Crystal Wing
Specific Type: Flying Coaster
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It’s a bird, it’s a plane, IT’S SUPERMAN! Well it is and it isn’t, Crystal Wing at Happy Valley in Beijing is a Superman model flying coaster by B&M. It shares the same layout with the three Superman - Ultimate Flight coasters at Six Flags Over Georgia, Great Adventure, and Great America; however it is not the same. Happy Valley has four highly themed areas, and Crystal WIng is located in the Aegean Sea Area. The area is themed to Greek culture, history, and mythology. The centerpiece for the area is the Lost City of Atlantis. This massive city is built with forced perspective, similar to Cinderella’s Castle at Disney’s Magic Kingdom so it appears taller than it really is. This is the setting for Crystal Wing, and that is what really sets it apart from the other Superman models.
After guest explore the city and make their way into the station for Crystal Wing they load onto one of the two trains. Each train has seven cars and each car accommodates four riders just like other B&M flyers. Once the train is locked and checked it pivots into the flying position and departs the station for the 106 foot tall lift hill. The hill passes by tall canyon walls and faces riders up with a view of the city perched atop this mythical mountain. At the top of the hill riders are faced with a massive castle wall. The train drops and dives under an archway and curves around with the mountain and city whizzing by on both sides at 51 MPH. Once the train reaches the bottom it soars back up and enters the pretzel loop. As the train maneuvers thought this signature element it starts with a head first dive straight down towards a lagoon, right before it hits the water it flips riders onto their back with a punishing positive G sensation. The riders exit the element in almost a standing position heading back up and then it finally soars out. The train banks around to the right in a graceful turn that really makes riders feel the sensation of flight. The train then banks even harder and passes through a narrow canyon with a series of land bridges. The train banks hard to lhe left and then the right passing the city and back into the canyon. The train enters an in-line-twist blind and then finally into the brake run. Even though you think you may be familiar with this ride the setting really changes the ride experience and immerses guests in a mythological thrill ride. |
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