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Green Lantern: First Flight (roller coaster): Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 34°25′31″N 118°36′00″W / 34.425290°N 118.599888°W / 34.425290; -118.599888
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After delaying the ride's opening multiple times, Six Flags eventually settled on an opening date of July 1, 2011.<ref name="Delay-LAT" /> Park officials clarified that the delays were due to unplanned design changes to the loading station and not because of mechanical issues.<ref name="Delay-LAT">{{cite news |last1=MacDonald |first1=Brady |title=Six Flags Magic Mountain pushes back debut of Green Lantern coaster |url=https://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/la-trb-six-flags-magic-mountain-green-lantern-06201102-story.html |accessdate=April 3, 2019 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=June 2, 2011}}</ref> Primary construction was completed in May 2011.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dahlin |first1=Kurt |title=Green Lantern Track Construction Complete At Six Flags Magic Mountain |url=http://www.thecoasterguy.com/2011/05/19/green-lantern-track-construction-complete-at-six-flags-magic-mountain/ |website=The Coaster Guy |accessdate=April 3, 2019 |date=May 19, 2011}}</ref> In addition to Green Lantern's premiere on July 1, other rides in the DC Universe themed area made their debut as well, including ''[[Batman: The Ride]]'', ''The Flash: Speed Force,'' and ''Wonder Woman: Lasso of Truth''.<ref name="LAT Review" />
After delaying the ride's opening multiple times, Six Flags eventually settled on an opening date of July 1, 2011.<ref name="Delay-LAT" /> Park officials clarified that the delays were due to unplanned design changes to the loading station and not because of mechanical issues.<ref name="Delay-LAT">{{cite news |last1=MacDonald |first1=Brady |title=Six Flags Magic Mountain pushes back debut of Green Lantern coaster |url=https://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/la-trb-six-flags-magic-mountain-green-lantern-06201102-story.html |accessdate=April 3, 2019 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=June 2, 2011}}</ref> Primary construction was completed in May 2011.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dahlin |first1=Kurt |title=Green Lantern Track Construction Complete At Six Flags Magic Mountain |url=http://www.thecoasterguy.com/2011/05/19/green-lantern-track-construction-complete-at-six-flags-magic-mountain/ |website=The Coaster Guy |accessdate=April 3, 2019 |date=May 19, 2011}}</ref> In addition to Green Lantern's premiere on July 1, other rides in the DC Universe themed area made their debut as well, including ''[[Batman: The Ride]]'', ''The Flash: Speed Force,'' and ''Wonder Woman: Lasso of Truth''.<ref name="LAT Review" />

Sometime in 2012, Green Lantern received modifications to the trains to reduce the spinning which resulted in unnatural, painful and shaky movements due to mechanical reasons which caused the ride to receive negative reviews from those who experienced the coaster. <ref>http://www.incrediblecoasters.com/SFMMRindgeDam12.html</ref>http://www.incrediblecoasters.com/GreenLanternPhotos.html<ref>https://www.yelp.com/biz/green-lantern-first-flight-valencia</ref>


After the [[Incidents at European amusement parks#Terra Mitica|deadly incident]] on ''Inferno'' at [[Terra Mítica]] in [[Benidorm, Spain]] on July 7, 2014,<ref name="Inferno">{{cite web|last=Couzens|first=Gerard|title=Teenager killed after being thrown from roller-coaster called Hell at Benidorm theme park|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/british-teenager-killed-after-being-3825478|publisher=Mirror.com|date=7 July 2014|accessdate=8 July 2014}}</ref><ref name="Infernoindep">{{cite web|last=Gander|first=Kashmira|title='British' teenager dies after 'falling from rollercoaster' at the Terra Mitica in Benidorm|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/british-teenager-dies-after-falling-from-rollercoaster-at-the-terra-mitica-in-benidorm-9590682.html|publisher=Independent.uk|date=7 July 2014|accessdate=8 July 2014}}</ref> and because the two rides share several similarities, Six Flags Magic Mountain had ceased running ''Green Lantern: First Flight'' pending investigation findings from the European park.<ref>{{cite web|title=Green Lantern Closed As Precaution After Tragedy In Spain|url=http://www.thecoasterguy.com/2014/07/08/green-lantern-closed-precaution-tragedy-spain/|date=8 July 2014|publisher=The Coaster Guy|accessdate=9 July 2014}}</ref> A week and a half later, Six Flags Magic Mountain reopened the coaster.
After the [[Incidents at European amusement parks#Terra Mitica|deadly incident]] on ''Inferno'' at [[Terra Mítica]] in [[Benidorm, Spain]] on July 7, 2014,<ref name="Inferno">{{cite web|last=Couzens|first=Gerard|title=Teenager killed after being thrown from roller-coaster called Hell at Benidorm theme park|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/british-teenager-killed-after-being-3825478|publisher=Mirror.com|date=7 July 2014|accessdate=8 July 2014}}</ref><ref name="Infernoindep">{{cite web|last=Gander|first=Kashmira|title='British' teenager dies after 'falling from rollercoaster' at the Terra Mitica in Benidorm|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/british-teenager-dies-after-falling-from-rollercoaster-at-the-terra-mitica-in-benidorm-9590682.html|publisher=Independent.uk|date=7 July 2014|accessdate=8 July 2014}}</ref> and because the two rides share several similarities, Six Flags Magic Mountain had ceased running ''Green Lantern: First Flight'' pending investigation findings from the European park.<ref>{{cite web|title=Green Lantern Closed As Precaution After Tragedy In Spain|url=http://www.thecoasterguy.com/2014/07/08/green-lantern-closed-precaution-tragedy-spain/|date=8 July 2014|publisher=The Coaster Guy|accessdate=9 July 2014}}</ref> A week and a half later, Six Flags Magic Mountain reopened the coaster.

