Flashback (Six Flags Magic Mountain)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Flashback
Previously known as Z-Force (1985-1991)
Promotional image of the Z Force roller coaster in 1985.jpg
An artist's renderation of Flashback when it was known as Z Force.
Six Flags Magic Mountain
Park sectionSix Flags Plaza
Coordinates34°25′29″N 118°35′44″W / 34.424597°N 118.595542°W / 34.424597; -118.595542Coordinates: 34°25′29″N 118°35′44″W / 34.424597°N 118.595542°W / 34.424597; -118.595542
StatusRemoved
Opening dateApril 25, 1992 (1992-04-25)
Closing date2003 (2003)
Cost$4,000,000[2]
Six Flags Over Georgia
Coordinates33°46′05″N 84°33′04″W / 33.768°N 84.551°W / 33.768; -84.551
StatusRelocated
Opening dateApril 1988 (1988-04)
Closing date1991 (1991)
Replaced byBlue Hawk
Six Flags Great America
Coordinates42°21′58″N 87°55′52″W / 42.366099°N 87.931116°W / 42.366099; -87.931116
StatusRelocated
Opening dateJuly 10, 1985 (1985-07-10)[1]
Closing date1987 (1987)
Replaced byIron Wolf
General statistics
TypeSteel
ManufacturerIntamin
DesignerWerner Stengel
ModelSpace Diver
Lift/launch systemChain lift hill
Height86 ft (26 m)
Drop34 ft (10 m)
Length1,900 ft (580 m)
Speed35 mph (56 km/h)
Inversions0
Duration1:30
Max vertical angle89°
Capacity1,100 riders per hour
G-force3
Height restriction48 in (122 cm)
Trains3 trains with 5 cars. Riders are arranged 4 across in a single row for a total of 20 riders per train.
Flashback at RCDB
Pictures of Flashback at RCDB

Flashback was a steel roller coaster made by Intamin of Switzerland. The coaster was located in the Six Flags Plaza area of Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California. The model of the ride, a Space Diver coaster, was intended to be mass-produced, however, Flashback was the only installation.

History[]

Six Flags Great America (1985–1987)[]

Flashback first opened in 1985 at Six Flags Great America (at Gurnee, Illinois) as Z-Force. It was a prototype Space Diver that was purchased from the Intamin testing facility.[3] In 1987, the ride was closed.[4] The site was later used for a Bolliger & Mabillard stand-up roller coaster named Iron Wolf.

Six Flags Over Georgia (1988–1991)[]

Following the ride's closure at Six Flags Great America, it was relocated to Six Flags Over Georgia, west of Atlanta.[5] It opened in 1988 before closing three seasons later in 1991.[5]

Six Flags Magic Mountain (1992–2007)[]

The ride's final relocation was to Six Flags Magic Mountain in California.[6] As part of the relocation, the ride was renamed from Z-Force to Flashback.[6] It opened at the park in 1992.[2]

Flashback gained a reputation as a painful ride experience. Riders would hit their heads on the uncomfortable restraints during each hairpin dive. In June 1995, Six Flags Magic Mountain opened a water park named Hurricane Harbor right next to the ride.[7] Flashback was so noisy that the lifeguards were distracted, as well as the guests at Hurricane Harbor. Following these complaints, the ride would remain closed from May to September beginning in 1996.[3]

The ride was left standing but not operating from 2003 until 2007.[6] On January 23, 2007, the park announced that Flashback would be removed along with Psyclone.[8] Originally, the park stated that Flashback may be re-built within the park for 2008, however it was dismantled and scrapped in December 2007.[6]

Summary[]

Ride experience[]

Flashback was the world's only hairpin-drop roller coaster, with 6 head-over-heels dives and a 540-degree upward spiral. It was also the only Space Dive coaster ever to be built.[4] It was all packed into a relatively small area with 1,900 feet (580 m) of track stacked above each other. The drops were severe, producing a free-fall experience on the plunges; fast steel switchbacks connected the turns just before trains flew into the gravity-defying upward spiral. Trains reached a max of 35 miles per hour (56 km/h), with a 3-g force on the one and a half minute ride.

Track[]

Throughout its life, Flashback's track was painted blue with white supports.[4][5][6] The style of track used on this coaster became the signature track style of coasters built by Bolliger & Mabillard.[citation needed]

Trains[]

The ride featured three trains, each with five cars. Each car featured riders arranged 4 across for a total of 20 riders per train. The trains were manufactured by Giovanola.[4][5][6] When Flashback was known as Z-Force, the trains were painted all blue with a navy blue stripe running down on the sides of the train. The restraints were also blue.[4][5] After its relocation to Six Flags Magic Mountain, Flashback's trains were repainted red with a white chassis and a white stripe on the sides of each car. The restraints were also repainted orange.[6]

References[]

  1. ^ "Up and away". Northwest Herald. August 2, 1985. Retrieved August 20, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "Magic Mountain Plans to Add $4-Million Ride". Los Angeles Times. 17 December 1991. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b "Lost Coasters of California - Part 6: Flashback - The Coaster Kings".
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Marden, Duane. "Z-Force  (Six Flags Great America)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Marden, Duane. "Z-Force  (Six Flags Over Georgia)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Marden, Duane. "Flashback  (Six Flags Magic Mountain)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
  7. ^ "Summer Splash : Magic Mountain Reaches Out to the Wet Set : The company will open a $35-million water theme park next door to its Valencia site in June. It'll have plenty of competition".
  8. ^ "Six Flags Magic Mountain to dismantle two roller coasters". ThrillNetwork. 23 January 2007. Archived from the original on 4 February 2013. Retrieved 7 September 2012.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""