X2 Roller Coaster
It is the world's first 4th Dimension roller coaster and was the last roller coaster built by Arrow Dynamics. It is unique in that the trains' seats can be rotated 360 degrees backwards or forwards.
It was repainted, received new third generation trains, and features new special effects. Its name is pronounced X-two, not X-squared or X to the second power.
Description
X² is a unique prototype design in which the seats can rotate forward or backward 360 degrees in a controlled spin.
This is achieved by having four rails on the track: two of these are running rails while the other two are for spin control. The two rails that control the spin of the seats (the "X Rails") move up and down relative to the track and spin the seats using a rack and pinion gear mechanism.
The lift as seen from the queue.
The ride was still X at the time of this photo.
X²'s lift-hill climbs 175 feet (53 m) into the sky with the ride's tallest point above ground at 190 feet (58 m). The first drop is 215 feet (65.5 m) and is sloped at 88.5 degrees, causing the train to reach a maximum speed of 76 mph (122 km/h).
The 3,610-foot (1100 m) long layout features two inversions including a skydive, two "raven turns", one back flip, and a twisting front flip.
Although the ride has received mostly rave reviews from enthusiasts and is a huge hit among the general public, X² has had problems. Due to design flaws—particularly with the trains—the ride's opening (originally scheduled for summer of 2001) was delayed until January 2002.
In June, the ride closed for two months in order to modify the trains. In August 2002, the ride reopened and has been running smoothly ever since, except for a train valleying in the summer of 2005.
Although Tatsu is the tallest flying roller coaster in the world, X2 has the tallest flying drop in the world by a few stories.
Redesigning X
One of the new trains during testing
On November 1, 2007 Six Flags Magic Mountain announced a redesign to the already popular thrill ride. Testing of the trains began on March 6, 2008.
Special Effects
Onboard Audio
In the station, you hear a voice saying: "Is Everybody In?" and "The Ceremony Is About To Begin".
These are clips from the song "Is Everybody In" By The Doors.
There are five songs that are played on X², which are "It Had to Be You" by Harry Connick Jr., "Enter Sandman" by Metallica, "Love in an Elevator" by Aerosmith, "Sabotage" by the Beastie Boys, and "Wake Up" by Rage Against the Machine.
Clips from Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket also play as you're about to drop.
The ride features several sensory effects, including lighting, fog, and flamethrowers.
Similar roller coasters
Eejanaika a similar rollercoaster to X, located in Japan
S&S Arrow opened the second roller coaster of this type, Eejanaika at Fuji-Q Highland in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, Japan. Eejanaika has several meanings, but "Ain't it great" is believed to be the relevant meaning in this situation.
This second 4th Dimension coaster is very similar to X², but differs in height (Eejanaika is 250 feet tall), and some elements are altered, such as the first 'half-half' element, in which the trains rotate on the track one half turn as the seats also rotate one half turn, has now been replaced with a 'full-full' element, in which the train rotates on the track for one full turn as the seats rotate one full turn. The turn back towards the lift hill on Eejanaika is a true overbanked turn, while on X² this turn was not.