Specific Type: Mega Coaster
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Ever since the 1917 Giant Coaster was relocated from the defunct New England Paragon Park and opened at the park now known as Six Flags America as Wild One, the Largo, Maryland-based park has continued to go for bigger. And the year 2000 was the year that Six Flags America introduced the park's tallest, fastest, longest ride yet -Superman: Ride of Steel. Superman rode up and debuted on May 13th, 2000 as SFA's first megacoaster and the third 200-299' tall coaster from manufacturer Intamin AG's to debut, following the 1999 Superman: Ride of Steel coaster at New York's Six Flags Darien Lake and 2000's other superhero-themed hyper ride - Superman: Ride of Steel at Massachusetts' Six Flags New England. The Maryland Superman follows a mirrored course to the Darien Lake ride, beginning with a 200-foot climb dominating over the park, with a steep 70-degree plunge (experienced at a steeper angle due to tiered seating), five additional hills and two helices packed into the L-shaped layout. Although running through a track circuit a hair shorter than the Darien Lake coaster, Six Flags America's Superman increases the faster-than-a-speeding-bullet miles per hour of 70 to 73, with differing wheel coatings. And with Intamin's tiered hyper coaches, the second row has just as good a view as the front.
With the train loaded, Superman departs with a small right-hand U-turn to the lift. Once on the chain, it's up and away with a speedy trip up and over all else on SFA's property. Down to the left: the twisting maze of track for Joker's Jinx. Straight behind: A glimpse of the Washington Monument off on the horizon on a clear day. Off to the right: the yellow and purple track and supports of Batwing. But the view ahead is every bit as pretty as the surroundings: the beginning of the 70-degree, 205-foot plunge appearing to lead to nowhere. And without a pause, the track steepens until the 70-degree angles are accomplished, then it's time to level back out, red track work speeding beneath at 73 miles an hour. Train banking to the right, riders curve around 90 degrees and then get to the leaping of tall buildings with a leap skyward over 16-stories and over the crest of the first Camelback Hump. The course next plunges back down and leads through the ride's Double Helix, curving downwards 540 degrees and exiting in the opposite direction as the entry. Speeding over a straightaway, passengers next hit the second Camelback, this time with enough force to catapult the train's contents into airtime heaven. Proceeding is a second helix rotating to the left, turning around upwards and ending with a curving dip. Next it's over the Non-Inverting Corkscrew - an airtime hill curving up and curving back down in an S-like pattern. Two final rabbit hops finish off the ride into the final brake run. |
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