For many parks in the U.S. and overseas, opening day has come and gone. For others, opening day is just about here. That doesn’t necessarily mean that their big days have come and gone however. Many parks that have already opened for the 2012 season have yet to unleash their newest scream machines, and plan to do so within the coming weeks. Earlier this week I reviewed my trip to Dorney Park on opening day and a short review of Stinger. Now, we will take a look at the other major rides set to debut this season in a three part blog series, starting with the four major rides to debut at Six Flags parks.

Starting in northern California, we take a look at a ride that has yet to really progress, but should open shortly after work begins. Superman: Ultimate Flight at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom will not be anything close to its namesakes at other parks. Instead, this launched ride will be a very unique coaster from Premier Rides that will include a barrel roll almost 150 feet in the air.

Construction has been slow to progress, but with the small amount of track and supports needed to complete the ride, this ride should be assembled very quickly now that vertical construction has begun. While I have not come across any official date for opening, I am crossing my fingers hoping that there is a small chance it may be ready by my visit to the park on May 29, although at this point I think that may be pushing it too much. Expect to see this open sometime in early to mid-June.

Headlining the coaster news in the mid-west, we have X-Flight at Six Flags Great America. After the early success of Wild Eagle at Dollywood, X-Flight has a to follow a tough act. The difference for me between the two will be how well the theme for X-Flight will be executed. The “keyhole” element, where the trains twist and fly through a vertical slot in a control tower, has recently been completed and looks better than it did in renderings.

There have also been pictures and videos surfacing of the water elements being in action and being tested, as well as the forming of the hangar that the trains will fly through just before the “keyhole.” Testing has been well under way, and park employees have already ridden. Season pass holders will be lucky enough to ride starting on May 12, with the ride opening to the general public on May 16.

Eastward in Washington D.C., Six Flags America will get Apocalypse: The Last Stand, which is actually the relocated Iron Wolf from Six Flags Great America. Although it is not a brand new ride, it is a much-needed addition for the park that has not seen any new coasters in a decade or so. It also brings a bit of history to the park, as this ride was B&M’s first ever ride they designed and built under their own name.

The track work was completed just as we got to April, and was originally on schedule for a May 25 opening, in time for Memorial Day weekend. This however, could be in jeopardy due to some rumored delays with the station construction, threatening to move the opening back a couple of weeks. Nothing official has been announced by the park, but if planning to travel to the park around opening time, be sure to check for a status update as we move closer to Memorial Day.

Although Six Flags Magic Mountain saw their coaster count drop to seventeen with the removal of Déjà Vu, the ride will be added to Six Flags New England and open as Goliath, giving fans on the east coast a new ride to experience in Massachusetts. Goliath was originally supposed to open with new trains from Premier Rides, but some reported issues with the new trains have prompted the park to install the original trains and likely use them for now. With the track being completed back in late February, it is likely we will not see the new trains this season. If we do see them this year, I couldn’t see them having the time to test them without either closing the ride for a lengthy amount of time, or possibly waiting until the fall when the park is only opened on weekends, where they could test them heavily during the week. For now, expect to see the old trains when the ride does open.

There is no doubt in my mind that this is the most impressive lineup of new rides that the Six Flags chain will have unveiled in some time. Along with Six Flags Magic Mountain receiving Lex Luthor Drop Of Doom, these four coasters combine to be what should be a very exciting season throughout the Six Flags chain. Which ride are you most excited for?

Stayed tuned for part 2 of our blog series, where we will take a look at more rides in the U.S. set to open in the coming weeks.