Batwing (roller coaster) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Batwing |
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| Six Flags America | |
| Location | Six Flags America |
| Park section | Gotham City |
| Coordinates | 38°54′37″N 76°46′43″W / 38.91028°N 76.77861°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | June 16, 2001 |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Steel – Flying |
| Manufacturer | Vekoma |
| Designer | Vekoma |
| Model | Flying Dutchman (1018m) |
| Height | 115 ft (35 m) |
| Drop | 103 ft (31 m) |
| Length | 3,340 ft (1,020 m) |
| Speed | 50 mph (80 km/h) |
| Inversions | 5 |
| Duration | 2:02 |
| Max vertical angle | 33° |
| Capacity | 850 riders per hour |
| G-force | 4.3 |
| Height restriction | 54–79 in (137–201 cm) |
| Trains | 2 trains with 6 cars. Riders are arranged 4 across in a single row for a total of 24 riders per train. |
 Flash Pass Available |
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| Batwing at RCDB | |
Batwing is an exciting roller coaster located at Six Flags America in Maryland. It's a special type of ride called a flying roller coaster. This means you ride lying down, facing the ground, as if you're flying! The ride was built by a company called Vekoma.
Batwing is very similar to other Vekoma flying coasters. For example, it's almost identical to Nighthawk at Carowinds, though Nighthawk has a slightly different ending. It's also a "clone" (meaning an exact copy) of Firehawk, which used to operate at Kings Island. Among these flying coasters, Batwing is the only one that still has its original name and is at its first park. You can ride Batwing during Six Flags America's regular season. However, it's closed during the "Holiday in the Park" event because the Gotham City area of the park is closed then.
Contents
History of Batwing
When did Batwing open?
In February 2001, Six Flags America announced they would be adding a new roller coaster called Batwing. This ride was designed by Vekoma and was themed after the superhero Batman. It was built in the Gotham City section of the park.
Even though the park hoped to open the ride in May 2001, there was a small delay. Batwing officially opened its doors to riders on June 16, 2001. It was a big deal because it was the very first flying roller coaster on the East Coast!
What is the Batwing ride like?
How long is the Batwing track?
The steel track of Batwing is about 3,340 feet long. That's nearly two-thirds of a mile! The highest point of the ride, the lift hill, is about 115 feet tall. That's as tall as a 10-story building!
How many inversions does Batwing have?
Batwing has five inversions, which are parts of the ride where you go upside down. These include:
- One vertical loop
- Two inline twists
- Two "Lie to Fly" elements
- Two "Fly to Lie" elements
A "Lie to Fly" element is when you are lying on your back, looking at the sky, and then the track flips you over so you are facing the ground, like you're flying. A "Fly to Lie" element is the opposite: you're facing the ground and then you flip onto your back. Each of these "Lie to Fly" and "Fly to Lie" sections counts as half an inversion.
What is the Batwing ride layout?
When you get on Batwing, you sit down and are secured in your seat. Then, the train tilts backward into a "lay-down" position. The ride begins by moving backward out of the station. It makes a left turn and starts climbing the 115-foot lift hill at a 33-degree angle.
Once the train reaches the very top of the lift hill, it dips down into a special twist called a "Lie-to-Fly." This twist turns the train upside down, putting you into the flying position where you face the ground. After this twist, the train plunges down the first drop, reaching speeds of up to 51 miles per hour!
Next, you'll go through a wide, overbanked curve called a Horseshoe Curve. After the Horseshoe, the train enters a "Fly-to-Lie" element, which flips you back onto your back. Then, you'll enter a 66-foot tall vertical loop, where you'll feel a strong pull of 4.3 G's. This means you'll feel more than four times your body weight pushing you into your seat!
After the loop, there's another "Lie-to-Fly" element. You'll then go through another turn before hitting two inline twists, one right after the other. These twists spin you around. Finally, the train enters a helix, which is a spiraling turn. After the helix, you'll experience the last "Fly-to-Lie" element before the train slows down on the brake run and returns to the station.
How many trains does Batwing have?
Batwing currently runs with two trains. Each train has six cars, and each car can hold four riders in a single row. This means 24 people can ride on one train at a time. The ride originally had three trains, but this was changed to two in 2007. Riders are kept safe with a vest that goes over their chest and a lap bar.
