Superman: Ultimate Flight (Six Flags Discovery Kingdom)

File:Superman Ultimate Flight at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (14342295914) (2).jpg

On August 21, 2011, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom posted on their official website a picture of a man in front of the building, stating "Can you keep a Secret?", with a hint stating, "It is bigger than a breadbox, smaller than Rhode Island, and it's coming in 2012. So get ready for the kind of over-the-top, upside-down, screaming excitement that only Six Flags Discovery Kingdom can offer. Find out more on September 1". On August 27, 2011, the park stated on their Facebook page that they would be announcing their 2012 attraction on September 1.{{cite web|title=We have a big...|url=http://www.facebook.com/discoverykingdom/posts/10150355303397743|author=Six Flags Discovery Kingdom|publisher=Facebook|date=August 27, 2011|accessdate=September 1, 2011}} On September 1, 2011, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom officially announced Superman: Ultimate Flight, a Premier Rides launched roller coaster. Superman: Ultimate Fight replaced Pandemonium, a Gerstlauer spinning coaster that has operated at the park since 2008.{{cite web|title=When is Pandemonium closing?|url=http://www.facebook.com/discoverykingdom/posts/10150467589062743|author=Six Flags Discovery Kingdom|publisher=Facebook|date=November 18, 2011|accessdate=November 20, 2011}}{{cite web|title=why is the Pandemonium going|url=http://www.facebook.com/discoverykingdom/posts/10150469648282743|author=Six Flags Discovery Kingdom|publisher=Facebook|date=November 19, 2011|accessdate=November 20, 2011}} Just like its predecessor, Superman: Ultimate Flight would reuse the old Zonga station as the extended queue area and PLC room.{{cite web|url=https://newsplusnotes.blogspot.com/2012/03/six-flags-discovery-kingdom-opens-for.html|title=Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Opens for 2012|date=19 March 2012 |publisher=NewsPlusNotes}}

Before being transferred to the park, parts of the coaster were manufactured in Salt Lake City, Utah.{{cite web|title=It's a bird! It's a plane...|url=http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150709682322743&set=a.67563722742.94642.59636827742&type=1|author=Six Flags Discovery Kingdom|publisher=Facebook|date=March 2, 2012|accessdate=April 3, 2012}} On March 27, 2012, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom posted on Facebook that the "first of many" track pieces has arrived at the park.{{cite web|title=Long awaited update...|url=http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150763104937743&set=a.67563722742.94642.59636827742&type=1|author=Six Flags Discovery Kingdom|publisher=Facebook|date=March 27, 2012|accessdate=April 3, 2012}} Captain Lee, the media spokesman of the park posted on Twitter that the first supports for the coaster has arrived overnight of March 29.{{cite web|title=Look what I saw at the park...|url=http://twitgoo.com/5n84ky|author=Lee Munro|publisher=Twitter|date=March 30, 2012|accessdate=April 3, 2012}} The first half of the one and only train was put on the track of the coaster on May 25, 2012.{{cite web|title=The first train...|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150984574972743|author=Six Flags Discovery Kingdom|publisher=Facebook|date=May 25, 2012|accessdate=May 25, 2012}} Discovery Kingdom posted on May 30 the opening of the coaster on their website to be set on Friday, June 22, 2012, before being taken down a couple days later.{{cite web|title=Season Pass Holder Preview|url=http://www.sixflags.com/discoveryKingdom/events/SeasonPassPreviewJune2012.aspx|publisher=Six Flags Discovery Kingdom|accessdate=May 30, 2012}} The ride's track was completed on June 6, 2012.{{cite news|last=MacDonald|first=Brady|title=Topping off|url=http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/themeparks/la-trb-superman-ultimate-flight-six-flags-disc-019,0,3266200.photo|accessdate=June 29, 2012|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=June 6, 2012}}{{dead link|date=June 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Testing began on Superman: Ultimate Flight on June 15, 2012.{{cite web|title=Just saw that we're testing cars on SUPERMAN...|url=http://www.facebook.com/thecaptainlee/posts/10150911744921137|author=Captain Lee|publisher=Facebook|date=June 15, 2012|accessdate=June 23, 2012}} The ride opened to the public on June 30, 2012. It was the park's first ride to be based on a DC Comics character.{{cite press release|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/superman-ultimate-flight-opens-at-six-flags-discovery-kingdom-160902635.html|title=SUPERMAN Ultimate Flight Opens At Six Flags Discovery Kingdom}}

