Tatsu

For other uses, see Tatsu (disambiguation).

Tatsu
Tatsu's terrain layout
Location	Six Flags Magic Mountain
Park section	Samurai Summit
Coordinates	34°25′19″N 118°35′51″W
Status	Operating
Opened	May 13, 2006
Cost	$21 million
Type	Steel - Flying
Manufacturer	Bolliger & Mabillard
Model	Flying coaster
Track layout	Terrain
Lift/launch system	Chain Lift
Height	170 ft (52 m)
Drop	111 ft (34 m)
Length	3,602 ft (1,098 m)
Max speed	62 mph (100 km/h)
Inversions	4
Duration	3:30
Capacity	1600 riders per hour
Flash Pass Available
Tatsu at RCDB
Pictures of Tatsu at RCDB
Amusement Parks Portal

Tatsu is a steel flying roller coaster operating at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California. It opened May 13, 2006. The ride was promoted with a Japanese mythology theme with Tatsu meaning Dragon in Japanese. Tatsu is the only flying coaster to have a Zero-G Roll. It is also the world's tallest and fastest flying coaster.

Overview

Tatsu's 124-foot-tall pretzel loop
 Watch

Seats are boarded normally, then rotate 90 degrees into flying position once engaged.
 Watch

Built by the Swiss roller coaster company Bolliger & Mabillard, seating is designed to simulate flight. After the riders are harnessed, the seat is rotated 90° from the upright to a face-down position. The face-down position is kept for the duration of the ride. The 3,602-foot track passes over four areas of the park and features an elevation change of 263 feet (80 m). The ride has a maximum speed of 62 mph and broke records with a 124-foot (38 m) pretzel loop.

Tatsu At Sunset

Tatsu is a four-minute ride (three minute "in flight") and accommodates an average of 1800 riders per hour. Two trains can be loaded with passengers at the same time. A switch track exists on both sides of the station's exit. The station's floor has a unique design that eliminates the need for a movable floor, which was used on B&M's previous flying coasters. The floor under each car is recessed to allow the seats to flip into flying position with plenty of clearance for the riders' feet, while the floor between the cars are the same height as the rest of the station to allow riders to board easily. B&M's previous flying coasters would include a retractable floor that would drop down prior to the seats being raised into the flying position, to give clearance for the cars and the rider's feet, as part of the dispatch procedure. Ride elements include: a 103' tall corkscrew, a 96' tall Zero-G Roll, an 80' tall Horseshoe, a 124' tall Pretzel Loop, and a 77' tall In-Line Twist.

• The show Who Wants To Be A Superhero makes use of Tatsu for season two's third episode.
• The MTV series Parental Control featured footage of two contestants riding Tatsu.
• Discovery Channel program Mega Builders dedicated an episode to the construction of Tatsu.

External links

• Official site
• YouTube POV video of Tatsu