Revision as of 05:10, 10 May 2019

Green Lantern: First Flight
File:Green Lantern First Flight logo.jpg
Six Flags Magic Mountain
LocationSix Flags Magic Mountain
Park sectionDC Universe
Coordinates34°25′31″N 118°36′00″W / 34.425290°N 118.599888°W / 34.425290; -118.599888
StatusClosed
Opening dateJuly 1, 2011 (2011-07-01)[1]
Closing dateJuly 2017 (2017-07)[2]
General statistics
TypeSteel – 4th Dimension
ManufacturerIntamin
DesignerIng.-Büro Stengel GmbH
ModelBall Coaster – ZacSpin
Height107 ft (33 m)
Length825 ft (251 m)
Speed37 mph (60 km/h)
Inversions0
Duration2:00
Height restriction52–77 in (132–196 cm)
Trains5 trains with a single car. Riders are arranged 4 across in 2 rows for a total of 8 riders per train.
Flash Pass available
Single rider line available
Must transfer from wheelchair
Green Lantern: First Flight at RCDB

Green Lantern: First Flight is a 4th Dimension roller coaster located at Six Flags Magic Mountain amusement park in Valencia, California. It opened to the public on July 1, 2011. Manufactured by Intamin, Green Lantern was the first ZacSpin model in the United States.[3] It was also the second 4th Dimension coaster at the park following X2 from Arrow Dynamics, which opened in 2002.[1] The debut of Green Lantern allowed the park to reclaim the title from Cedar Point for having the most roller coasters in the world.[4] The coaster was closed abruptly in 2017, and in 2019, the park revealed plans to remove the ride.

History

On October 20, 2010, six days after a leaked video revealed plans for a new roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain, Six Flags officially confirmed that Green Lantern: First Flight would open in spring of 2011.[4][5][6] The new coaster, a ZacSpin model from Intamin, would be the first of its kind in the United States.[5] According to the press release, it was scheduled to be built in a "newly themed section" of the park, later revealed as DC Universe in place of Gotham City Backlot.[5][7][8] Reports surfaced in February 2011 that portions of track had arrived on site.[9]

After delaying the ride's opening multiple times, Six Flags eventually settled on an opening date of July 1, 2011.[10] Park officials clarified that the delays were due to unplanned design changes to the loading station and not because of mechanical issues.[10] Primary construction was completed in May 2011.[11] In addition to Green Lantern's premiere on July 1, other rides in the DC Universe themed area made their debut as well, including Batman: The Ride, The Flash: Speed Force, and Wonder Woman: Lasso of Truth.[1]

Sometime in 2012, Green Lantern received modifications to the trains to reduce the spinning which resulted in unnatural, painful and shaky movements due to mechanical reasons which caused the ride to receive negative reviews from those who experienced the coaster. [12]http://www.incrediblecoasters.com/GreenLanternPhotos.html[13]

After the deadly incident on Inferno at Terra Mítica in Benidorm, Spain on July 7, 2014,[14][15] and because the two rides share several similarities, Six Flags Magic Mountain had ceased running Green Lantern: First Flight pending investigation findings from the European park.[16] A week and a half later, Six Flags Magic Mountain reopened the coaster.

