Vertical Velocity (roller coaster) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Vertical Velocity |
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Vertical Velocity's twisted tower.
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| 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 |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | May 18, 2001 |
| 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 |
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 Must transfer from wheelchair |
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| Vertical Velocity at RCDB | |
Vertical Velocity, often called V2, is an exciting roller coaster at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois. This ride is an inverted steel coaster. This means your feet dangle freely below the track!
The ride was built by a company called Intamin. They call this type of ride a "Twisted Impulse Coaster." It's a launched shuttle-style coaster. This means it shoots you forward and backward without completing a full loop. V2 first opened on May 18, 2001, and is located in the Yankee Harbor area of the park.
How V2 Works
V2 has a single train with seven cars, carrying 28 passengers at once. The train zooms along a U-shaped track that is about 656 feet (200 meters) long. At each end of the "U" are two tall towers, each 185 feet (56 meters) high.
The Towers
One tower, the front one, has a cool twisted spiral shape. The other tower, at the back, is straight. It lets you experience a thrilling freefall!
Launching into Action
The train is powered by special engines called linear induction motors, or LIMs. These powerful motors launch the train from the station. In less than four seconds, you'll go from zero to 70 miles per hour!
The train shoots up the twisted front tower. Then, it drops back down through the station. Next, it races up the straight back tower. For a while, a special brake on the back tower would hold the train high up for a moment. This added an extra thrill before it dropped back down. However, this holding brake hasn't been used since September 2008.
The Ride Experience
During the ride, the train passes through the station four times at high speed. The total ride length is about 2,700 feet (823 meters) if you count all the passes. The ride uses special brakes called eddy-current brakes to slow down smoothly. Then, the LIMs gently guide the train back into the station.
V2 is similar to other exciting roller coasters. These include Steel Venom at Valleyfair and Possessed at Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom.
V2's History
- 2001 – The roller coaster was built and opened for riders.
- 2004 – Extra support structures were added to both towers. This made them even more stable.
- 2008 – The special holding brake on the back tower stopped being used.
