February 8, 2012
Second Zero-G Roll February 8, 2012
270 Degree Left Curve February 10, 2012
Inline Roll February 14, 2012
Transfer and Storage Track February 20, 2012
Helix February 23, 2012
Brake Run March 1, 2012
Footings March 8, 2012
Track Complete March 14, 2012
1st Train Assembled on Track April 7, 2012
Testing Started April 12, 2012
2nd Train Assembled on Track Not Yet Complete
Opened Still Under Construction

On the start of the new year on January 3, 2012, vertical construction has started by putting up a support for the drop. A day later on the fourth, track has been placed for the bottom of the first drop. The first track for the lift hill went up on January 24. On January 27 the final pieces of the lift hill has been topped off.[10] On February 2, the zero-g roll was completed. As of February 3, the Immelmann loop has been started. As of February 7, the Immelmann has been completed and on February 8, the 180 degree turn and the second Zero-G Roll were also completed according to the webcam. The inline roll was completed on February, 14th. The brake run was completed March 1,2012. The trains for X-Flight arrived at the park on March 2, 2012.[11] X-Flight was complete on March 14, 2012.

The first train was assembled on April 7, 2012 and the second train is soon to follow. On April 12, 2012, X-Flight started it's first test run along the course of the coaster.[12]

Ride

File:X-Flight Track Layout.jpg
X-Flight's track layout.

X-Flight will be a Bolliger & Mabillard Wing Coaster.[13] Each train will feature 8 cars which each seat 4 people in a single row.[14] Riders will be seated in pairs on either side of the track with nothing above or below them.[15][16][17]

The ride will begin with a chain lift hill out of the station. Upon reaching the top of the 120-foot (37 m) lift hill, the track inverts riders before they then dive down through a large half loop in a similar fashion to a diving loop. The train will then enter a zero-g roll followed by a dive under a building and into an immelmann. After exiting the immelmann, the track will turn through a water element at about 180 degrees to the right and enter a second zero-g roll. A sharp left turn will then be followed by an inline twist which will weave through a keyhole gap in an air traffic control tower. The ride will conclude with a tight right hand turn into a set of block brakes. A second set of brakes is located after a 180 degree turn to the left. These will lead directly back into the station.[14][18][19][20][21][22][23]

X-Flight will feature different elements along the coaster such as bells and whistles that include water jets shooting alongside the route, and fog machines.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b McDonald, Brady (April 11 2012). "X-Flight wing coaster premieres at Six Flags Great America in May". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 11 2012. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  2. ^ Black, Lisa (3 September 2011). "Six Flags gets in line for more thrill rides". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
  3. ^ a b MacDonald, Brady (September 1, 2011). "Six Flags unveils new attractions for every park in 2012". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on September 1, 2011. Retrieved September 1, 2011.
  4. ^ American Coaster Enthusiasts. "No Coaster Con XXXII". Retrieved January 16, 2012.
  5. ^ Billock, Jen (28 February 2012). "On The Record With ... Hank Salemi". Lake County Journal. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
  6. ^ DejaVu2001 (January 14, 2012). "No Coaster Con 2012". SFGAmWorld.com. Retrieved January 15, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ a b Morgan, Dan (2 February 2012). "X-Flight 'like riding on the wing of a plane'". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
  8. ^ a b c Six Flags Great America (September 16, 2011). "XFlight - Construction Photos". Facebook. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  9. ^ Six Flags Great America (November 28, 2011). "Rebar that is used to..." Facebook. Retrieved November 28, 2011.
  10. ^ Six Flags Great America (January 27, 2012). "We've reached the top..." Facebook. Retrieved January 27, 2012.
  11. ^ Six Flags Great America (March 2, 2012). "First few coaster cars of train 1". Facebook. Retrieved March 2, 2012.
  12. ^ Morgan, Dan (21 February 2012). "Record profit ends Six Flags financial roller coaster". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
  13. ^ X-Flight at the Roller Coaster DataBase Please specify an RCDB ID number as the first parameter.
  14. ^ a b Six Flags Great America (September 1, 2011). "Revolutionary Wing Coaster Coming to Six Flags Great America in 2012". Press Release. Six Flags. Retrieved September 1, 2011.
  15. ^ Robinson-Jacobs, Karen (1 September 2011). "Six Flags parent plans new rides and attractions for sister parks". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
  16. ^ Moran, Dan (1 September 2011). "New coaster coming to Gurnee Six Flags in 2012". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
  17. ^ Filas, Lee (1 September 2011). "X-Flight coming to Six Flags Great America". Daily Herald. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
  18. ^ Six Flags Great America (1 September 2011). "X-Flight - New in 2012 - Get ready to take flight!". Six Flags. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
  19. ^ Six Flags Great America (1 September 2011). "X-Flight POV B-Roll Roller Coaster Six Flags Great America 2012 B&M Wing Rider". Video. YouTube. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
  20. ^ Morgan, Matt (2 September 2011). "Six Thrilling New Theme-Park Rides for 2012". Wired. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
  21. ^ Rhodes, Dawn (2 September 2011). "New roller coaster in the loop for Great America". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
  22. ^ Balde, Lisa (1 September 2011). "Six Flags Unveils New 'Wing Coaster' - X-Flight is billed as the first "wing coaster" in the U.S." NBC Chicago. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
  23. ^ Leshock, Marcus (1 September 2011). "VIDEO: State-of-the-art "wing coaster" X-Flight coming to Six Flags Great America in 2012". WGNTV. Retrieved 3 September 2011.

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