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Vertical Velocity (roller coaster) facts for kids

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Vertical Velocity
Vertical Velocity Logo.svg
Vertical velocity.jpg
Vertical Velocity's twisted tower.
Six Flags Great America
Location Six Flags Great America
Park section Yankee Harbor
Coordinates 42°22′04.59″N 87°55′56.70″W / 42.3679417°N 87.9324167°W / 42.3679417; -87.9324167
Status Operating
Opening date May 18, 2001; 23 years ago (2001-05-18)
General statistics
Type Steel – Inverted – Launched
Manufacturer Intamin
Model Shuttle Coaster
Track layout Twisted Impulse
Lift/launch system LIM
Height 185 ft (56 m)
Length 630 ft (190 m)
Speed 70 mph (110 km/h)
Inversions 0
Capacity 1100 riders per hour
Height restriction 54–80 in (137–203 cm)
Trains Single train with 7 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 28 riders per train.
Flash Pass Available
Must transfer from wheelchair
Vertical Velocity at RCDB

Vertical Velocity (V2) is an inverted steel roller coaster located at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois.

Manufactured by Intamin under the trade name "Twisted Impulse Coaster", this launched shuttle-style coaster, located in the Yankee Harbor section of the park, has been operating since May 18, 2001.

The coaster's single seven-car (28-passenger) train runs along a 200 m (656 ft) U-shaped track, incorporating two 185-foot (56 m) vertical towers. The forward tower incorporates a twisted spiral and the rearward towering provides a straight freefall. The 20 m (65 ft) train, propelled by linear induction motors (LIMs), is accelerated in less than four seconds to 70 mph (110 km/h) toward the forward tower before dropping back down through the station house and up the rearward tower. A holding brake is incorporated on the rear straight tower and was able to suspend the train momentarily (usually on the final ascent during each ride) before dropping it back down to the station house. However, the holding brake has not been used since September 2008 due to maintenance issues. The train passes, at speed, through the station four times per 2,700-foot (820 m) ride and is smoothly braked by eddy-current braking before being brought into final position at the station by the LIMs. Vertical Velocity is similar to Steel Venom at Valleyfair and also similar to Possessed at Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom.

Timeline

  • 2001 – Construction completed; operation begun.
  • 2004 – Additional support was added on both towers to increase stability.
  • 2008 – Holding brake on the back tower ceased operation.
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