Full Throttle (roller coaster)

Last updated
Full Throttle
Full Throttle logo.png
SFMM- Full Throttle.JPG
Full Throttle's features the world's third tallest vertical loop at 160 ft. The train uses the loop twice for the ride.
Six Flags Magic Mountain
Location Six Flags Magic Mountain
Park section Six Flags Plaza
Coordinates 34°25′23″N118°35′50″W / 34.423178°N 118.597174°W / 34.423178; -118.597174 Coordinates: 34°25′23″N118°35′50″W / 34.423178°N 118.597174°W / 34.423178; -118.597174
StatusOperating
Opening dateJune 22, 2013 (2013-06-22) [1]
CostUS$6 million
ReplacedLog Jammer
General statistics
Type Steel  – Launched
Manufacturer Premier Rides
Track layoutTerrain
Lift/launch system3 linear synchronous motor launches
Height160 ft (49 m)
Length2,200 ft (670 m)
Speed70 mph (110 km/h)
Inversions 2
Duration1:30
Capacity800 riders per hour
G-force 4.0
Height restriction54 in (137 cm)
Trains2 trains with 3 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 3 rows for a total of 18 riders per train.
Fastpass availability icon.svg Flash Pass available
Attraction transfer icon.svg Must transfer from wheelchair
Full Throttle at RCDB
Pictures of Full Throttle at RCDB

Full Throttle is a steel launched roller coaster located in Six Flags Plaza at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California. [2] It was designed and manufactured by Premier Rides, and opened on June 22, 2013. [2]

Contents

The ride featured the world's tallest vertical loop at 160 feet (49 m) when it opened, a record surpassed on January 1, 2016 when Flash opened at Lewa Adventure in Xianyang, China. It is also the first roller coaster to feature a top-hat element on top of a vertical loop.

History

In late 2012 Baltimore-based roller coaster manufacturer Premier Rides was announced as the builder of the coaster. [3] Construction of Full Throttle started shortly after the Log Jammer log flume was closed on October 31, 2011. [4] [5] In March 2012, details of a launched roller coaster named Full Throttle were leaked to the Los Angeles Times . [6] On April 4, 2012, Six Flags trademarked the name Full Throttle. [7]

On August 28, 2012, Six Flags Magic Mountain officially announced Full Throttle. [8] Along with Full Throttle there would be a new themed section to host the new coaster.

In mid-November 2012, construction walls went up, blocking off the construction site in Six Flags Plaza. [9] For the new themed section, What the Fried? (restaurant) and Warner Bros. Kids' Club (theater) were demolished before the construction walls went up. [9] By mid-December, the first pieces of Full Throttle's track had arrived on site. [10] In late February, Full Throttle started to become vertical until April 12, 2013 when it was complete. [11] [12]

Six Flags Magic Mountain confirmed on Twitter that Full Throttle would open on June 22, 2013. [1] Later that year in November, seat belts were installed on both Full Throttle and Goliath. [13] A permanent covering over the loading station was also added during this time. [14]

Ride experience

The train is launched from 0 to 70 miles per hour (110 km/h) using one of the three linear synchronous motor out of the station and enters the record-breaking giant 187-foot-tall (57 m) vertical loop. [2] [15] Riders then enter into a high-banked curve to the right and then another to the left as they approach the second inversion, a dive loop. [16] This inversion drops down into a tunnel previously used for the park's monorail system, where the train comes to a halt. [17] The train is then launched backwards out of the tunnel and partially up the dive loop. Once it loses its backward momentum, the train returns forward into the tunnel and is launched out of the tunnel and straight into a high-G turn to the left. [18] Riders then go up the top hat that is located on top of the loop. [19] Riders drop from the hill and reach the brake run before entering a 180-degree turn to the left back into the station. [16] Duration of the 2,200 foot (670 m) ride is under one minute. [2] [15]

Entrance to Full Throttle with the 160 foot loop SFMM- Full Throttle 2.JPG
Entrance to Full Throttle with the 160 foot loop
The dive loop before entering the tunnel SFMM- Full Throttle 3.JPG
The dive loop before entering the tunnel

Trains

The train is configured in a 2 trains with 3 cars per train layout. Riders are arranged 2 across in 3 rows for a total of 18 riders per train. [2] [15] The roller coaster configuration makes the capacity of 800 riders per hour. [2]

Plaza and station

Full Throttle's station was once open aired, but shade has since been placed over the station. Its theme is unlike other coasters in the park. In front of the station is a dining area and gift shop in a building with "Full Throttle" badging. [20] There is also a stage where dance parties are often held featuring a DJ, drum player, and "Full Throttle dancers."

Reception

Upon its building, Full Throttle received positive reviews from critics. Brady MacDonald of the Los Angeles Times states, "you ride Full Throttle and there's only one reaction: wow". MacDonald claims the ride starts "silky smooth and whisper quiet" and launches as a "rocket-fast launch". MacDonald criticized the activation of the brakes as the train descends the top hat. [21]

Records

Upon debut, Full Throttle surpassed Superman: Krypton Coaster at Six Flags Fiesta Texas for the tallest vertical loop on a roller coaster. [6] In January 2016 the record was conceded to Mack-manufactured Flash at Lewa Adventure amusement park located in China. However, Full Throttle's loop remains the tallest loop in North America.

