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X2 (roller coaster) facts for kids
| X² | |
|---|---|
| Previously known as X (2002–2007) | |
X²'s first drop
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| Six Flags Magic Mountain | |
| Location | Six Flags Magic Mountain |
| Park section | Baja Ridge |
| Coordinates | 34°25′16″N 118°35′34″W / 34.421005°N 118.592885°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | January 12, 2002 |
| Cost | $45,000,000 USD to build (2002) $10,000,000 USD to renovate (2008) |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Steel – 4th Dimension |
| Manufacturer | Arrow Dynamics |
| Designer | Alan Schilke |
| Model | 4th Dimension Coaster |
| Lift/launch system | Chain Lift |
| Height | 175 ft (53 m) |
| Drop | 215 ft (66 m) |
| Length | 3,610 ft (1,100 m) |
| Speed | 76 mph (122 km/h) |
| Inversions | 2 |
| Max vertical angle | 88.5° |
| Capacity | 1600 riders per hour |
| G-force | 4Gs |
| Height restriction | 48 in (122 cm) |
| Trains | 3 trains with 7 cars. Riders are arranged 4 across in a single row for a total of 28 riders per train. |
 Gold & Platinum Flash Pass only available |
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 Must transfer from wheelchair |
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| X² at RCDB | |
X² (which used to be called X) is a thrilling steel roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California. It was the very first "4th Dimension" roller coaster ever built. This means its seats can spin 360 degrees forward and backward, all while the coaster moves along the track!
The ride first opened on January 12, 2002. It had some delays before opening because of a few issues. Later, on December 2, 2007, the ride closed for a big makeover. It was repainted, got new trains, and added cool special effects like a sound system and flame throwers. The improved ride, now called X², reopened on May 24, 2008.
Contents
The Story of X²
When the X roller coaster first opened, people really liked it. However, it had some problems, especially with its trains. These issues caused the opening to be delayed from mid-2001 to January 2002.
The next year, the trains were changed to work better. In 2007, another problem caused the ride to close for a short time.
On November 1, 2007, Six Flags Magic Mountain announced that X would get a big update. X closed on December 2, 2007, for this redesign. The changes included new trains with better safety restraints that wouldn't get stuck as often. The track was repainted red with black supports, instead of its original pink and yellow colors.
The ride also got exciting new visual, sound, and other special effects. This big upgrade cost about $10 million. X reopened as X² on May 24, 2008. The new trains were built by S&S Arrow and were lighter, which helped the ride run more smoothly. X² also got a new way to load and unload riders, plus a third train, to let 50% more people ride! Testing for the new trains began on March 6, 2008.
What's the Ride Like?
The X² roller coaster track is about 3,610 ft (1,100 m) long. It features two "inversions," which means you go upside down. These include a "skydive" and two "raven turns." You also experience a "back flip" and a "twisting front flip."
What makes X² special is that each seat on the train can spin 360 degrees forward or backward. This spinning is controlled by extra rails on the track. Unlike most roller coasters, 4th Dimension coasters like X² have four rails instead of two.
How the Ride Moves
After you leave the station, the ride turns 180 degrees and goes over the line where people wait. Then, it starts climbing up the lift hill. You go up 175 feet (53 m), then drop a little, and go up another 15 feet (4.6 m). During this climb, you are actually facing backward!
The first big drop is 215 ft (66 m) tall and is very steep, almost straight down at 88.5 degrees. This drop makes the train go super fast, reaching up to 76 mph (122 km/h)!
As you go down the main drop, your seats spin 180 degrees so you are facing the ground. Next, the train enters an "inside raven loop." In the middle of this loop, your seats spin again. This makes you go from lying on your back and facing backward to a "flying" position, facing forward.
After the loop, the seats spin backward 360 degrees, like a backflip! Then, you go through a wide turn and a "half twist" that flips you forward 180 degrees, putting you back in your original position. You'll see cool flame effects above you as the train enters another "outside raven loop," followed by another half twist. Finally, the track evens out, and the train slows down before returning to the station.
The Special Trains
X² has a unique design where the seats can spin 360 degrees. This happens because of four rails on the track. Two of these rails control the spinning of the seats. They move up and down, using a special gear system to spin the seats. These "rotation" rails don't hold the weight of the train. The other two rails are the main ones that support the heavy trains.
Each train car weighs about 5 t (4.9 long tons; 5.5 short tons) and looks like a wing, stretching 20 feet (6.1 m) wide. Riders sit on the outside of the track, in pairs. Special gears under the vehicle move up and down to follow the rotation rails, spinning the seats throughout the ride.
The ride also has a cool sound system with different songs playing as you go:
- "It Had To Be You" by Harry Connick, Jr. (as you leave the station)
- Parts of a speech from the movie Full Metal Jacket and other movie quotes (on the lift hill)
- "Enter Sandman" by Metallica (also on the lift hill)
- "Love in an Elevator" by Aerosmith (right as you go over the first drop)
- "Sabotage" by Beastie Boys (during the ride)
- "Wake Up" by Rage Against the Machine (after the ride finishes)
Other Roller Coasters Like X²
After X², another similar roller coaster called Eejanaika opened at Fuji-Q Highland in Japan. The name "Eejanaika" can mean "Ain't it great," which fits the ride!
Eejanaika is very much like X², but it's taller (250 feet (76 m) tall) and has some small differences in its layout. For example, one part of the ride where the train and seats both spin has been changed to a "full-full" element, meaning they both spin a full turn. Also, a turn on Eejanaika is a true "overbanked turn," which is different from the turn on X². A third 4th Dimension coaster, Dinoconda, opened in China in May 2012.