Flight Deck (Canada's Wonderland) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Flight Deck |
|
|---|---|
| Previously known as Top Gun | |
Flight Deck ride near the entrance to the ride in 2011
|
|
| Canada's Wonderland | |
| Location | Canada's Wonderland |
| Park section | Action Zone |
| Coordinates | 43°50′28.46″N 79°32′20.47″W / 43.8412389°N 79.5390194°W |
| Status | Open |
| Opening date | 1995 |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Steel – Inverted |
| Manufacturer | Vekoma |
| Model | SLC (689m Standard) |
| Lift/launch system | Chain lift |
| Height | 33.31 m (109.3 ft) |
| Length | 689.01 m (2,260.5 ft) |
| Speed | 79.99 km/h (49.70 mph) |
| Inversions | 5 |
| Duration | 1:28 |
| Capacity | 1040 riders per hour |
| Height restriction | 132–198 cm (4 ft 4 in – 6 ft 6 in) |
| Trains | 2 trains with 10 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in a single row for a total of 20 riders per train. |
 Fast Lane available |
|
| Flight Deck at RCDB | |
Flight Deck is a thrilling steel roller coaster at Canada's Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada. It's an "inverted" coaster, which means your feet hang free as you ride! The coaster first opened in 1995. It was called Top Gun back then. In 2008, its name changed to Flight Deck. This happened after Paramount Parks sold Wonderland to Cedar Fair, and they needed to remove names linked to the movie studio.
Contents
History of Flight Deck
This roller coaster is based on the 1986 movie Top Gun. That movie was made by Paramount Pictures. The ride was designed to make you feel like you're flying in an F-14 fighter jet.
The ride's area is decorated to look like a movie set. You can see models of F-14 planes, hangars, and radar equipment. There are also army trucks and posters about the movie. For a long time, Top Gun was one of the most popular rides at the park. It was considered the park's main attraction until 2008. That's when a new coaster, Behemoth, opened.
When the company Vekoma announced their new coaster model, Paramount Parks changed their plans. They had originally planned a different type of inverted coaster. This was because of a rule that said no two similar coasters could be too close to each other. Canada's Wonderland was too close to another park with that type of coaster. So, the Vekoma model was chosen instead.
Flight Deck was built where an old water ride called "Zumba Flume" used to be. The "Top Gun" movie theme was a new idea for the park. It meant the ride didn't have to match the theme of the area it was in. As mentioned, the ride was renamed Flight Deck in 2008. This happened after Cedar Fair bought the park.
Over the years, the ride has had some small issues. Sometimes, the ride has stopped on the lift hill with people on board. Some riders have also said the ride can feel a bit rough. Fans have suggested that the park could update the ride's trains. The trains still use the original ones from 1995.
Ride Features and Design
Themed Station Area
.jpg)
The station for Flight Deck is one of the most detailed in the park. It's shaped like a large hangar for airplanes. The line for the ride winds back and forth under this hangar. The coaster trains also wait here.
All around the hangar, you'll find military objects. These are themed to the Top Gun movie. Some examples include trucks, airplanes, and radar dishes.
Colors of the Ride
The colors of Flight Deck match its Top Gun theme. The supports that hold up the track are grey. The track itself is a lighter shade of grey. The trains are mostly red, with some white on the back of the seats. The station building is entirely grey.
Rider Rules for Safety
For your safety, you cannot carry loose items on Flight Deck. This includes things like phones or hats. It's a good idea to take off your glasses and hats. The ride goes very fast! Many people also take off their flip-flops or sandals. These can easily fly off during the ride.
How Flight Deck Works
Flight Deck has several exciting roller coaster parts. These include a sea serpent roll, a sidewinder loop, and a double inline twist.
First, the trains climb up the lift hill. This hill is almost 30.5 meters (100 feet) tall. Then, the trains drop down the hill. It makes a sharp 90-degree turn to the right as it goes down. The ride reaches speeds of about 80 kilometers per hour (50 mph). At the bottom of the first drop, your feet are very close to the ground. The ride has many moments where you feel like you're just missing the ground or parts of the track.
After the drop, the coaster goes through a half loop. Then it does an inline roll, followed by another half loop. Next, it goes through an overbanking turn and a sidewinder loop. After that, Flight Deck's trains make a 180-degree turn. Then they go through two barrel rolls. Finally, the trains make another 180-degree turn and head into the final brake section.
The Coaster Trains
.jpg)
The trains on Flight Deck are "inverted." This means the track is above you, and your feet hang freely below the car. There is no floor under your feet.
Flight Deck usually runs with two trains at the same time. Each train has ten cars. Two people can sit in each car. So, each train can hold 20 passengers. This means 40 people can ride Flight Deck at once. The cars have a shoulder harness that is attached to the seat. There are also seatbelts for added safety.
The trains originally had special names: Maverick and Iceman. These were the callsigns of the two pilots in the Top Gun movie. For the 2010 season, the trains were renamed Firehawk and Raptor.
