Ride Profile
parkworld-online.com
T
he new attraction – the latest of nine Batman coasters at various Six Flags parks – is a re- imagined version of S&S' 4th Dimension (4D)
Coaster, recognised as one of the most extreme rollercoasters on the planet, but a little too unwieldy for all but the three parks (including Six Flags Magic Mountain) that are lucky enough to have it. Batman: The Ride arrives as Six Flags Fiesta Texas' ninth coaster, and it's an impressive addition to the line-up at the park in San Antonio. After being hoisted straight up a 120ft (37m) elevator-
type lift, riders crest along the top of an undulating track and then tumble through the rest of the 1,019ft (31m) journey. Along the way, they reach speeds of up to 38 mph (61kmh). But this is not a ride about speed, it's more about the unexpected movements of the looping gondolas that sit on the outside of the track. During the 80-second ride, thrill-seekers will flip head-
over-heels between four and eight times. The experience will be different each time they ride, according to how the gondolas perform through the different elements, including a highest drop of 54ft (16m). Two beyond- vertical raven drops give the sensation of free-falling, and there are multiple moments of weightlessness. The attraction features a total of five 8-passenger ride vehicles, each composed of four twin-seater gondola. Riders are turned to face passengers in the gondola in front/behind as they tumble head-over-heels. “We are thrilled to deliver a ride experience not to be
found anywhere else on earth,” says park president Neal Thurman. “The ultra-smooth, unanticipated tumbling will add a new element as riders travel along the dipping and swirling track."
JUNE 2015 41
Batman: The Ride features a massive, imposing,
floating and twisting track frame, not unlike an Intamin ZacSpin coaster. Its yellow and black finish give it a most individual and striking look, however. A Bruce Wayne/Batman theme continues throughout the queue line.
Thurman was asked if he has ridden. "Absolutely! As
you can imagine I have enjoyed my share of rides over the years, but Batman: The Ride is one of the smoothest rollercoasters I have ever experienced. Reaction thus far has been incredibly positive from our guests too, who tend to ride more than once as a slightly different experience is delivered with each ride. I think they are going to be amazed at the amount of time you spend riding upside down!”
How’s it work?
Like S&S’ original 4D coaster, the 4D Free- Fly also suspends passengers off to the side of the ride and rotates them about the horizontal axis. But that is where the similarities end. The key difference is that the Free-Fly. as its name suggests, does not mechanically control the spin. The design allows passengers to rotate freely. However, to ensure both a safe and enjoyable ride experience, S&S developed a magnetic- based system that can influence the spin characteristics of the ride and provide a measure of control.
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