Superman: Ultimate Flight

Overview

logodimensions	150px
imagedimensions	250px
location	Six Flags Over Georgia
section	Metropolis Park
coordinates	33.76575°N, -84.55304°W
status	Operating
opened	April 6, 2002
year	2002
previousattraction	Viper‡R1R‡
location rcdb number	1568
type	Steel
type2	Flying
manufacturer	Bolliger & Mabillard
model	Flying Coaster - Superman
lift	Chain lift hill
height ft	106
drop ft	100
length ft	2759-2798
speed mph	51
inversions	2 (1 non-vertical)
capacity	1100-1500
gforce	3
restriction in	54
virtual queue name	Fast Lane
virtual queue image	Cedar_Fair_Fast_Lane_availability_icon.svg
virtual queue status	available
custom label 1	Trains
custom value 1	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.

Superman: Ultimate Flight is the name of three flying roller coasters currently operating at three Six Flags amusement parks in the United States, those being Six Flags Over Georgia, Six Flags Great Adventure and Six Flags Great America. Each of these steel coasters were designed and built by Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard and opened in 2002 and 2003. Themed to the popular comic book character, Superman: Ultimate Flight simulates flying by positioning its passengers parallel to the track, supported by harnesses and facing the ground through most of the ride. In the station, riders board the train sitting down. After the train is locked and checked, the trains are raised into the flying position. After the ride, the seats are lowered back into the sitting position for the next round of riders.

History

The first flying roller coaster, in which passengers ride parallel with the track,[2] was launched in 1997 at Granada Studios Tour as Skytrak Total.[3] Shortly after, Bolliger & Mabillard

Characteristics

While 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 ft and a 100 ft first drop. They all reach a top speed of 51 mph and feature two inversions. Superman: Ultimate Flight's signature element is its 78 ft pretzel loop; it was the first roller coaster in the world to feature one. A single cycle of the ride takes nearly 3 minutes to complete.[12]

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. 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.

The length of the ride also varies between the locations. Both the Georgia and New Jersey installations feature a track length of 2759 ft, while the Illinois version features a track length of 2798 ft.[13][14][15] 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.[16]

As its name suggests, Superman: Ultimate Flight is themed after DC Comics' Superman character.[17] The track of all three rides is red, with yellow rails and blue supports.[18] The rides' queues are contained within each ride's footprint and contain various elements of Superman theming.[8] 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.[8]

Superman: Ultimate Flight

History

Characteristics

Experience

Station and loading

Layout

Reception

External links

References