X2 (roller coaster)
| X2 | |
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X2's first drop
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| Previously known as X (2002–2007) | |
| Six Flags Magic Mountain | |
| Park section | Baja Ridge |
| Coordinates | 34°25′16″N 118°35′34″W / 34.421005°N 118.592885°WCoordinates: 34°25′16″N 118°35′34″W / 34.421005°N 118.592885°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | January 12, 2002 |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Steel – 4th Dimension |
| Manufacturer | Arrow Dynamics |
| Designer | Alan Schilke, Renato Manzoni |
| Model | 4th Dimension Coaster |
| Lift/launch system | Chain Lift |
| Height | 215 ft (66 m) |
| Drop | 175 ft (53 m) |
| Length | 3,610 ft (1,100 m) |
| Speed | 76 mph (122 km/h) |
| Inversions | 2 |
| Max vertical angle | 88.5° |
| Capacity | 1600riders per hour |
| G-force | 4Gs |
| Height restriction | 48 in (122 cm) |
| Trains | 3 trains with 7 cars. Riders are arranged 4 across in a single row for a total of 28 riders per train. |
 Gold & Platinum Flash Pass only available |
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 Must transfer from wheelchair |
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X2 at RCDB Pictures of X2 at RCDB |
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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 final roller coaster conceived and installed by ride manufacturer Arrow Dynamics. The ride is unique in that the trains' seats pitch 360 degrees forwards and in reverse independent of the main chassis. The coaster initially opened to the public on January 12, 2002; numerous malfunctions delayed it from debuting in 2001 as was originally anticipated. On December 2, 2007, the ride closed for its transformation into X². It was completely repainted, received new third generation vehicles, and featured new special effects including a sound system and a pair of flame throwers. The ride reopened on May 24, 2008, following the upgrades.
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 move up and down relative to the main track and spin the seats using a rack and pinion gear mechanism. The ride also has an on-board audio soundtrack.
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). During this lift, riders are facing backwards. 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) (faster than X, at about 70 mph). 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, X had problems. Due to design flaws, particularly with the trains, the ride's opening was delayed from Summer 2001 until January 2002. In June 2002, the ride closed to modify the trains. In August 2002, the ride reopened and has been running smoothly ever since, except for a train 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 3, 2007.
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