originally posted on 9/6/2019
Photo: Courtesy Six Flags. View full-sized image.
Six Flags has recently announced its 2020 offerings within its North American parks. Among its flat rides, water slides and family offerings, there are four coasters to note in the lineup.
Six Flags Great Adventure (Jackson, New Jersey) has upped the single-rail “raptor track” genre with a taller, longer, faster version than the two siblings that debuted in 2018. The style of coaster was introduced by Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) at San Antonio’s Six Flags Fiesta Texas (Wonder Woman Golden Lasso Coaster) and Santa Clara’s California’s Great America (RailBlazer). Great Adventure’s new Jersey Devil Coaster will stand 130 feet tall and run for 3,000 feet. The first two installations of the raptor track featured a first drop of 90 degrees; Jersey Devil Coaster is just slightly less than that at a still exceptionally steep 87 degrees.
Photo: Courtesy Six Flags. View full-sized image.
In addition to the height and length, the capacity has increased as well. Four trains seating 12 will up the numbers from the three trains of eight of the originals.
Following the first drop, riders soar into the first of three inversions, a dive loop. The next two inversions are new for the genre — a Zero G stall (found on many RMC coasters) and a Zero G roll. With a top speed of 58 mph, numerous airtime hills should fan the flames of enthusiasts’ passion for negative Gs.
Photo: Courtesy Six Flags. View full-sized image.
Photo: Courtesy Six Flags. View full-sized image.
Photo: Courtesy Six Flags. View full-sized image.
Completely new is Six Flags Over Texas’ Aquaman: Power Wave. Supplied by Mack Rides, the launched shuttle coaster, which dives into a splash pool, will be the only one of its type in North America. Powered by linear synchronous motors (LSMs), the ride features two vertical reverse spikes, the tallest being 147 feet tall.
Riders begin with a backward launch traveling over the splash pond. Climbing the reverse tower, passengers plummet and cross the pond again, picking up more speed across the LSMs on the second pass. Ascending the second tower, the vehicle again loses momentum and plunges backward toward the LSMs for the third and final launch. Rocketing to the top of the spike, riders prepare to make one last drop, this time with water covering a section of track, which produces an enormous splash. With its Arlington, Texas, location, the ability to combat the heat should prove incredibly popular.
Photo: Courtesy Six Flags. View full-sized image.
Photo: Courtesy Six Flags. View full-sized image.
The first installation of this type of PowerSplash ride from Mack was Walibi Belgium (Wavre) in 2016. Top speed on the ride is 63 mph.
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (Vallejo, California) will receive a Zamperla spinning wild mouse coaster called Sidewinder Safari. The ride will come with a reptile exhibit component.
Relocated from Six Flags Magic Mountain (Valencia, California), Vipère will be the new name of the former Green Lantern: First Flight. With a new location at La Ronde in Montreal, the coaster remains as the only ZacSpin coaster from Intamin to operate in North America. At Coaster Con 42, Six Flags Magic Mountain Park President Neal Thurman implied Intamin would be doing some track refurbishments. How this might change the ride experience is unknown.
While not a roller coaster, enthusiasts can always appreciate similar thrills on water rides such as Six Flags Great America’s new Tsunami Surge, an uphill water coaster that will take the record for world’s tallest water coaster at 86 feet tall.
— Tim Baldwin
ACE News Editor
See video of the 2020 rides being added to the Six Flags chain of theme parks:
Video: Courtesy Six Flags.
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