It has the first top hat attached directly on top of the vertical loop. [15] As of 2013 no other looping roller-coaster has this type of top hat. [22] [23]

Awards

Golden Ticket Awards: Top steel Roller Coasters
Year20142017
Ranking39 [24] 50 [25]

Related Research Articles

Steel roller coaster Roller coaster that is defined by having a track made of steel

A steel roller coaster is a roller coaster that is defined by having a track made of steel. Steel coasters have earned immense popularity in the past 50 years throughout the world. Incorporating tubular steel track and polyurethane-coated wheels, the steel roller coasters can provide a taller, smoother, and faster ride with more inversions than a traditional wooden roller coaster.

Vertical loop Roller coaster inversion

The generic roller coaster vertical loop, where a section of track causes the riders to complete a 360 degree turn, is the most basic of roller coaster inversions. At the top of the loop, riders are completely inverted.

Six Flags Magic Mountain Theme park in Valencia, California

Six Flags Magic Mountain, formerly known simply as Magic Mountain, is a 262-acre (106 ha) amusement park located in Valencia, California, 35 miles (56 km) northwest of downtown Los Angeles. It opened on May 29, 1971, as a development of the Newhall Land and Farming Company and Sea World Inc. In 1979, Six Flags purchased the park and added the name "Six Flags" to the park's name.

Launched roller coaster Modern form of roller coaster

The launched roller coaster is a modern form of roller coaster. A launched coaster initiates a ride with high amounts of acceleration via one or a series of linear induction motors (LIM), linear synchronous motors (LSM), catapults, tires, chains, or other mechanisms employing hydraulic or pneumatic power. This mode of acceleration powers many of the fastest rollercoasters in the world.

Superman: Escape from Krypton Shuttle roller coaster at Magic Mountain

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Green Lantern (Six Flags Great Adventure) Steel roller coaster

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The Riddlers Revenge Stand-up roller coaster

The Riddler's Revenge is a stand-up roller coaster located at Six Flags Magic Mountain. Manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard, the ride opened as the park's eleventh roller coaster on April 4, 1998, setting multiple world records among stand-up coasters. Originally located in the Movie District section of the park, which later became Metropolis in 2017, The Riddler's Revenge was also the park's single biggest investment at a cost of $14 million. It features a height of 156 feet (48 m), a maximum speed of 65 mph (105 km/h), six inversions, and a track length of 4,370 feet (1,330 m).

X<small><sup>2</sup></small> (roller coaster) Roller coaster at Magic Mountain

X² is a steel roller coaster operating at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California. It is the world's first 4th Dimension roller coaster and was the final roller coaster conceived and installed by ride manufacturer Arrow Dynamics. The ride is unique in that the trains' seats pitch 360 degrees forwards and in reverse independent of the main chassis. The coaster initially opened to the public on January 12, 2002; numerous malfunctions delayed it from debuting in 2001 as was originally anticipated. On December 2, 2007, the ride closed for its transformation into X². It was completely repainted, received new third-generation trains, and featured new special effects including a sound system and a pair of flame throwers. The ride reopened on May 24, 2008, following the upgrades.

Superman: Krypton Coaster Roller coaster in Texas, U.S.

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Tatsu Flying roller coaster

Tatsu is a flying roller coaster designed by Bolliger & Mabillard at the Six Flags Magic Mountain amusement park located in Valencia, California, United States. Manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard, it opened as the tallest, fastest, and longest flying coaster in the world on May 13, 2006. It became the park's seventeenth coaster, featuring a height of 170 feet (52 m), a track length of 3,602 feet (1,098 m), and a maximum speed of 62 mph (100 km/h). Tatsu also features the world's tallest pretzel loop and the only zero-gravity roll inversion on a flying coaster model. Nearly a decade later, The Flying Dinosaur opened at Universal Studios Japan in 2016, breaking Tatsu's length record and matching its speed. In its debut season, Tatsu was ranked 40th among steel coasters in the annual Golden Ticket Awards from Amusement Today, peaking with a rank of 28 in 2012.

Twisted Colossus Roller coaster at Magic Mountain

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Giant Inverted Boomerang Steel roller coaster

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Goliath (Six Flags Magic Mountain) Steel roller coaster

Goliath is a steel roller coaster located at Six Flags Magic Mountain amusement park in Valencia, California. Manufactured by Giovanola of Switzerland, the hypercoaster is located in the Goliath Plaza section of the park and opened to the public on February 11, 2000. Its sub-tropical theme is characterized by ancient ruins of the Mayan civilization. The ride is nearly identical to Titan at Six Flags Over Texas, but it lacks a 540-degree upward helix prior to the mid-course brake run and features a slightly shorter track layout.

