The Flash: Vertical Velocity (Six Flags Great America)
The Flash: Vertical Velocity (formerly known as Vertical Velocity or V2) is an inverted steel roller coaster located at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois.
| The Flash: Vertical Velocity | |
|---|---|
| Previously known as Vertical Velocity (2001-2021) | |
 | |
 The Flash: Vertical Velocity's rear tower. | |
| Six Flags Great America | |
| Location | Six Flags Great America |
| Park section | DC Universe |
| Coordinates | 42°22′04.59″N 87°55′56.70″W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | May 18, 2001 |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Steel – Inverted – Launched |
| Manufacturer | Intamin |
| Model | Shuttle Coaster |
| Track layout | Twisted Impulse |
| Lift/launch system | LIM |
| Height | 186 ft (57 m) |
| Length | 630 ft (190 m) |
| Speed | 70 mph (110 km/h) |
| Inversions | 0 |
| Capacity | 1100 riders per hour |
| Height restriction | 54–80 in (137–203 cm) |
| Trains | Single train with 7 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 28 riders per train. |
 Flash Pass Available | |
 Must transfer from wheelchair | |
| The Flash: Vertical Velocity at RCDB Pictures of The Flash: Vertical Velocity at RCDB | |
Manufactured by Intamin under the trade name "Twisted Impulse Coaster", this launched shuttle-style coaster, located in the DC Universe (formerly Yankee Harbor) section of the park, has been operating since May 18, 2001.[1]
History
On March 12, 2001, Six Flags Great America announced the addition of two new roller coasters. These were Vertical Velocity and Déjà Vu.[2] Two months later, Vertical Velocity would officially open on May 18, 2001.[1]
In September 2021, Vertical Velocity closed temporarily for repainting. The park teased that the new attraction would be themed to The Flash from a sign placed outside of the ride's entrance which read, "Will be back in a Flash in 2022". The supports were repainted red (originally teal) and the track remained yellow.[3]
On March 24, 2022, the park announced the ride to be re-themed to The Flash: Vertical Velocity, which would fit in with the new DC Universe section of the park.[4]
Ride experience
The coaster's single seven-car (28-passenger) train runs along a 200 m (656 ft) U-shaped track, incorporating two 186-foot (57 m) vertical towers. The forward tower incorporates a twisted spiral and the rearward towering provides a straight freefall. The 20 m (65 ft) train, propelled by linear induction motors (LIMs), is accelerated in less than four seconds to 70 mph (110 km/h) toward the forward tower before dropping back down through the station house and up the rearward tower. A holding brake is incorporated on the rear straight tower and was able to suspend the train momentarily (usually on the final ascent during each ride) before dropping it back down to the station house. However, the holding brake has not been used since September 2008 due to maintenance issues. The train passes, at speed, through the station four times per 2,700-foot (820 m) ride and is smoothly braked by eddy-current braking before being brought into final position at the station by the LIMs. Vertical Velocity is similar to Steel Venom at Valleyfair and also similar to Possessed at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
Timeline
- 2001 – Construction completed; operation begun.
- 2004 – Additional support was added on both towers to increase stability.
- 2008 – Holding brake on the back tower ceased operation.
- 2021 – Closed temporarily for a repaint
- 2022 – Re-theme to The Flash
References
- Marden, Duane. "Vertical Velocity (Six Flags Great America)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
- "Six Flags Great America To Elevate Thrills This Season". Ultimate Rollercoaster.
- "Vertical Velocity At Six Flags Great America Is Now Closed, But Something Looks Set for 2022".
- "ALL NEW: DC UNIVERSE™ -". Six Flags. Retrieved 2022-03-24.