On July 29, 2012, Superman: Ultimate Flight's train stalled, stranding twelve riders {{Convert|150|ft}} in the air for nearly two hours. Vallejo firefighters were dispatched to the scene and a crane equipped with a large personnel bucket was used to lift two firefighters and a park mechanic to the stalled train.{{cite web|title=Six Flags Roller Coaster Gets Stuck, Riders Trapped|url=http://www.ksee24.com/news/local/Roller-Coaster-Gets-Stuck-Riders-Trapped-More-Than-150-Feet-Up-In-Air-164271316.html|publisher=KSEE24|date=July 30, 2012|accessdate=July 31, 2012}}{{cite web|title=Six Flags' super coaster closed for now|url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Six-Flags-super-coaster-closed-for-now-3747712.php|publisher=San Francisco Chronicle|date=July 30, 2012|accessdate=July 31, 2012}} The park mechanic managed to unlock the train, allowing the train to roll backwards and safely lower the riders back to the station. None of the riders were injured. The ride was closed for several days as it underwent a "thorough safety inspection".{{cite web|title=Vallejo's Six Flags new Superman ride closed until glitch is found|url=http://www.timesheraldonline.com/news/ci_21198818/vallejos-six-flags-new-superman-ride-closed-until|publisher=Times-Herald|date=July 31, 2012|accessdate=July 31, 2012}} It reopened shortly thereafter.

{{Stack|File:Superman Ultimate Flight at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (14342895575) (2).jpg}}

Superman: Ultimate Flight launches out of the station rising up halfway up the first twist. It then returns backwards through the station into the non-inverting loop. Returning forwards and accelerating riders to a top speed of {{Convert|62|mph}}. It then travels up to a height of {{Convert|150|ft|m}} where it completes a heartline roll (ranking it among the tallest inversions in the world) before exiting in a second non-inverting half-loop at {{Convert|133|ft|m}}. It then enters the second twist and returns to the station. The ride can be compared to several of Maurer Söhne's X-Coasters. The non-inverting loop element was previously only found in two of the company's X-Car roller coasters prior to Premier Rides' installation of Superman: Ultimate Flight.{{Cite RCDB|coaster_name=Roller Coaster Search Results|location=Non Inverted Loop|accessdate=August 5, 2012|url=http://www.rcdb.com/m/r.htm?ot=2&el=10142}} Additionally, the ride bears several similarities to the SkyLoop model including design, height and speed.{{Cite RCDB|coaster_name=Roller Coaster Search Results|location=SkyLoop|accessdate=August 5, 2012|url=http://www.rcdb.com/m/r.htm?ot=2&ml=8120}}{{Cite RCDB|coaster_name=Superman: Ultimate Flight|location=Six Flags Discovery Kingdom|rcdb_number=10139|accessdate=August 5, 2012}} On speakers outside the attraction entrance, John Williams' score is played in a loop.

• 2012 in amusement parks
• Superman: Ultimate Flight, a series of flying roller coasters at Six Flags amusement parks
• Tempesto, a similar coaster at Busch Gardens Williamsburg

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.sixflags.com/discoveryKingdom/rides/supermanultimateflight.aspx Superman: Ultimate Flight] at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom's official website

{{Six Flags Discovery Kingdom}}

{{Superman amusement rides}}

Category:Six Flags Discovery Kingdom

Category:Roller coasters operated by Six Flags

Category:Superman in amusement parks

Category:Roller coasters in California