Dragon Khan

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Dragon Khan

The train is at the top of the biggest loop in this side view of Dragon Khan
Location PortAventura
Type Steel
Status Open
Opened May 2, 1995
Manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard
Designer Werner Stengel
Model Sitting Coaster
Lift/launch system Chain lift hill
Height 148 ft (45 m)
Drop 161 ft (49 m)
Length 4,165 ft (1,269 m)
Max speed 65 mph (105 km/h)
Inversions 8
Duration 1:45
Dragon Khan at RCDB
Pictures of Dragon Khan at RCDB

Dragon Khan is a steel sit-down roller coaster located in the PortAventura theme park in Salou, Catalonia, Spain. Dragon Khan boasts eight inversions; this was a world record when the coaster was built. This record was equalled in 1998 by Monte Makaya at Tera Encantada, Brazil, and broken in 2002 with the opening of Colossus in Thorpe Park, United Kingdom, which has 10.

The ride built by Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M) opened on May 2, 1995 and was one of the two roller coasters that Port Aventura had when it opened. The track is red with white and pastel blue supports; the trains are green blue and purple (A third train is run at peak times only). After boarding the ride, riders climb to the top of the lift hill (148 ft high), before plummeting back down to earth and straight into a 118-ft-tall vertical loop, followed by a diving loop, a zero-G roll, and a cobra roll. Riders then get a short break at the ride's trim brakes before coming back down into a smaller vertical loop and then onto the last two inversions - the interlocking corkscrews. The ride then pulls up into the brake run before re-entering the Chinese-themed station. The track is 4165ft long and the ride's top speed is over 65mph. The ride's duration is 1 minute and 45 seconds.

Dragon Khan
Dragon Khan

The ride has a total of 3 trains each containing 7 cars. Riders are arranged 4 across in a single row for a total of 28 riders per train.

The theme for this ride is based on Chinese mythology: the Dragon Khan was the reincarnated spirit of the evil Prince Hu of Beijing. His fury was unleashed each time a human dared to climb atop his back. This links in with the fact that the ride is located at the very back of the park in the Chinese themed area. Due to this ride's placement, it can be seen from anywhere inside the park, as well as from nearby hotels and the Reus airport.

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Preceded by
Shockwave
First coaster with 8 inversions
May 1995–March 2002
Succeeded by
Colossus

Coordinates: 41°05′16″N 1°09′39″E / 41.08778, 1.16083