DEMON - SIX FLAGS GREAT AMERICA

This Arrow Dynamics looper dates back to 1976 and remains in pretty good condition for its age.  Consisting of six cars seating two across in rows of two for a total capacity of 24 riders, the train leaves the loading station, travels through a short tunnel, ascends  a 103.7-foot lift hill, veers left and drops 90 feet.  It then goes through two consecutive vertical loops before entering a tunnel with special lighting effects.  From there it rises, negotiates a left turn and enters a second tunnel, finishing with a double corkscrew before returning to the station.

The ride experience is enjoyable for the first three quarters of the ride.  Although some

may disagree with me,  I found the double corkscrew brutally rough and consequently had no inclination to re-ride.  Demon is OK if you don’t mind getting banged up a bit.  2 ½ out of 5 stars.  For more information about rides at Six Flags Great America,  visit www.sixflags.com/greatamerica

AMERICAN EAGLE

A wooden racing coaster with an out and back layout, American Eagle bears the distinction of being the first wooden coaster designed by Intamin.   It probably holds a record for longest entryway to a ride, as it’s necessary to go up and down a number of ramps and flights of stairs to get to the loading station.  There are four trains – two red and two blue – each of which accommodates 30 riders (five cars seating two across in rows of three).   Upon leaving the station, the blue train makes a left turn and the red train makes a right turn before ascending a 127-foot lift hill.  Both trains then drop 147 feet on a straight course – but not at the same time – then travel over a couple of airtime hills and hit a set of trim brakes before entering a left-banked 560-degree helix, in which the red train has the inside track.   This is followed by more airtime hills and a second helix.  The red and blue trains are not always on the same course or going through the same elements until they hit the brake run and it’s a matter of which one crosses the finish line first.

The ride experience is excellent, not nearly as rough as would be expected for a coaster that’s been operating since 1981.  A 147-foot drop is remarkable for a wooden racing coaster; that’s 57 feet more than Hersheypark’s Lightning Racer, another outstanding wooden racing coaster!  The only thing I didn’t like about it is that it is SOOOO slow right before entering the first helix.   Otherwise it’s fine.   American Eagle is simply a delight.  4 out of 5 stars.  For more information about rides at Six Flags Great America,  visit www.sixflags.com/greatamerica

VIPER - SIX FLAGS GREAT AMERICA

A wooden coaster featuring a layout modeled after the Coney Island Cyclone, Viper takes it riders through a rollicking series of turns and airtime hills.   With five cars seating two across in rows of three for a total capacity of 30 riders, the train makes two left turns from the loading station and ascends a 100-foot lift hill, dropping 80 feet sharply to the left before going up into a right-banked turn followed by two consecutive drops.  It turns left and travels over two airtime hills through headchoppers, once again turning left with a double down.  Continuing its course over a series of small hills, it never lets up until hitting the brake run. 

The ride experience is, in a word, super.  Although patterned after the Cyclone, Viper has none of the Cyclone’s punishing roughness.  It is a little rough but not uncomfortably so.   I was fine sitting in the back, something I would never do on the Cyclone.    The ride features a couple of very, very good airtime hills and while the top speed is 50 mph, it gives the impression of going along at a pretty good clip.   In an age of modern wooden coasters with staggering drops, this relatively small coaster can hold its own.  Viper is a gem.  5 out of 5 stars.  For more information about rides at Six Flags Great America, visit www.sixflags.com/greatamerica

RAGING BULL

This Bolliger and Mabillard “hyper-twister” coaster contains many of the same elements as other B&M hyper coasters but with a different layout.  (The restraints consists of lap bars similar to those on other B&M hypers.) Seating four across in nine rows for a total capacity of 36, the train makes a left turn from the station, dips (like B&M’s Nitro) and ascends a 202-foot lift hill.  Upon reaching the top, it makes a pre-drop before plummeting 208 feet into a tunnel at 73 mph and going up into the first of two hammerhead turns.   Coming off the hammerhead turn, the train slows perceptibly in ascending the second hill.  This is because trim brakes were added since the ride first opened.   After dropping 128 feet the train passes under the lift hill and ascends to the second hammerhead turn.  The ride features a number of twists and unlike other B&M hyper coasters I’ve ridden, this one has a helix AFTER the brake run, not before.   The helix is followed by several turns and some bunny hills.

The ride experience is enjoyable and at 2 minutes 30 seconds, you get a lot of ride for your money.   The pre-drop at the top of the lift hill is fun because riders get the impression that they are about to take off, only to discover that this was just a teaser.  (Pre-drops are common – B&M’s Apollo’s Chariot has one – and designed to ease the tension on the chain pulling the train up the lift hill.)  One thing I didn’t like about the ride was the trim brakes, as I felt that they detracted from the overall ride experience and created the impression that the train was about to lose power.   All in all, however, Raging Bull gives you a ride which is definitely above average.  4 out of 5 stars.  For more information about rides at Six Flags Great America, visit www.sixflags.com/greatamerica

X-FLIGHT

An aviation-themed wing coaster, X-Flight soars through multiple inversions on 3000 feet of steel track.  Seating two across in eight rows on opposite sides of the track for a total capacity of 32 riders, the train loads from a station designed to resemble an airplane hangar.   After ascending a 120-foot lift hill, it goes into a 120-foot dive drop, reaching its maximum speed of 55mph.  This is followed by a zero-g roll, Immelmann loop, turn over water and second zero-g roll.  After that comes the most thrilling element of the ride, an in-line twist through a “keyhole” in a very real air control tower acquired from Chicago’s O’Hare airport.  A couple of turns later the ride is over.

 The ride is nicely themed, down to the ride ops in their flight suits.  The ride experience itself is intense from start to finish, particularly so at the point at which the train passes through the control tower.  Riders have the perception of a near collision.   I found this to be especially true when riding on the right side, because of the way the train rolls over.   It was a feeling of omigod, we’re going to hit that tower!  Even after multiple rides, I felt the same way.  X-Flight is a well-designed and highly entertaining coaster.  4 ½ out of 5 stars.  For more information about rides at Six Flags Great America, visit www.sixflags.com/greatamerica

GOLIATH - SIX FLAGS GREAT AMERICA

Hailed as the tallest, fastest and steepest wooden coaster in existence as of 2014, Goliath is the second record-breaking woodie built by Rocky Mountain Construction to open in two consecutive years.  (Outlaw Run was the first.)   This massive structure features 3100 feet of track contained within a fairly compact area.   Consisting of six cars seating two across in rows of two for a total capacity of 24 riders, the train makes a left turn from the loading station and ascends a 45-degree, 165-foot lift hill.   It then drops 180 feet at an 85-degree angle into a tunnel, reaching its maximum speed of 72 mph, goes up into an overbanked turn and drops again.  This is followed by a dive loop and zero-g stall.   The track is full of twists and turns and during the latter part of the ride the train travels through a second tunnel.

The ride experience is nothing short of amazing.   The first drop is spectacular, the dive loop insanely good and the zero-g stall awesome.   This is the first wooden coaster to feature a dive loop and zero-g stall.  It’s the second one from Rocky Mountain Construction to feature inversions without an overhead harness.  The restraints consist of a combination lap bar and shin guard, with nothing to hold onto, contributing to the sense of vulnerability.  I loved the restraints and everything else about this coaster.   Goliath is a marvel of engineering and an absolute delight.  5 out of 5 stars.  For more information about rides at Six Flags Great America, visit www.sixflags.com/greatamerica