X² (roller coaster)

Infobox roller coaster
name=X²


caption= X²'s first drop
location=Six Flags Magic Mountain
section= Baja Ridge
type=Steel
type2=4th Dimension
status= Operating
opened=January 12, 2002
manufacturer=Arrow Dynamics
designer=Ron Toomer
track=s&s power
lift=Chain lift hill
height=175
drop=215
length=3610
speed=76
inversions=2
duration= 2:00
angle=88.5
capacity=1600 [http://www.rcdb.com/id750.htm X Facts Sheet] "Roller Coaster Database" Retrieved 2007-11-4]
cost=$46,000,000
acceleration=
gforce=4
restriction=48
rcdb_number=750

"X²" (formerly known as "X") 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 last roller coaster built by Arrow Dynamics. It is unique in that the trains' seats can be rotated 360 degrees backwards or forwards. The ride first opened to the public on January 12, 2002. On December 2, 2007, the ride closed for upgrades. It was repainted, received new third generation trains, and features new special effects. The ride reopened on May 24, 2008.

Description

"X²" is a unique prototype design in which the seats can rotate forward or backward 360 degrees in a controlled spin. This is achieved by having four rails on the track: two of these are running rails while the other two are for spin control. The two rails that control the spin of the seats (the "X Rails") move up and down relative to the track and spin the seats using a rack and pinion gear mechanism.

"X²"'s lift-hill climbs 175 feet (53 m) into the sky with the ride's tallest point above ground at 190 feet (58 m). The first drop is 215 feet (65.5 m) and is sloped at 88.5 degrees, causing the train to reach a maximum speed of 76 mph (122 km/h). The 3,610-foot (1100 m) long layout features two inversions including a skydive, two "raven turns", one back flip, and a twisting front flip.

Although the ride has received mostly rave reviews from enthusiasts and is a huge hit among the general public, X² has had problems. Due to design flaws—particularly with the trains—the ride's opening (originally scheduled for summer of 2001) was delayed until January 2002. In June, the ride closed for two months in order to modify the trains. In August 2002, the ride reopened and has been running smoothly ever since, except for a train valleying in the summer of 2005. The ride also closed down sometime in mid-August 2006 due to a blown gear box part and reopened on February 3rd 2007.

There are five songs that are played on "X²", which are "It Had to Be You" by Harry Connick Jr., "Enter Sandman" by Metallica, "Love in an Elevator" by Aerosmith, "Sabotage" by the Beastie Boys, and "Wake Up" by Rage Against the Machine.

Redesigning X

On November 1, 2007 Six Flags Magic Mountain announced a redesign to the already popular thrill ride. X closed on December 2, 2007 to be redesigned and to have completely new trains, a new color scheme, and an all-new, innovative state-of-the-art visual, audio and sensory effects. In a projected $10 million dollar investment, "X" reopened on May 24, 2008 as "X²". [http://www.sixflags.com/magicMountain/rides/X2.aspx X launches into a new galaxy, becoming X².] "Six Flags" Retrieved 2007-11-02] Six Flags Magic Mountain hired S&S Power to build new trains for X². [cite web|title=YouTube - X2 Trains (Theme Park Review)|url=http://youtube.com/watch?v=ooTbx_AwyFk] The new trains are lighter and intend to reduce the amount of downtime the ride experiences. X² also took on a new load/unload method to increase the ride capacity, and allowed the addition of a third train into operation. Testing of the trains began on March 6, 2008. [http://www.sixflags.com/magicMountain/rides/X2transformation.aspx X is taken to the next dimension with the first test ride of X2] "Six Flags" Retrieved 2008-03-30]

pecial Effects

The ride features several sensory effects, including lighting, fog, and flamethrowers.

imilar roller coasters

S&S Arrow opened the second roller coaster of this type, "Eejanaika" (meaning 'Ain't it Great?'), at Fuji-Q Highland in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, Japan. This second 4th Dimension coaster is very similar to "X²", but differs in height (Eejanaika is 250 feet tall), and some elements are altered, such as the first 'half-half' element, in which the trains rotate on the track one half turn as the seats also rotate one half turn, has now been replaced with a 'full-full' element, in which the train rotates on the track for one full turn as the seats rotate one full turn. The turn back towards the lift hill on "Eejanaika" is a true overbanked turn, while on "X²" this turn was not.

References

External links

* [http://www.ultimaterollercoaster.com/coasters/reviews/x/ X Roller Coaster] Review and photos on Ultimate Rollercoaster.com.
* [http://americacoasters.com/database/censura.php?cmd=details&itemid=75 Review of X on America Coasters]
* [http://www.rcdb.com/id750.htm Listing of 4th Dimension installations] at RCDB
* [http://www.coastergallery.com/2005/MM66.html Pictures of X on CoasterGallery.com]
* [http://www.amusementvideo.com/view_video.php?viewkey=4caaed33c36b1b5fc2cb video of X]