The Ride
Six Flags has always been a park that enjoyed breaking records. In May of 1997 they did just that when the introduced Superman: The Escape. Superman was the tallest and fastest ride in California. The vertical towers are 415 feet high and riders hit a speed of 100 mph. This 20 million dollar ride, was constructed by Intamin AG and is one of two of it's kind. Riders a launched using LSM's, which stands for Linear Syncronist Motors. These magnetically charged motors allow the car to accelerate to 100 mph in seven seconds. Riders are launched through the L-shaped structure, and then experience 0 G's for a record six seconds, before falling backwards down the hill. Superman: The Escape has two tracks parallel to each other that cuts waiting time in half.
The Experience
Riders walk through a station themed to be like the Fortress of Solitude. There they board one of two strange looking coaster cars. After being secured into the car by a T-shaped lap bar, they are launched into the sunlight. LSM's accelerate the cars at a comfortable rate, as they speed along the flat part of Superman's layout. As the riders reach 100 mph they a thrust straight up towards the sky. As the cars get close to the man of steel flying above, the cars slowly lose speed. As the trains come to a stop riders feel 6 seconds of negative G's. After six seconds riders are pushed firmly against their seats as the trains start there backwards fall down the 415 foot tower. After leveling back out the ride slowly loses speed and makes a smooth re-entry into the station.
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