Viper (Six Flags Magic Mountain)

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Viper
Location	Six Flags Magic Mountain
Park Section	Baja Ridge
Type	Steel
Status	Open
Opened	April 7, 1990
Manufacturer	Arrow Dynamics
Model	Custom Looping Coaster
Track layout	corkscrew
Lift/launch system	Chain lift hill
Height	188 feet (57.3 m)
Drop	171 feet (52.1 m)
Length	3,830 feet (1,167.4 m)
Max speed	70 mile per hour (112.7 km/h)
Inversions	7
Duration	2:30
Capacity	1,700 riders per hour
Cost	$8,000,000 USD
Viper at RCDB
Pictures of Viper at RCDB

Viper is a steel roller coaster made by Arrow Dynamics of the United States. The coaster is located in the Baja Ridge area of Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California.

Of the three Arrow Mega-Loopers (the others being Shockwave at Six Flags Great America (now replaced by Superman: Ultimate Flight) and Great American Scream Machine at Six Flags Great Adventure), coaster enthusiasts prefer this one the most.

[edit] Record holding

When Viper opened in April 1990, it was the tallest and fastest looping coaster in the world, until the opening of the Steel Phantom rollercoaster at Kennywood in May 1991, which had a top speed of 80mph.

Viper still remained the tallest looping coaster in the world, but when the Steel Phantom was modified in 2001 where it lost its inversions, Viper reheld the title of fastest multi-looper in the world joint with the new Superman Krypton Coaster at Six Flags Fiesta Texas, both with a top speed of 70mph.

It was only until Storm Runner opened in 2004 at Hersheypark, with a top speed of 75mph that Viper once again lost the title of fastest multi-looping coaster. Viper however, is taller than both Storm Runner (150 feet) and Superman Krypton Coaster (168 feet) with a height of 188 feet, making Viper the current tallest multi-looper in the world.

In late spring 2007, Viper will lose this title, when Griffon opens at Busch Gardens Europe, at a height of 205 feet and a speed of approx. 71mph with two immelmann loops.

[edit] Drawbacks

Viper's seven inversions still thrill parkgoers, although its status as the park's most extreme ride has been usurped by several new coasters. There are a couple drawbacks. Differing from most Arrow roller coasters, the shoulder restraints have large foam handles. This results as a tendency to rattle the heads and necks of its riders, resulting in painful headaches. The restraints cause shorter people to bang their heads on the handles as well. ^{[dubious — see talk page]}

[edit] External links

Roller coasters at Six Flags Magic Mountain
Batman: The Ride - Canyon Blaster - Colossus - Déjà Vu - Flashback - Goldrusher - Goliath - Goliath Jr. - Ninja - Psyclone - Revolution - The Riddler's Revenge - Scream! - Superman: The Escape - Tatsu - Viper - X
Past Roller Coasters at Six Flags Magic Mountain: Flashback - Psyclone