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X-Flight (roller coaster)

X-Flight has been relocated to Kings Island and is now operating as Firehawk.

X-Flight was a steel, Flying Dutchman roller coaster designed by Vekoma located at Geauga Lake in Aurora, Ohio. The ride operated from May 26. 2001 to the end of the 2006 season. It was a part of the conversion from Six Flags Ohio to the mega-park Six Flags Worlds of Adventure (which included both SeaWorld Ohio animal park and the old Geauga Lake/Six Flags Ohio amusement park). At opening, it was billed as the Midwest's first and only flying coaster, today it retains the record for the area's first flying coaster (the ride lost its "only" record from the opening of Superman: Ultimate Flight at Six Flags Great America near Chicago, Illinois).

The coaster was located in the park's 50s Midway section.

Design Elements

The ride had a twisted layout that made an extreme flying experience for riders. Once riders were seated and restrained, the train tilted backwards into a 'lay-down' position and dispatched. The train then headed up the lift hill (which was angled at 33 degrees). Once the train was at the top of the lift hill, the train dipped down into a twist (called a "Lie-to-Fly") that turned the trains upside down into a flying position. After the twist, the train then swooped down the first drop, hitting speeds of 50 mph.

After the first drop, the ride then hit an over banked Horseshoe Curve element. Following the Horseshoe, the train then hit a "Fly-to-Lie" element that turned the trains back to a lay-down position. After a banked turn, the ride then dropped into a Vertical Loop and the train then hit a "Lie-to-Fly" element. Following the loop, the ride then went through another turn and then hit two inline twists. Following the inline twists, the ride then turned around again and hit an ending helix. After the helix, the ride then hit a "Fly-to-Lie" element and the train slowed down at the brakes.

Initial plans called for the ride to operate with three, 24 passenger trains simultaneously, although due to a myriad of technical problems, this was never achieved on a consistent basis.

X-Flight Facts

• This coaster was announced on January 4, 2001 (while the park was still Six Flags Ohio, technically, no new coasters were added while the park was Six Flags Worlds of Adventure), six days before the announcement of the purchase of SeaWorld Ohio and the conversion to Six Flags Worlds Of Adventure.
• X-Flight's crane sign was taken down during the 2004 and 2005 seasons, it was put back in 2006.
• The ride was meant to recline on the lift hill, rather than in the station, and return to the upright position prior to re-entering the station. This feature was never used, because it didn't work properly.
• The very last riders on X-Flight were some of its crew members. The final ride was given after park closing on September 17, 2006.
• There were three trains with the ride when it opened in 2001, but the ride never ran more than two at a time. Consequently, the blue train never returned following the ride's inaugural season.
• The second of three Vekoma Flying Dutchman coasters.
• The first Vekoma Flying Dutchman to use 'Guest accommodation unit' or GAU motors to recline the trains.
• The first Vekoma Flying Dutchman to have two stations. When operated with two trains, it allowed the operations staff to optionally load and unload two trains at once.

Transfer to Kings Island

On November 22, 2006, Geauga Lake park officials announced that X-Flight was being dismantled to be sent to another (then unspecified) Cedar Fair property.^[1] On January 22, 2007 green Vekoma track resembling the track of X-Flight was spotted at Kings Island, a Cedar Fair park near Cincinnati, Ohio.^[2] On February 5, 2007, Cincinnati local newspapers indicated that it was in fact the old X-Flight that was being constructed within the park, and that it was being renamed Firehawk.^[3] Firehawk is now open to the public in Kings Island.

References

1. ^ "Park dismantling coaster for move", The Plain Dealer, November 22, 2006. Retrieved on 2006-11-22. 
2. ^ http://photos.pkicentral.com/thumbnails.php?album=180
3. ^ X-Flight Gets Paint, New Name For Kings Island Move - Cincinnati News Story - WLWT Cincinnati

External links

• X-Flight at rcdb.com