The New Revolution (roller coaster) Steel roller coaster

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Scream (roller coaster) Steel roller coaster

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Viper (Six Flags Magic Mountain) Steel roller coaster

Viper is a steel roller coaster located in the Baja Ridge area of Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California. Viper is the last operating roller coaster with seven inversions to be built by American manufacturer Arrow Dynamics. The other two, Shockwave at Six Flags Great America and the Great American Scream Machine at Six Flags Great Adventure, were demolished in 2002 and 2010, respectively. The roller coaster replaced a HUSS ride type named Condor.

Roller coaster elements are the individual parts of roller coaster design and operation, such as a track, hill, loop, or turn. Variations in normal track movement that add thrill or excitement to the ride are often called "thrill elements".

Road Runner Express (Six Flags Magic Mountain) Steel junior roller coaster

Road Runner Express is a steel junior roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California. On November 4, 2010, Six Flags had an investor meeting webcast where they released the new name for the kid's coaster and location in Bugs Bunny World. By April 2011, the entire coaster has finished construction on site. The ride opened on May 28, 2011, for Memorial Day Weekend.

Superman: Ultimate Flight (Six Flags Discovery Kingdom) Launched roller coaster

Superman: Ultimate Flight is a steel Premier Rides roller coaster located at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, California. It opened to the public on June 30, 2012. It is not to be confused with Superman: Ultimate Flight, a B&M steel flying roller coaster at three other Six Flags parks.

Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom Drop tower ride

Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom is a drop tower located at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California. The ride is integrated onto the existing Superman: Escape from Krypton tower structure.

References

  1. 1 2 "Full Throttle Launches..." Six Flags Magic Mountain/Twitter. 12 June 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Marden, Duane. "Full Throttle  (Six Flags Magic Mountain)". Roller Coaster DataBase.
  3. ↑ Hopkins, Jamie (2012-10-01). "Premier Rides to build tallest, fastest-looping roller coaster". The Baltimore Sun . Retrieved 2013-12-07.
  4. ↑ Kurt (October 31, 2011). "Log Jammer Closed At Six Flags Magic Mountain". The Coaster Guy. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
  5. ↑ MacDonald, Brady (November 14, 2011). "Top 13 for 2013: Most anticipated new rides at U.S. theme parks". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
  6. 1 2 MacDonald, Brady (7 March 2012). "Six Flags Magic Mountain spills plans for record-setting coaster". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 25 April 2012.
  7. ↑ Six Flags (April 4, 2012). "Full Throttle". United States Patent and Trademark Office. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
  8. ↑ Martin, Hugo (30 August 2012). "Six Flags Magic Mountain announces 18th coaster". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  9. 1 2 Kurt (November 18, 2012). "Full Throttle Construction Update #1". The Coaster Guy. Retrieved December 29, 2012.
  10. ↑ Kurt (December 16, 2012). "Full Throttle Track Is Onsite At Six Flags Magic Mountain". The Coaster Guy. Retrieved December 29, 2012.
  11. ↑ Kurt (February 2, 2013). "Full Throttle Construction Article Roundup". The Coaster Guy. Retrieved April 15, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Park's Newest World Record Coaster – FULL THROTTLE –To Change Skyline of Six Flags Magic Mountain". 11 April 2013. Archived from the original on 29 July 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  13. ↑ Dahlin, Kurt (November 24, 2013). "Seat Belts Added To Both Goliath And Full Throttle". The Coaster Guy. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  14. ↑ Dahlin, Kurt (December 15, 2013). "Full Throttle Station Gets Permanent Cover". The Coaster Guy. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  15. 1 2 3 4 "What you need to know about Six Flags Magic Mountain's Full Throttle". Fox News. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  16. 1 2 "Magic Mountain Announces Next Mega-Coaster". SCVNews. August 30, 2012. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  17. ↑ Peralta, Mark (August 30, 2012). "Six Flags Magic Mountain Launches World Record Coaster for 2013". Examiner.
  18. ↑ "Six Flags Magic Mountain Cranks It Up: Full Throttle In 2013". KHTS Radio. August 30, 2012. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  19. ↑ "Six Flags Magic Mountain to open world's tallest looping coaster in 2013". Los Angeles Business. August 30, 2012. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  20. ↑ "Full Throttle Media Day At Six Flags Magic Mountain". The Coaster Guy. Retrieved 2013-12-08.
  21. ↑ MacDonald, Brady. "Review: Giant loop on Magic Mountain's new coaster offers big thrills". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 2013-12-07.
  22. ↑ Levine, Arthur. "Full Throttle Preview of Launched Looping Coaster Coming to Six Flags Magic Mountain in 2013". About.com. Retrieved 2013-12-03.
  23. ↑ Brenner, Lisa (2013-06-22). "Traffic chokes LA, 'Full Throttle' roller coaster opens at Six Flags Magic Mountain". KPCC . Retrieved 2013-12-03.
  24. ↑ "2014 Top 50 steel Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today . 18 (6.2): 46–47. September 2014. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  25. ↑ "2017 Top 50 Steel Coasters". Golden Ticket Awards . Amusement Today. September 2017. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
Preceded by World's Tallest Vertical Loop
June 2013 – February 24, 2016		Succeeded by
Flying Aces
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