In July 2017, the coaster closed unexpectedly for unknown reasons and on March 24, 2019, Six Flags announced the coaster would not be reopening.[2] Santa Cruz Sentinel dubbed the roller coaster as "one of the worst rollers coasters ever," comparing it to other failed attractions (around Los Angeles) such as Rocket Rods at Disneyland, Creature from the Black Lagoon: The Musical at Universal Studios Hollywood, and Submarine Quest at SeaWorld San Diego.

Ride

Green Lantern: First Flight is identical to Insane at Gröna Lund (pictured).

Green Lantern: First Flight is an Intamin ZacSpin roller coaster where riders zig zag along a 825-foot (251 m) track at speeds of up to 37 miles per hour (60 km/h). Riders can flip head over heels several times throughout the ride in a somewhat uncontrolled manner, but due to the way the ride vehicles are loaded, it sometimes doesn't flip at all.[3][17] The ride has the same layout as Insane at Gröna Lund in Sweden.

Green Lantern is similar to X2, another 4th Dimension roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain that opened in 2002. The difference between the two lies in the spinning or rotation of the vehicle. On Green Lantern, the rotation of the vehicle was controlled by the unequal gravitational pull on different sides of the rotational axis. This uncontrolled spinning results in a different ride experience every time.

Theme

As the name suggests, Green Lantern: First Flight is themed to the DC Comics superhero, Green Lantern. Its opening follows that of a stand-up roller coaster called Green Lantern at Six Flags Great Adventure as well as the Green Lantern film. This ride shares its name with a DC Animated Universe movie.

Each of the ride's five cars are themed to throwing-stars. The entrance of the ride was marked by a 10-foot (3.0 m)-tall lantern icon that glows green at night.[10] The Green Lantern battery was located at the entrance of the ride.[18]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c MacDonald, Brady (June 30, 2011). "Review: Green Lantern coaster delivers a kick at Six Flags Magic Mountain". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 1, 2011.
  2. ^ a b "Six Flags Magic Mountain to scrap 'one of the worst coasters ever'". Santa Cruz Sentinel. March 26, 2019.
  3. ^ a b Marden, Duane. "Green Lantern  (Six Flags Magic Mountain)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved October 21, 2010.
  4. ^ a b "Six Flags Magic Mountain Recaptures Coveted World Record of More Coasters than Any Other Theme Park on the Planet!". Six Flags Entertainment Corporation. October 20, 2010. Archived from the original on May 29, 2011. Retrieved May 29, 2011.
  5. ^ a b c Sim, Nick (October 21, 2010). "Video, images: Six Flags Magic Mountain reveals further details of 2011 rollercoasters". Theme Park Tourist. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  6. ^ Scollins, Mike (October 20, 2010). "Magic Mountain: More Coasters Than Any Other Theme Park ON THE PLANET!". Six Flags Blog. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved October 21, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ Siruss, Kevin (July 2, 2011). "Review - Green Lantern: First Flight rollercoaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain". Theme Park Tourist. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  8. ^ Luca, Andrei (May 13, 2011). "DC Universe Update At Six Flags Magic Mountain". The Coaster Guy. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  9. ^ MacDonald, Brady (February 4, 2011). "Green Lantern roller coaster arrives at Six Flags Magic Mountain". Los Angeles Times.
  10. ^ a b c MacDonald, Brady (June 2, 2011). "Six Flags Magic Mountain pushes back debut of Green Lantern coaster". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  11. ^ Dahlin, Kurt (May 19, 2011). "Green Lantern Track Construction Complete At Six Flags Magic Mountain". The Coaster Guy. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  12. ^ http://www.incrediblecoasters.com/SFMMRindgeDam12.html
  13. ^ https://www.yelp.com/biz/green-lantern-first-flight-valencia
  14. ^ Couzens, Gerard (July 7, 2014). "Teenager killed after being thrown from roller-coaster called Hell at Benidorm theme park". Mirror.com. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  15. ^ Gander, Kashmira (July 7, 2014). "'British' teenager dies after 'falling from rollercoaster' at the Terra Mitica in Benidorm". Independent.uk. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  16. ^ "Green Lantern Closed As Precaution After Tragedy In Spain". The Coaster Guy. July 8, 2014. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  17. ^ MacDonald, Brady (October 19, 2010). "Six Flags Magic Mountain aims to reclaim coaster crown with Green Lantern in 2011". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 21, 2010.
  18. ^ Six Flags Magic Mountain (June 2, 2011). "Six Flags Magic Mountain's Photos – Wall Photos". Facebook. Retrieved June 3, 2011.

External links

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