Chicago area theme park Six Flags Great America recently announced their 2012 roller coaster, X-Flight. The Bolliger & Mabillard designed roller coaster will feature a new seating system where riders sit on either side of the track instead of on top or below it. With a more open riding experience and no place to hide, X-Flight will be the first of its kind in the United States. B&M debuted this new design with last year’s Raptor at Gardaland in Italy.
Here’s a video previewing Six Flags Great America’s new X-Flight roller coaster:
I have to say that X-Flight looks amazing! The new riding viewpoint will no doubt be exciting, but the additional elements could really make this ride for me. It’s great to see how the designers added enough elements to make it more than just a simple showcase of a wing coaster. That keyhole fly-through looks to be an awesome signature element destined to be splashed across press photos for the park for years to come. Without having terrain to play with, elements like this and even the tunnel are the perfect way to spice up a ride. It’s reminiscient of Demon’s rocky elements, its groovy tunnel, and waterfall. I often look at coaster layouts and long for a simple tunnel or some kind of creativity like this. I didn’t get to experience Six Flags Great America completely during my rainy trip to the park years ago. So, the park has shot up to the top of my list of parks that I need to revisit.
See more 2012 roller coasters set to debut at other theme parks around the World.
What’s Your Take?
I’ll be adding my take in the coming days, but what do you think of this new coaster for Six Flags Great America? Leave a comment below and vote in this first impression poll.[poll id=”46″]
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2012 Roller Coasters Page |
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