X² (roller coaster) facts for kids

X²
Previously known as X (2002–2007)
X²'s first drop
Six Flags Magic Mountain
Location	Six Flags Magic Mountain
Park section	Baja Ridge
Coordinates	34°25′16″N 118°35′34″W / 34.421005°N 118.592885°W / 34.421005; -118.592885
Status	Operating
Opening date	January 12, 2002 (2002-01-12)
Cost	$45,000,000 USD to build (2002) $10,000,000 USD to renovate (2008)
General statistics
Type	Steel – 4th Dimension
Manufacturer	Arrow Dynamics
Designer	Alan Schilke
Model	4th Dimension Coaster
Lift/launch system	Chain Lift
Height	175 ft (53 m)
Drop	215 ft (66 m)
Length	3,610 ft (1,100 m)
Speed	76 mph (122 km/h)
Inversions	2
Max vertical angle	88.5°
Capacity	1600 riders 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
Must transfer from wheelchair
X² at RCDB

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 trains 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.

History

An overview of the track when the ride was known as X.

Although the original X roller coaster was well-received, it had problems. Due to design flaws, particularly with the trains, the ride's opening was delayed from mid-2001 until January 2002. The following season, the trains were modified, which provided more consistent performance. Another maintenance issue occurred in 2007, temporarily closing the ride.

One of the new trains during testing

On November 1, 2007, Six Flags Magic Mountain announced a redesign. X closed on December 2, 2007, to be redesigned including new trains with a pneumatic restraint system (an improvement over the original mechanically operated restraints that would frequently jam), a new color scheme of red track and black supports (originally pink track and yellow supports), and an all-new, innovative state-of-the-art visual, audio and sensory effects. In a projected $10 million investment, X reopened on May 24, 2008, as X². Six Flags Magic Mountain hired S&S Arrow to build new trains for X². The new trains are lighter to reduce the amount of wear and downtime. X² also took on a new load/unload method and third train to increase the ride capacity by 50%. Testing of the trains began on March 6, 2008.

Ride experience

The 3,610 ft (1,100 m) long layout features two inversions including a skydive, two "raven turns", one back flip, and a twisting front flip. Each car on the train spins on its own independent axis 360 degrees forward or backward, which is being controlled by the outer rails of the track. Unlike traditional roller coasters, 4th Dimension roller coasters like X² have four rails.

Layout

After departing from the loading station, the ride makes a 180-degree turn traveling over the queue and onto the lift hill. After ascending 175 feet (53 m), the train enters a short drop and then ascends an additional 15 feet (4.6 m) to a maximum height of 190 feet (58 m). During this lift, riders are facing backwards. The first drop is 215 ft (66 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 (113 km/h)).

During the main drop, the cars are rotated 180 degrees so that riders are facing toward the ground. The train then enters an inside raven loop, where the cars are rotated again halfway through the loop to create a "lie-to-fly" maneuver; riders transition from laying on their backs facing backward to a flying prone position facing forward. After exiting the loop, the cars rotate backwards 360 degrees simulating a backflip. This is followed by a sweeping fan turn and a half twist "fly-to-lie" maneuver, in which riders flip forward 180 degrees to return to the original position of laying on their backs. Flame throwing special effects can be seen overhead as the train enters an outside raven loop immediately followed by another half twist. The track levels out and the train enters the final brake run before returning to the station.

Trains

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. 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. These "rotation" rails don't support the train. The other two rails are for the weight-bearing wheels, capable of supporting these heavy trains.

Weighing 5 t (4.9 long tons; 5.5 short tons), each vehicle has a wing-shaped design that spans 20 feet (6.1 m). Riders sit on the outside of the coaster track in pairs. Four, 1-foot (0.30 m) tall rack gears move up and down following the profile of the seat rotation rails below the vehicle. This gear rotates the seats forwards and backwards throughout the ride.

The ride also has an on-board audio soundtrack that features five songs heard throughout the ride:

• Harry Connick, Jr. - "It Had To Be You" (heard as the train exits the station)
• Portions of R. Lee Ermey's speech from Full Metal Jacket along with various movie quotes. (heard on the lift hill)
• Metallica - "Enter Sandman" (heard on the lift hill)
• Aerosmith - "Love in an Elevator" (heard right as the train crests the first drop)
• Beastie Boys - "Sabotage" (heard throughout the ride)
• Rage Against the Machine - "Wake Up" (heard after the train hits the final brake run)

Similar roller coasters

Eejanaika is a similar roller coaster to X², located in Japan

S&S Arrow opened the second roller coaster of this type, Eejanaika at Fuji-Q Highland in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, Japan. Eejanaika has several meanings, but "Ain't it great" is believed to be the relevant meaning in this situation. This second 4th Dimension coaster is very similar to X², but differs in height (Eejanaika is 250 feet (76 m) 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. Dinoconda, a third 4th Dimension coaster, opened at Dinosaur Valley in Shanghai, China in May 2012.

Awards